US TRIALS DAY 2 PRIMER

I will post up a review of last night's Finals session later today, but here's a look a preliminary action this morning on Day 2!!

DAY 2 EVENTS
W 100BK
M 200FR
W 100BR
M 100BK
W 400FR


FINALS TONIGHT...
W 100FL
M 100BR
W 400FR
... 100BKs, men's 200FR, women's 100BR will be semi-Final action tonight.


Women's 100BK:  How Sick Is Missy Franklin?
Curious how NBC's coverage of Olympic Trials last night was sure to point out that Missy Franklin wasn't at 100% health...  Hopefully Franklin will be ready to go today and feeling better for Finals tomorrow night because she should be the star of the women's team.  1-2 should be Franklin and Coughlin, however a pair of very talented 18-year olds, Rachel Bootsma and Elizabeth Pelton, are primed to step up if either Franklin or Coughlin slip.


Men's 200FR:  Lochte vs. Phelps Round 2
Phelps and Lochte dual it out again, they will be 1-2, book it.  Who fills out the relay?  Vanderkaay was good enough in the 400FR last night, he should be good for one of the relay spots.  Beyond that there is a dog fight for the remain spot and alternate spots.  It will be interesting to see how Matt McLean bounces back after a 9th place finish in the 400FR and had to watch a 400FR he probably could have won.  The psych sheets in the men's 200FR is a who's who of American swimming excellence...  Berens, Walters, Hill, Houchin, Klueh, Jaeger, Weber-Gale, Bollier, Tarwater, Nolan, Surhoff, Feeley, Dyer, Brunelli... awesome.

Women's 100BR: Jessica Hardy's Redemption
Rebecca Soni is the overwhelming favourite to win this event, the primary challenge will come from Jessica Hardy who is looking to avenge being bumped from the 2008 Olympic Team.  It's been a long road for Hardy who was bumped by testing positive for a banned substance in 2008 after receiving a tainted supplement.  There's a large gulf between Soni, Hardy and the rest of the field.

Men's 100BK:  FULLY LOADED
The US has 4 elite backstrokers and only 2 are punching their passport for London in the 100BK.  Nick Thoman, David Plummer, Matt Grevers, Ryan Lochte.  Will Lochte's aggressive event schedule cost him a spot in the 100BK?  Maybe but unlikely.  Pick them 1-4... OK...  Grevers, Thoman, Lochte, Plummer although I'm likely VERY wrong.

Women's 400FR:  Katie Hoff?
Katie Hoff passed on the 400IM to pursue the freestyles...  Bold.  Five women with entry times at 4:05.... Chloe Sutton, Allison Schmitt, Hoff, Katie Ziegler, Kathleen Ledecky.  2 go...  I'll take Schmitt & Sutton.