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U.S. Olympic Swim Trial Day 5: McLaughlin makes Team USA, Klinker makes 200 Fly final

Ryan Murphy and Abbey Weitzeil are a part of the 9 Cal Bears that have made Thursday night's semifinal races

Ruey Yen

Jun 17, 2021

Day 4 saw a 3rd Cal Bear qualified for Tokyo. Katie McLaughlin became a first-time “Calympian” by earning a place on the Team USA 4x200m Free Relay.

Since I did not get around to finish this post today until after the prelim session is over, I am happy to report that 9 Bears across three events have qualified for tonight’s semifinal swims. Abbey Weitzeil and Destin Lasco earned the top seed time in W. 100 Free and M. 200 Back while all 4 Cal men in 200 Back won their heat!

Katie McLaughlin is your newest Calympian

Cal W Swim & Dive @CalWSwim

Is that Cal's newest Olympian in the middle? Why yes, it's Katie McLaughlin! #GoBears #SwimTrials21 #OlympiansMadeHere

By placing 4th in 200 Free, Katie McLaughlin has earned a spot on Team USA by qualifying for the 4x200 Free Relay. Check out the full race below (which could be geo-lock to be US-only). McLaughlin nearly took the second spot behind Katie Ledecky, which would have allowed her to also race in 200 Free, but faded slightly in the last 50m.

Nonetheless, becoming an Olympian has got to be sweet redemption for Katie McLaughlin. After a strong high school senior year, McLaughlin was a favorite to make the Rio Games as a Cal freshman 5 years ago. But she suffered a freak neck injury that January, which prevented her from swimming at the NCAA that year. While she recovered in time to race in that Olympic Trials, she was certainly not at her best that June.

McLaughlin helped Cal to several relay NCAA titles during her Cal career. Now she will hope to do the same for Team USA, where the women are expected to win Gold, unlike their male counterparts.

Rachel Klinker earns a spot in 200m Fly final

Rising Cal junior Rachel Klinker just missed out on the 100 Fly final by placing 10th in that semifinal earlier this week. She was able to make the 200 Fly final with the 7th best semifinal time.

Cal W Swim & Dive @CalWSwim

Rachel Klinker with a massive PR - 2:09.18 - and she's into the 200 fly finals! #GoBears #SwimTrials21

Klinker already posted a PR (personal record), but she will likely need to lower that time by another 1.5 seconds to challenge Hali Flickinger and Regan Smith on Thursday night.

Trenton Julian ran out of gas in 200m Fly Final

Trenton Julian came out fast in 200 Fly semifinal on Tuesday night before fading to third in the last 50m. With possibly a better strategy on Wednesday night, it looked like Julian might earn a top-2 spot in 200 Fly, but he slipped to 5th in the last 20m or so. You can watch that race here.

Cal Men's Swim & Dive @calmenswim

Fifth place for @TrentonJulian (1:56.35) in the 200 fly final. Great effort. #SwimTrials21

As a young guy, Julian has already bounced back to qualify for the 200 IM semifinal on Thursday night. Julian had also swum in 200 Free earlier this week.

Nathan Adrian and Jack Alexy out in 100m Free semi

I truly still believe that Nathan Adrian can make his 4th Olympic via the 50m Free this weekend. Nonetheless, it was sad to see Adrian fade in the second half of his 100m Free semifinal swim. Adrian had the lead at the turn but just could not hold it and slide to 6th in the first semifinal.

Cal Men's Swim & Dive @calmenswim

The Bears go 10th & 13th in the 100 free semis. 10. Jack Alexy (48.82) - alternate 13. Nathan Adrian (48.92)

Also just missing out on the final was incoming Cal freshman Jack Alexy. Alexy set a new National Age Group (age 16-17) record in the prelim and nearly put himself in a final where up to 6 Olympic berths were available.

Reece Whitley’s Olympic dream will have to wait

Unfortunately, Whitley could not yet live up to the hype in the 2021 Olympic trials. More frustrating is how Whitley did not even make the finals (top-8) of either Breaststroke events. As one of the youngest competitors in the men’s breaststroke field, Reece Whitley should still be in his prime in 3 years.

Cal Men's Swim & Dive @calmenswim

Reece Whitley (2:11.12) takes 10th in the 200 breast semis. He's the second alternate for Thursday's final. #SwimTrials21

Former Calympian Josh Prenot might be done with swimming after losing in 200m Breast

Josh Prenot sounded rather practical on Twitter after his 200m Breast disappointment in the prelims. The US Record holder and 2016 Rio Silver Medalist just could not replicate that magic. He had struggled through some World Championships and two seasons of ISL racing to live up to that lofty standard set 5 years ago.

Josh Prenot @JoshPrenot

I’m sorry to the people who have been rooting for me and believing in me. It’s not for lack of effort, but I’m clearly not anywhere near my best and haven’t been for quite a while.

Josh Prenot @JoshPrenot

This is a pretty simple sport - if you’re honest with yourself, you can’t blame your performances on anything external - it’s just you vs water. I have been doing all I can to figure it out, and failing, and that’s on me.

Josh Prenot @JoshPrenot

How whole-heartedly I have pursued peak performance for the past 5 years, and how rarely I have found it, has really broken my brain. Sometimes (Jul ‘18) it just flows. Most of the time I’m just pissed off at myself for not being able to do what I know I’m capable of.

Josh Prenot @JoshPrenot

Not taking my name off the anti doping list just yet but also definitely not racing for the next year at least. We’ll see if I forget how much I currently hate it and end up missing it at some point.

Josh Prenot @JoshPrenot

Still a swim fan though. Go bears / go team 🇺🇸

If this is indeed it for Prenot’s swimming career, he achieved a pinnacle (USA Olympian, a Silver medal) that few athletes can match. With his Cal physics degree, I am sure Prenot can find a fine second career elsewhere.

Prenot was technically still listed on the prelim heat sheet for 200 IM, but he did not swim that event on Thursday morning.

Day 5 Schedule and Cal Bears to watch

Thursday, June 17

Morning session, 8 AM PT, LIVESTREAM

Women’s 100 freestyle preliminaries

Just like 200 Free, there are more spots (4 guaranteed, likely 6) for the finalists of this event due to the 4x100m Free Relay.

1: Abbey Weitzeil (53.52) - Q

10: Katie McLaughlin (54.72) - Q

18: Isabel Ivey (55.30)

T58: Ayla Spitz (56.87)

Cal W Swim & Dive @CalWSwim

Two Bears advance to tonight's 100 free semis, led by top seed @AbbeyWeitzeil!. #GoBears #SwimTrials21 1. Abbey Weitzeil 53.52 - Q 10. Katie McLaughlin 54.72 - Q 18. Isabel Ivey 55.30 58. Ayla Spitz 56.87

Men’s 200 backstroke preliminaries

200 Back was the event that saw Cal sweep both Olympic berths 5 years ago when Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley book the two spots. There is a strong possibility of a repeat of the Cal sweep this year, even after Pebley’s recent retirement from swimming.

1: D. Lasco (1:56.88) - Q, winner of heat 3

2: B. Mefford (1:57.51) - Q, winner of heat 5

5: R. Murphy (1:57.95) - Q, winner of heat 6

7: D. Carr (1:59.09) - Q, winner of heat 4

22: G. Jett (2:01.46)

28: C. Mefford (2:02.18)

Cal Men's Swim & Dive @calmenswim

This group can cruise. 🔥🔥🔥 Four Golden Bears earn top-7 seeds & advance to the #SwimTrials21 200 back semifinals! 1. D. Lasco (1:56.88) - Q 2. B. Mefford (1:57.51) - Q 5. R. Murphy (1:57.95) - Q 7. D. Carr (1:59.09) - Q 22. G. Jett (2:01.46) 28. C. Mefford (2:02.18)