U.S. Nationals: Nic Fink Breaks 1:00 for Top Seed in 100 Breast; Michael Andrew 17th

Nic Fink -- Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

U.S. Nationals: Nic Fink Breaks 1:00 for Top Seed in 100 Breast; Michael Andrew 17th

Nic Fink did not qualify for the U.S. team in the 200 breaststroke, but as the veteran approaches age 30, he has come on strongly in the sprint breaststroke events, a rise which culminated in a world title in the 50 breast last year plus a Worlds bronze medal in a tight 100 breast final. Fink got onto his fifth World Championships team Thursday evening with a win in the 50 breast at Nationals, and he will be the strong favorite heading into the 100 breast final.

Fink, who owns a best time of 58.37 that ranks seventh all-time in the event (and second among Americans), was the only man to break 1:00 in the prelims. He got a push at the end from 200 breast winner Matt Fallon, along whom he has been training for the past month in Athens, Ga., and Fallon closed well to take the fourth seed in 1:00.22.

In the first circle-seeded heat, Jake Foster got off to a strong start and held off Josh Matheny to get the win, 1:00.07 to 1:00.15. Foster lowered his best time of 1:00.81, and he will have another chance at making the World Championships team after finishing third behind Fallon and Matheny in the 200-meter race.

Noah Nichols also dropped a half-second from his best time, touching in 1:00.29 for the fifth seed, followed by the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist in the event, Cody Miller. Miller touched in 1:00.57. Charlie Swanson (1:00.64) and Mitch Mason (1:00.71) were the last two qualifiers for the final, denying Tommy Cope (1:00.73) and Max McHugh (1:00.77)

Meanwhile, it was a disappointing performance for Michael Andrew, the American-record holder in this event at 58.14 and the fourth-fastest performer in history. Andrew ended up 17th in prelims, his time of 1:01.50 more than three seconds behind is best time. Andrew was the winner in the 50 butterfly and runnerup in the 50 breast, but his 100-meter results have been disappointing. He placed fourth in the 100 fly at last year’s World Championships, missing a medal by just four tenths, but he did not even qualify for the A-final at this meet.

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