Caeleb Dressel captured his third title of the US Swim Championships by winning the 50-meter freestyle Saturday in the final race of the World Championships qualifying meet.
Dressel, who earlier captured the 50 and 100 butterfly titles, won the 50 free in 21.53 seconds, beating Nathan Adrian by .34 of a second.
He will also swim in the worlds July 14-30 at Budapest in the 100 free after a runner-up effort in that event.
“It feels good,” Dressel said. “I just have to work on my last 25 meters in the next few weeks. If your focus is set on one race at a time, all of your energy is going to go into that one race — that’s what really helps me.”
Five-time Olympic champion Katie Ledecky withdrew from the 1,500 freestyle Saturday after winning the women’s 200, 400 and 800 free titles.
Because Ledecky is already on the team, she can be named to join US champion Leah Smith, who won in 16:01.02, in the event at worlds.
Since Ledecky set the world record of 15:25.48 at the 2015 worlds in Russia, it would be a stunner if she weren’t chosen for the spot.
In Saturday’s other men’s races, Clark Smith won the men’s 800 free in 7:50.43, edging Zane Grothe by .54 of a second, and Chase Kalisz won the 200 individual medley in 1:56.51, the fastest time in the world this year.
On the women’s side, Simone Manuel won her fourth career national title and third in the 50 freestyle in 24.27 while the 200 individual medley went to Melanie Margalis in 2:09.57.
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