Townley Haas, Clark Smith Post Strong 200 Frees in the Heats

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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Townley Haas showed off his sprint speed last night when he picked up a third place spot in the 100. He returned Wednesday morning with a strong 1:46.85 to lead the 200 free heats going into tonight. Haas has been a rising star since winning almost all the freestyle events at the 2014 Junior Nationals. He has showed that potential and then some with some strong swims at the NCAA’s and a very quick relay split last summer in Rio.

Haas leads a strong 200 free field that is bunched up with a number of 1:47’s. He is joined by Texas teammate Clark Smith (1:47.10) in the A-final. Those two will be looking for their first World Championship team after swimming in Rio last summer.

Caeleb Dressel (1:47.45), Blake Pieroni (1:47.49), Mitch D’Arrigo (1:47.52), Zane Grothe (1:47.58), Jay Litherland (1:47.76) and Conor Dwyer (1:48.10) placed in the top eight. Dressel and Pieroni picked up spots last night in the 4×100 free relay and Pieroni is better at the 200, so he could factor into the top four. Dressel is showing off his stretch 200 speed that he showed in high school.

D’Arrigo previously swam internationally for Italy, finishing 23rd in the 200 free at the Olympics in Rio, but he has dual citizenship and is changing his sporting affiliation to represent the U.S.

However, should he finish in the top six in the final, he would not be eligible to swim at the World Championships, but he could compete for the U.S. at the World University Games. Read more details here.

Major missed in the A-final included Gunnar Bentz (10th, 1:48.36), Maxime Rooney (10th), Michael Weiss (14th, 1:48.59) and Jack Conger (16th, 1:48.71).

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Eric Herman

6 years ago

Thomas A. Small

6 years ago

Congratulations