{"id":530312,"date":"2023-06-27T16:46:10","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T23:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=530312"},"modified":"2023-06-28T05:42:14","modified_gmt":"2023-06-28T12:42:14","slug":"u-s-nationals-kate-douglass-sprints-past-abbey-weitzeil-in-womens-100-free","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/u-s-nationals-kate-douglass-sprints-past-abbey-weitzeil-in-womens-100-free\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S. Nationals: Kate Douglass Sprints Past Abbey Weitzeil in Women’s 100 Free"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kate Douglass<\/strong> said she was surprised by her performance in the 100 freestyle, winning the title at the U.S. National Championships in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n

It is a mindset that is working for her – and keeps surprising her.<\/p>\n

After many historical performances at the past two NCAA Championships, her long-course racing almost gets overlooked – almost.<\/p>\n

Douglass made the Olympic team in the 200 IM in Tokyo, and now that she is a professional, has her eye on more long-course success, starting off her U.S. Nationals with a 52.27 in the 100 freestyle to hold off Abbey Weitzeil<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

“I never really thought I was going to go under 53, so I was really surprised by that,” Douglass said. “I knew tonight was going to be all about racing with fast people next to me, so that is what I tried to do. Coming into this meet, I was just hoping for a relay spot, so this is definitely a boost for my confidence for the rest of the meet. I think it is pretty cool to come in as an underdog at this race. I don’t think many people were thinking I was going to get an individual spot, and I wasn’t even thinking that, so it is definitely cool.”<\/p>\n

Douglass has plenty of other swims to go this week in Indianapolis and could be poised for another NCAA-style multi-stroke dominating performance after a swim like this.<\/p>\n

“I feel like my lineup works perfectly with one event a day to focus on. I am pretty grateful to have the ability to swim all of these events. I realize I have the potential,” Douglass said. “It has definitely been an adjustment as a pro swimmer, but I am sticking with the same training plan. It has been nice to keep that the same. We prioritize taking a little break. We all took a week off, then switched mentally over to long-course training to get ready to come to this meet and dominate.”<\/p>\n

After several big names missed the final of the women’s 100 freestyle at the U.S. National Championships, the biggest names – including six Olympians in the final – took care of business, led by Douglass and Weitzeil.<\/p>\n

Weitzeil<\/strong> got her hand on the wall second at 53.11, leading at the turn, but unable to keep up with Douglass’ late burst.<\/p>\n

Gretchen Walsh<\/strong> was third in 53.14, followed by Olivia Smoliga<\/strong> (53.28) to fill out the possible relay spots in the event.<\/p>\n

Torri Huske<\/strong> was fifth (53.41), followed by Maxine Parker<\/strong> (53.51), Bella Sims<\/strong> (53.73) and Catie DeLoof<\/strong> (53.75).<\/p>\n

Weitzeil and Douglass were the only sub-53 swimmers in the prelims.<\/p>\n

The B final featured Natalie Hinds, Beata Nelson, Katharine Berkoff, Gabi Albiero and upstarts Alex Shackell and Erin Gemmell. Claire Curzan<\/strong> and Erika Brown<\/strong> also missed the A final and scratched the B final.<\/p>\n