U.S. International Team Trials: Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Murphy Headline Men’s Predictions

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Ryan Murphy -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

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U.S. International Team Trials: Caeleb Dressel, Ryan Murphy Headline Men’s Predictions

At the U.S. International Team Trials in Greensboro, N.C., the United States will select its team set to compete at this summer’s World Championships in Budapest. The five-day meet will see the top two finishers in most individual events earn qualification spots, plus the winners in the 50-meter events of butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke, and at least four swimmers (and up to six) will qualify in the 100 and 200 freestyle for relay purposes.

The men’s racing will be include superstar Caeleb Dressel, the Olympic gold medalist in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly, as well as 800 and 1500 free gold medalist Bobby Finke. World-record holder Ryan Murphy will race in his signature backstroke races, and while 2021 Olympians Chase Kalisz, Jay Litherland, Zach Apple, Michael Andrew and Nic Fink are among the other standouts set to chase another opportunity on the international stage.

Here are the predictions for which swimmers will qualify for Worlds.

Tuesday, April 26

200 Butterfly

  1. Luca Urlando
  2. Trenton Julian

The United States has not captured an individual World Championship or Olympic medal in the 200 fly since Michael Phelps won gold at the 2016 Olympics.

100 Freestyle

  1. Caeleb Dressel
  2. Zach Apple
  3. Brooks Curry
  4. Ryan Held
  5. Bowe Becker
  6. Drew Kibler

In the battle behind Dressel, Apple established himself as a clear No. 2 in the U.S. last year, while Curry recently swept the 50 and 100-yard free with strong performances at the NCAA Championships. After barely missing Tokyo, Held won silver in the 50 and 100 free at the Short Course World Championships.

1500 Freestyle

  1. Bobby Finke
  2. Charlie Clark

Battle for second place will be wide open behind Finke, the Olympic champion. Will Gallant, David Johnston and Brennan Gravely are all returning finalists from Olympic Trials.

Wednesday, April 27

200 Freestyle

  1. Kieran Smith
  2. Drew Kibler
  3. Caeleb Dressel
  4. Luca Urlando
  5. Carson Foster
  6. Grant House

Dressel has skipped the 200 free or scratched after prelims at most major qualification meets, but if he swims the final, he certainly has a chance at a top-two finish.

200 Breaststroke

  1. Nic Fink
  2. Will Licon

After gut-wrenching third-place finishes at consecutive Olympic Trials, this could be Licon’s chance to grab a spot on a World Championship team. Fink and Licon finished first and third, respectively, at the Short Course World Championships in December.

200 Backstroke

  1. Ryan Murphy
  2. Shaine Casas

The fourth-place finisher from the Olympics, Bryce Mefford, is not competing at Trials this year.

50 Butterfly

  1. Caeleb Dressel

Thursday, April 28

400 IM

  1. Carson Foster
  2. Jay Litherland

Olympic gold medalist Chase Kalisz is entered in this event, but it’s unclear if he plans to compete. He has not swum a long course 400 IM since Tokyo. Foster will be looking for a breakthrough after finishing third at Olympic Trials and later swimming the world’s fastest time for 2021.

100 Butterfly

  1. Caeleb Dressel
  2. Shaine Casas

Michael Andrew and Luca Urlando will also be in the mix for spots on the Worlds team here. Dressel has been the 100 fly champion at every major meet since 2017, and he holds the world record.

50 Breaststroke

  1. Michael Andrew

50 Backstroke

  1. Ryan Murphy

Friday, April 29

400 Freestyle

  1. Kieran Smith
  2. Ross Dant

Smith will look to bounce back after a disappointing performance at the NCAA Championships last month.

100 Breaststroke

  1. Michael Andrew
  2. Nic Fink

Andrew placed fourth in this event in Tokyo, while Fink will be in good shape to finish second with longtime rivals Andrew Wilson and Kevin Cordes absent.

100 Backstroke

  1. Ryan Murphy
  2. Shaine Casas

Hunter Armstrong, the shocking runnerup finisher in this event at Olympic Trials, will be in the mix again in Greensboro.

Saturday, April 30

200 IM

  1. Shaine Casas
  2. Chase Kalisz

This is the fourth event where Casas will contend for a spot at Worlds. Michael Andrew may not swim the 200 IM since he will also race the 50 free on the final night, but Carson Foster and Kieran Smith will surely be in the mix.

800 Freestyle

  1. Bobby Finke
  2. Ross Dant

Just like the 1500 free, this field will be wide open behind Finke.

50 Freestyle

  1. Caeleb Dressel
  2. Michael Andrew

These two swimmers have been the top-ranked Americans in the splash-and-dash since 2018, and it’s tough to see that changing.

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