On the last day of action at the US nationals in Irvine, California, Dana Vollmer claimed lane 4 for the 100m free final in 54.60, off a 26.18 split, ahead of Amanda Weir, 54.66, Natalie Coughlin, 54.67, Jessica Hardy, 54.74, 50m champ Kara Lynn Joyce, 54.88, and Morgan Scroggy, 54.96, with Katie Hoff and Melissa Franklin making the cut just outside 55sec. A title - and some relay places at stake.
Pride is at stake in the 200m backstroke: in lane 4, young Tyler Clary, from a 1:58.43 heat, finds himself surrounded by powerhouses, in the form of world champion and former Olympic champion Aaron Peirsol, Olympic champion and former world champion Ryan Lochte, and 14-times Olympic gold medal winner but none on backstroke (as yet, perhaps) Michael Phelps, all inside 1:59. The cut: 2:00.09.
Rebecca Soni looks set to race lonely out front in the 200m breaststroke final, after a 2:24.85 effort in the heats, Micah Lawrence the closest contender on 2:26.29, Keri Hehn on 2:27.04. The cut: 2:28.75.
World medallist Eric Shanteau looks almost as dominant among men as Soni among women, his 2:11.21 heat granting him lane 4 for the final of the 200m breaststroke. Either side of him Elliott Keefer, 2:12.09, and Clark Burckle, 2:12.87, with 100m winner Michael Akexandrov next through on 2:12.95. All through in 2:14.62.
The last session of finals also features the two distance free events. Chloe Sutton faces Kate Ziegler and Emily Brunemann in the middle of the pool for the 800m, while Chad La Tourette is the man to beat in the 1,500m after a 15:03.75 qualifier.
