Michigan sophomore Paul Powers just scored a shiny new Big Ten Conference Record in the men’s 50 freestyle, scoring a title-winning time of 18.85 tonight in West Lafayette at the Big Ten Championships.
Paul Powers splashes, dashes to history in the 50 Freestyle. WATCH: https://t.co/xnMLbBAo1b
— Michigan Swimming & Diving (@umichswimdive) February 26, 2016
As originally reported by Loretta Race:
50 FREE – FINAL
- Paul Powers, Michigan – 18.85
- Ali Khalafalla, Indiana – 19.27
- Adam Johnston, Purdue – 19.61
Sophomore Paul Powers demolished his personal best from this morning (19.03) and crushed a new Big Ten Conference record time of 18.85 to take the win tonight. Splitting 9.12/9.73, Powers manhandled the men’s 50 freestyle, owning the race from start to finish and touching almost half a second ahead of the next competitor. Remember, Powers won this event in 2015 in a time of 19.30….a time which seems, dare I say, “slow” compared to what the NCAA studs have been throwing down as of late.
With Florida’s Caeleb Dressel and now two NC State swimmers scoring sub-19-second times, Powers chose just the right time to unleash his potential and rock the conference’s fastest time in history.
Knocking .03 of a second off of his own newly-minted school record from this morning, Indiana sophomore Ali Khalafalla touched in 19.27 to win the runner-up spot in the men’s 50 freestyle.
Purdue’s Adam Johnston wrangled in a 3rd place finish with his mark of 19.61 to round out the podium and clear 27 points for the Boilermakers.
Awesome. I’ve always been a fan of Paul Powers because of his coaches ties to the Race Club both in high school and college. I’m expecting big things from him this summer. He didn’t have a great summer last year…went the same times as he did in 2014. But in 2014 his yards times was 19.55 and he went a 22.24 in LCM. This swim tonight shows that he is on a new level. I think he can go 21.6-21.7 this summer. Everyone is always sleeping on Paul Powers but Mike Bottom knows what he is doing when it comes to the 50 LCM free and it is going to be fun to watch Powers develop throughout his career in… Read more »
Called it! He will make finals in the 50 free at OT