Monday, April 25, 2022
Five Things to Watch at Phillips 66 International Team Trials
The moment many American swim fans have been waiting for is nearly here: The 2022 Phillips 66 International Team Trials.
The competition will take place April 26-30 in Greensboro, N.C., at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The pre-scratch psych sheet has an unbelievably talented lineup, seeing 73 U.S. National Team members, 41 Olympians and 36 American record holders (across short course yards, short course meters and long course meters) on the slate. In total, nearly 450 athletes will test the Greensboro water in efforts to qualify for the U.S. roster at the 2022 FINA World Championships, Junior Pan Pacific Championships and/or Mel Zajac Jr. Invitational.
With high stakes on the line, here are five things to watch for in Greensboro this week:
Big Splash for Curzan?
TAC Titans' Claire Curzan has been on an absolute roll in recent competitions. In the past 12 months, she has racked up an Olympic silver medal, six FINA World Championships (25m) medals, a 17-18 National Age Group record in the 50m freestyle (24.43), a former American record in the 100-yard butterfly (49.24) and has won each of her seven TYR Pro Swim Series events so far this year. She is entered in seven events in Greensboro and will be looking to make the first long course world championships roster of her young career.
Ledecky, Kalisz Eye Fifth World Championships Appearances
It is rarefied air to have a swimmer compete in at least five FINA World Championships, and that is exactly what Katie Ledecky and Chase Kalisz have on the line this week. Having competed at every FINA World Championships from 2013-2019, the veteran duo has the chance to join a small group of swimmers—including Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin and most recently the trio of Haley Anderson, Nathan Adrian and Matt Grevers—by qualifying for world championships roster No. 5 on their respective careers. Ledecky comes to Greensboro as top seed in the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyle while Kalisz is entered in both IM events as well as the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke.
New Year, New Faces
Multiple U.S. National Team members, recent TYR Pro Swim Series champions and even Olympians are still in search of competing at their first FINA World Championships event. Shaine Casas, Alex Walsh, Bobby Finke and Paige Madden are just a few of the decorated individuals still looking to qualify for the first time. In total, 12 of the 34 events on the schedule have a top seed who has not represented the U.S. at long course world championships before, and since it has been three years since the last FINA World Championships, look for some new faces to qualify for the U.S. roster.
50s are BACK!
Also coming back for the first time since 2019 are 50s of stroke events at a senior-level, long course meter USA Swimming national event. The sprint events are sure to produce fast times, as the 2019 world champions in 50-meter events such as Caeleb Dressel (50 fly), Olivia Smoliga (50 back) and Lilly King (50 breast) will put their talents on display this week.
College Talents Return to Long Course
Just a month removed from the 2022 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships, dozens of college talents will return to long course competition this week. For many, including Torri Huske, Kieran Smith, Isabelle Stadden, Carson Foster and Brooks Curry, this will be their first time swimming at a long course national event since last summer. These collegiate swimmers threw down incredible times at both conference championships and NCAA Championships over the past two months and will look to carry that momentum into this week.
The competition will take place April 26-30 in Greensboro, N.C., at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The pre-scratch psych sheet has an unbelievably talented lineup, seeing 73 U.S. National Team members, 41 Olympians and 36 American record holders (across short course yards, short course meters and long course meters) on the slate. In total, nearly 450 athletes will test the Greensboro water in efforts to qualify for the U.S. roster at the 2022 FINA World Championships, Junior Pan Pacific Championships and/or Mel Zajac Jr. Invitational.
With high stakes on the line, here are five things to watch for in Greensboro this week:
Big Splash for Curzan?
TAC Titans' Claire Curzan has been on an absolute roll in recent competitions. In the past 12 months, she has racked up an Olympic silver medal, six FINA World Championships (25m) medals, a 17-18 National Age Group record in the 50m freestyle (24.43), a former American record in the 100-yard butterfly (49.24) and has won each of her seven TYR Pro Swim Series events so far this year. She is entered in seven events in Greensboro and will be looking to make the first long course world championships roster of her young career.
Ledecky, Kalisz Eye Fifth World Championships Appearances
It is rarefied air to have a swimmer compete in at least five FINA World Championships, and that is exactly what Katie Ledecky and Chase Kalisz have on the line this week. Having competed at every FINA World Championships from 2013-2019, the veteran duo has the chance to join a small group of swimmers—including Michael Phelps, Natalie Coughlin and most recently the trio of Haley Anderson, Nathan Adrian and Matt Grevers—by qualifying for world championships roster No. 5 on their respective careers. Ledecky comes to Greensboro as top seed in the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyle while Kalisz is entered in both IM events as well as the 200m butterfly and 200m breaststroke.
New Year, New Faces
Multiple U.S. National Team members, recent TYR Pro Swim Series champions and even Olympians are still in search of competing at their first FINA World Championships event. Shaine Casas, Alex Walsh, Bobby Finke and Paige Madden are just a few of the decorated individuals still looking to qualify for the first time. In total, 12 of the 34 events on the schedule have a top seed who has not represented the U.S. at long course world championships before, and since it has been three years since the last FINA World Championships, look for some new faces to qualify for the U.S. roster.
50s are BACK!
Also coming back for the first time since 2019 are 50s of stroke events at a senior-level, long course meter USA Swimming national event. The sprint events are sure to produce fast times, as the 2019 world champions in 50-meter events such as Caeleb Dressel (50 fly), Olivia Smoliga (50 back) and Lilly King (50 breast) will put their talents on display this week.
College Talents Return to Long Course
Just a month removed from the 2022 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships, dozens of college talents will return to long course competition this week. For many, including Torri Huske, Kieran Smith, Isabelle Stadden, Carson Foster and Brooks Curry, this will be their first time swimming at a long course national event since last summer. These collegiate swimmers threw down incredible times at both conference championships and NCAA Championships over the past two months and will look to carry that momentum into this week.