The men’s 100 yard freestyle was tabbed to be one of, if not the, premier event at this year’s United States Masters Swimming National Championships, and it lived up to billing.
In the men’s 25-29 age group, Nathan Adrian won and crushed the Masters National Record with a 41.13. That nearly cracked his own personal best that was done in 2009 at NCAA’s in the polyurethane suits; in combination with his 50 from Friday, and considering that this is the first weekend of May, Adrian continues to demonstrate how locked-in he is.
Adrian’s best time of 41.13 is not only the Masters’ National Record, but it also rattled the USA Swimming, any age, no-holds-barred American Record in the event, just .05 off of the mark Adrian already owns with that 2009 swim.
(Update: Adrian’s swim was originally reported as tying the American record at 41.08, but a statement from USMS on Sunday announced that this was a timing error, and his actual time was a 41.13. You can read the statement here.)
In this race, Adrian beat 29-year old South African Darian Townsend, who while still competing as a pro has become much more of a fixture on the Masters’ circuit, was 2nd in 43.13. That’s exactly a second away from the 42.13 that he had held as a Masters’ Record before today.
Moving up the age groups, Anthony Ervin (43.18) broke Mike Picotte’s 2004 National Record with a 43.18. Picotte’s old mark was a 44.53.
Mario Marshall took 2nd in that age group in 46.24.
Josh Davis was a 3rd National Record breaker, having been a 45.15 iat 41 to win the men’s 40-44 age group. The old mark was a 2008 Michael Ross 45.35.
The winners of these 100 frees went much the way of the 50 frees the day before. 8-time Olympic gold medalist Matt Biondi took the 45-49 age group in 46.83.
David Sims continued to be one of the biggest stars at this meet in the men’s 50-54 age group. He won his 3rd event of the weekend with a 47.74 in this 100 yard free, taking the group by two-and-a-half seconds.
A 4th swimmer got in on the record-breaking action in the men’s 80-84 age group. David Radcliff from Oregon was a 1:04.60 in the men’s 100 free; that not only won by 14 seconds, it broke the Masters’ National Record by more than 4. Radcliff has dominated the record book for his age group since Thursday, when he broke 4 American Masters’ Records in one swim on Thursday in the 1650 free.
A full Saturday recap will be available at the session’s conclusion.
Full, live meet results available here.
Is Josh Davis training in USRPT?
If yes, then it’s quite a supporting proof of USRPT effectiveness for older swimmers
aswimfan – Yes, Josh says that he’s training USRPT.
According to his Club Coach at Tacoma Swim Club (Jay Benner), one of Nathan’s best training sets in high school was 15×500 Descended and was also just under 30 minutes on a 3000 for time. Off of that training, he could swim a really fast 100 Free – Longcourse even in high school. Good training for a sprinter!
Matt Biondi 46.83
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BbsTYzfRjc
Josh Davis 45.15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpfgBU8Fsvs
Nathan Adrian 41.08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_28fqQx6Ops
41.13
Way to go Dave! He’s a great, hard working guy who loves swimming! Still killing it in his 80s! He’s an inspiration!
More 2014 USMS
100 Free Vids
Josh Davis 45.1. 40 – 44
http://youtu.be/FpfgBU8Fsvs
Biondi 46.8 45 – 49
http://youtu.be/2BbsTYzfRjc
Anthony Ervin 43.1 30 – 34
http://youtu.be/w81A0TBUh3M
Awesome, awesome, awesome swim by Mr. Adrian. I saw him swim last week in Mesa as a volunteer and I love that he brought the same fire and “game” to Masters Nationals where I get to compete (albeit, not with him). It is ELECTRIC to have Olympians of any age competing at Masters’ meets. I think I speak for the vast, vast majority of USMS swimmers when I say – come one and all to play with us!