The biggest event in United States swimming is happening this month! From July 25-29 in Irvine, California, USA’s top swimmers from olympic veterans Ryan Lochte and Missy Franklin to up-and-coming stars Reece Whitley and Lily King, this is a meet you won’t want to miss. On the line is qualification for the Pan Pacific swimming championships, the junior Pan Pacs, the 2019 FINA world championships, the 2019 World University championships and the 2019 Pan American games all of which will be chances to show what they can do before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roll around. Before the meet starts though, here are 5 swimmers to keep your eyes on.
Ryan Murphy, Backstroke
Ryan Murphy, an NCAA record holder and professional backstroker is looking for a win at this year’s Phillips 66 National Championships. Murphy’s first pro season, though not as strong as his olympic debut, did result in both a silver and bronze medal at the 2017 World Championships. In Irvine, an unsatisfied Murphy will be competing for nothing more than gold. Out of the three events he’ll be swimming, the 50 back is his biggest challenge. Serious contenders in Jacob Ress, Matt Grevers and Michael Andrew will all be fighting for the top spot. However, one of Ryan Murphy’s biggest motivations is the adrenaline at big meets. “I love going to a big facility and hearing the crowd. It really brings a lot of energy to me,” says Murphy.
Caeleb Dressel, Freestyle and butterfly
Caeleb Dressel known for his amazing “slingshot” start has gone pro. In his first pro season, he looks to sprint his way to his first world record. In his senior year at Florida, Dressel set the NCAA record in the 100 butterfly, 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle, all events he will be swimming in Irvine. When watching him swim,don’t miss his signature slingshot start which gives him the winning edge in sprint races when the smallest fraction of a second counts. Pro swimmer Cody Miller analyzed his electrifying start. “When the race starts, he dives in like everybody else, but as soon as they hit the water he’s three feet in front.”
Reece Whitley, breaststroke
Whitley, a 6’9 breaststroker is only 18, but is already well-adjusted to the energetic atmosphere of the nationals and will still make waves in Irvine. You may remember him as the 2015 SI Kids Sportskid of the year when he’d already set five national age group records by age 15. This summer his situation is a little different. He’s fighting for a spot on the national team and as the number one overall recruit in the country, will be joining the successful Pac-12 powerhouse, California Golden Bears. Before he can go to Berkeley, though, he’ll been racing against some of the nations best breaststrokers the US has to offer. Seeded below eighth in all three of his events, the 50, 100 and 200 breaststroke, Whitley is swimmer you’ll want to watch. His glide is long which gives him an edge and his stroke makes it look like he’s flying across the water.
Lily King
“I want to be the best breaststroker in the world,” says King who will be coming into Irvine as the favorite in all Tk of the women’s breaststroke events. Based on her performance the past three years at the University of Indiana that goal could easily become a reality for King. As a Hoosier, King has won a plethora of awards and claimed numerous titles including Big 10 swimmer of the year, Academic all Big 10 and won the women’s 100 breastroke three consecutive years at NCAA nationals. In Irvine make sure to catch the women’s 200 breastroke: In that race, King, while not seeded number one,, is only .06 seconds off Texas A&M Aggie Bethany Galat who has a time of 2:21.77.
Leah Smith
Smith, out of all five swimmers I profiled in this article, will probably be the one with the most challenging races in Irvine. As an experienced swimmer who has won two olympic medals and swam in numerous world championships you may be wondering “What will possibly challenge her in Irvine?”The challenge not a what faces Leah, but who she is facing. Katie Ledecky has been tearing up the pool in the women’s freestyle events for the past six years since she took Gold at the 2012 Olympic games as a 15-year-old. Smith, although seeded second to Ledecky in everything except the 400 IM, Leah Smith has played the underdog role before. Last year at the summer nationals, she was seeded eighth in the 400 IM and ended up finishing in the top spot. She’s proven herself as a true competitor and this meet will be no different. You can count on her all out effort in each race she swims.
Love the Legacy’s Phillips 66 national championships team
Out of all the swimmers in Irvine this upcoming week, here are my teams of all-stars with at least one in each stroke and six on each team.
Men’s Team:
Ryan Murphy, Backstroke
Nathan Adrian, Freestyle
Caeleb Dressel, Butterfly and Freestyle
Reece Whitley, Breaststroke
Michael Andrew, Freestyle
Chase Kalisz, IM, Breaststroke, Butterfly
Women’s Team:
Lily King, Breaststroke
Simone Manuel, Freestyle
Kelsi Dahlia, Butterfly
Katie Ledecky, Freestyle
Leah Smith, Freestyle
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