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Chase Kalisz absolutely cruised in the 400 IM heats with a 4:11.09 to lead the qualifiers on Friday morning in Irvine at the Phillips 66 USA Swimming National Championships. Kalisz is two seconds ahead of fellow Bulldog Jay Litherland (4:13.34) and Sam Stewart of Texas (4:13.88).
Kalisz and Litherland have been 1-2 at the last two US National Championships and are favored to do that for the third year in a row. Kalisz already has the fastest time in the world this year with a 4:08.92, just ahead of Japan’s Daiya Seto (4:08.98). Kalisz could challenge that world record of 4:03.84 by the end of the summer if he is on.
Litherland moved up to sixth in the world rankings with his swim this morning, while Stewart is now eighth.
There are a few outside contenders to get on the plane to Japan as Gunnar Bentz (4:15.33), Sean Grieshop (4:15.53) and Abrahm DeVine (4:15.56) are within striking distance of the top three. It will be a dog fight behind Kalisz to get that second spot to the Pan Pacs.
Charlie Swanson (4:15.89) and Kieran Smith (4:17.70) are the last two swimmers in to tonight’s championship final.
2018 World Rankings:
- Chase Kalisz, USA, 4:08.92
- Daiya Seto, JPN, 4:08.98
- Kosuke Hagino, JPN, 4:10.69
- David Verraszto, HUN, 4:11.98
- Clyde Lewis, AUS, 4:13.12
- Jay Litherland, USA, 4:13.34
- Mark Szaranek, GBR, 4:13.72
- Sam Stewart, USA, 4:13.88
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