US Olympic Swimming Trials 2021 Wave 2 Results: Kieran Smith, Emma Weyant, Chase Kalisz qualify for Tokyo

The first night of the US Olympic Swimming Trials Wave 2 produced six swimmers for the Tokyo Olympics. The likes of the experienced Chase Kalisz and youngsters Kieren Smith and Emma Weyant earned tickets. The Trials, being held in Omaha, included three finals and two semifinals on the night with Olympians for men's 400m individual medley (IM), men's 400m free, and women's 400m individual medley getting decided.

Six Olympians were decided, while the two semifinals showed there is plenty of drama in stock for the upcoming week of the US Olympic swimming trials.

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Day 1 Wave 2 final results summary

Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland showed how experience mattered in long-distance swimming by securing tickets to Tokyo Games by overcoming a stiff challenge from Carson Foster in the 400m IM event. Like Ryan Lochte did at the 2016 trials, Carson Foster started with a massive lead, but eventually, the fatigue caught up as Rio Olympians Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland hunted him down.

The 🐐 @MichaelPhelps is in the building at #SwimTrials21. pic.twitter.com/kdVzIJwoYP

— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) June 14, 2021

There was no surprise in the men's 400m free final of the US Olympic Swimming Trials, as Kieren Smith stamped his authority as the country's upcoming swimming star. The University of Florida swimmer clinched an Olympic berth with his personal best of 3:44:78 (well below FINA's 'A' cut-off time of 3:46.78).

Kieren Smith avoided an embarrassment for Team USA, with no one till then posting an Olympic qualifying time in the event. Runner-up Jake Mitchell’s 3:48.17 was well outside the standard.

But arguably, the swim final of the day was the women's 400m IM, with 19-year-old Emma Weyant beating the top names to clinch a seat in the Tokyo-bound US Olympic team bus.

Hali Flickinger took the early lead in the match, partly due to her expertise in the butterfly discipline, but the experienced Melaine Margalis clawed her way back.

The two, however, couldn't have anticipated what was in Emma Wayent's reservoir as the young swimmer produced a final 50m for the ages as she beat both heavyweights with a time of 4:33:81.

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Who qualifies for the Tokyo Olympics?

Six Olympians were decided on the first night from the three finals of the US Olympic Swimming Trials. Chase Kalisz and Jay Litherland's experience helped them clinch the two spots for the men's 400m IM event while upcoming swimming star Kieren Smith dominated the men's 400m free.

Step 1: Qualify for the #TokyoOlympicsStep 2: Hug @MichaelPhelps Big day for @chasekalisz. #SwimTrials21 pic.twitter.com/gPmHtNpbT4

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) June 14, 2021

Jason Mitchell came second in the men's free event at the US Olympic swimming trials. The women's 400 IM, saw favorite Melaine Margalis crash out as young Emma Weyant and butterfly-specialist Hali Flickinger secured the two tickets to Tokyo.

Complete list of Tokyo Olympians from Day 1 of Wave 2

• Men's 400m IM
• Chase Kalisz (ABSC), 4:09.09
• Jay Litherland (DYNA), 4:10.33

• Men's 400m Free
• Kieran Smith (FLOR), 3:44.86
• Jake Mitchell (CSC), 3:48.17

• Women's 400m IM
• Emma Weyant (SYS), 4:33.81
• Hali Flickinger (SUN), 4:33.96

All the major results of US Olympic swimming trials 2021 Day 1

Apart from the three finals, there were also two important semifinals on the first night of the US Olympic swimming trials. The women's 100m fly and the men's 100m breast produced stellar performances, with Torri Huske and Michael Andrew looking in good shape for Olympic berths.

Men's 400m IM (Final)

1. Chase Kalisz, 4:09.09
2. Jay Litherland, 4:10.33
3. Carson Foster, 4:10.86

Women's 100m Fly (Semis)

1. Torri Huske, 55.78 AR
2. Claire Curzan, 56.81
3. Kelsi Dahlia, 56.91
4. Kate Douglass, 57.07
5. Katie McLaughlin, 57.63
6. Regan Smith, 57.73
7. Olivia Bray, 58.07
8. Aly Tetzloff, 58.21

Men's 400m Free (Final)

1. Kieran Smith, 3:44.86
2. Jake Mitchell, 3:48.17
3. Ross Dant, 3:48.30

Women's 400m IM (Final)

1. Emma Weyant, 4:33.81
2. Hali Flickinger, 4:33.96
3. Melanie Margalis, 4:34.08

Men's 100m Breast (semis)

1. Michael Andrew, 58.14 AR
2. Nic Fink, 58.50
3. Andrew Wilson, 59.08
4. Kevin Cordes, 59.33
5. Max McHugh, 59.68
6. Josh Matheny, 1:00.25
7. Will Licon, 1:00.33
8. Ben Cono, 1:00.36

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