**Elite Swimmers Shine in Qualifiers for Paris Olympics 2024**
ICARO Media Group
**Surging Performances Shape Up for Paris Olympics 2024 Qualifiers**
In a thrilling series of heats, swimmers showcased remarkable performances that are shaping the competition for the Paris Olympics 2024.
Grant Bochenski and Daniel Baltes ignited the morning session by setting a strong pace in heat four with a time of 49.92. Their performance was quickly eclipsed by Camden Taylor's lifetime best of 49.40, along with notable efforts from Hudson Williams and Quin Seider, all breaking the 50-second mark.
The excitement continued as Olympic Trials finalist Destin Lasco battled against Arizona State's Jonny Kulow in heat seven. In a dramatic finish, Lasco closed with a 24.81 split and clocked in at 48.72, a personal best, outpacing Kulow, who also set his lifetime best at 47.84. Olympian Brooks Curry followed closely with a 48.33.
In the subsequent heat, Kulow's teammate Patrick Sammon joined him under the 48-second threshold, finishing with a 47.87 against Olympic finalist Chris Guiliano. The competition culminated with a stunning performance from Jack Alexy, who became the seventh man to break the 47-second mark in the 100 freestyle, setting a new U.S. Open record at 46.99. This put him just fractions of a second behind Caeleb Dressel's 2019 American record of 46.96.
Heading into the championship final, Cal swimmers Alexy and Lasco lead the pack, although Curry missed out by finishing ninth. Notably, the qualifiers highlighted the depth of talent with names like Guiliano and Shaine Casas from Texas, and Arizona State's Jonny Kulow, Patrick Sammon, and Grant House making their marks.
On the women's side, Virginia teammates Maxine Parker and Claire Curzan resolved their tie for eighth place in a 50 freestyle swim-off. Parker clinched the spot with a 24.67, securing her a lane in the championship final and a chance to return to the World Championship team.
With these standout performances, swimmers are setting a high bar as they prepare for the Paris Olympics 2024, promising intense competition and thrilling races ahead.
