U.S. International Team Trials: Claire Curzan Edges Kelsi Dahlia for 50 Fly Top Seed; Michael Andrew Tops Men’s 50 Fly

Claire Curzan -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. International Team Trials: Claire Curzan Edges Kelsi Dahlia for 50 Fly Top Seed; Michael Andrew Tops Men’s 50 Fly

After qualifying for her first World Championships team Tuesday evening with a runnerup finish in the 100 freestyle, Claire Curzan returned to competition for the 50 butterfly Wednesday morning, and she posted the top qualifying time. Curzan has developed into one of the world’s fastest 100 butterfliers, but she is a sprinter at heart, so the 50 fly perfectly suits her skill set.

Curzan finished prelims in 25.60, just five hundredths ahead of veteran Kelsi Dahlia (25.65). Missouri’s Sarah Thompson finished third in 25.91, while 100 freestyle winner Torri Huske tied for fourth with Virginia’s Gretchen Walsh. Both swimmers clocked in at 25.98.

Natalie Hinds, already on the World Championships team after finishing fourth in the 100 free, qualified sixth in 26.07, while Beata Nelson (26.69) and Gabi Albiero (26.73) also qualified for the A-final.

w50fly

In the men’s 50 fly, Michael Andrew made his Greensboro debut by posting a mark of 23.09 for the top seed. Andrew was the 50 fly winner the last time the event was contested on the national level in 2018, but the favorite for this event is Caeleb Dressel, the reigning world champion and American-record holder. Dressel finished second in prelims in 23.16.

Maxime Rooney placed fourth in 23.65, while Zach Harting returned to the pool after his third-place finish in the 200 fly, and he claimed fourth in prelims in 23.66. Dalton Lowe (23.74), Coleman Stewart (23.89), Ilya Kharun (24.05) and Carl Bloebaum (24.18) also qualified for the A-final.

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Because the Greensboro meet is serving as the qualifying event for this summer’s World Championships, the 50-meter stroke events are being contested, but only the winner will qualify to compete this summer in Budapest (as opposed to the top-two finishers in all Olympic events).

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