Dressel, Ledecky romp to victories
OMAHA, NEB.» The stars shined brightly on the next-to-last night of the U.S. Olympic swimming trials.
Caeleb Dressel added another event to his Tokyo program, powering to a dominating victory in the 100-meter butterfly Saturday.
Katie Ledecky blew away the field in the 800 freestyle, winning by more than 5 seconds in a race where the runner-up spot provided the only drama.
Ledecky locked up her fourth individual race at the Olympics with a time of 8 minutes, 14.62 seconds, adding to her victories in the 200, 400 and 1,500 free.
Leading right from the start, Ledecky was essentially racing herself. She started out under world-record pace but tailed off when it was clear no one could challenge her.
“It’s challenging,” she said. “Sometimes I feel like I’m going faster than I am. The biggest thing moving forward from here is try to get in some race environments in training and continue to push myself.”
Ledecky finished more than 10 seconds off her world-record performance at the Rio Olympics.
“It was a fine swim,” she said. “I thought I’d be a lot better than that given how good my prelim swim felt.”
Fifteen-year-old Katie Grimes outraced veteran Haley Anderson for the expected second spot at the Olympics, knocking more than 11 seconds off her personal best to touch second in 8:20.36.
Anderson, who already made the team in marathon swimming, finished third, 15-hundredths of a second behind the youngster.
“Speechless,” Grimes said. “I wasn’t expecting that. I just wanted to finish it. I’m so honored to be in this meet, to be going to Tokyo. I’m so thankful.”
As with Ledecky, no one was even close to Dressel as he finished the fly in 49.87 — just off his world record of 49.50 set two years ago at the world championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
Tom Shields claimed the second spot on the U.S. team by touching next in 51.19.
Dressel, who already made the Olympic team with a victory in the 100 freestyle, made it 2-for-2 on the night when he returned a short time later to win his heat in the semifinals of the 50 free.
Dressel is hoping to swim three individuals events in Tokyo and perhaps all four relays, giving him a chance to join Michael Phelps, Mark Spitz and Matt Biondi as the only swimmers to win seven swimming medals at the Olympics.
With Phelps now retired, Dressel and Ledecky are expected to be the biggest American swimming stars at the Olympics.
There was a surprise in the women’s 200 backstroke. Favorite Regan Smith, who has already won the 100 back, faded to third in the longer race to miss out on a second individual event in Tokyo.
Rhyan White took the victory in 2:05.73, with Phoebe Bacon claiming the second spot in 2:06.46.
White and Bacon are both headed to the Olympics for the first time.
Two Olympic veterans bounced back from disappointing performances to keep their Olympics hopes alive.
Simone Manuel, who revealed that she was diagnosed with overtraining syndrome after failing to advance from the final of the 100 free, qualified third for the final of the 50 free in 24.50.
Nathan Adrian is facing the same challenge in the men’s 50. The eight-time Olympic medalist was third-fastest in the semifinals at 21.78, trailing only Dressel (21.51) and Michael Andrew (21.55).
Abbey Weitzell was fastest in the women’s 50 free, posting a personal best of 24.27 to take the top seed into the final. She already won the 100 free at these trials.