2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
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Reported by Lauren Neidigh.
MEN’S 100 BREAST:
- World Record: Adam Peaty, 57.13, 2016
- American Record: Kevin Cordes, 58.64, 2017
- Championship Record: Kevin Cordes, 58.74, 2017
- U.S. Open Record: Kevin Cordes, 58.74, 2017
- GOLD: Michael Andrew– 59.38
- SILVER: Andrew Wilson– 59.43
- BRONZE: Devin Nowicki- 59.48
- FOURTH: Kevin Cordes– 59.72
He got it done again. Michael Andrew made headlines for his stroke 50 speed last summer, but now he’s officially qualified for the Pan Pacs squad with his win in the 100 breast. Andrew, whose usual M.O. is his front-end speed, came from behind to clip Andrew Wilson (59.43) and Devon Nowicki(59.48) at the finish in 59.38. That was a best by about half a second for Andrew, who was a little bit on the fence for Pan Pacs prior to tonight after taking 3rd in the 100 fly. Last night, he broke the 50 breast U.S. Open Record, which formerly belonged to Olympic champion Adam Peaty. He’s now safely qualified for both Worlds (50 fly, 50 breast) and Pan Pacs. Andrew has had quite a meet, swimming best times in every event thus far.
Wilson should be safe for Pan Pacs, taking 2nd in both the 100 and 200 breast. Devon Nowicki, who made a big breakthrough at this meet, broke 1:00 for the first time after coming close twice this summer. He’s now on the bubble for Pan Pacs.
American Record holder Kevin Cordes was 4th in 59.72, and doesn’t look like he’ll be making the trip to Pan Pacs and in turn, won’t go to 2019 Worlds. Cordes was the 2017 national champion and silver medalist at 2017 Worlds. Likewise, fellow 2016 Olympic 100 breaststroker Cody Miller, who took bronze in Rio, won’t be making Pan Pacs or Worlds as he placed 5th in 59.77. 2o17 Worlds team member Nic Fink is also likely out after taking 4th in the 200 breast and placing 6th here in 1:00.12.
Where are all the guys that used to moan that he wasn’t any good at the 400IM LCM ? Put your hands up guys 🖐🏽
People seem to forget that MA is in fact a sprinter. Could USRPT for a 200 at the highest levels of swimming? Maybe — but we aren’t going to learn that from watching MA… he isn’t training for 200s.
Nathan Adrian doesn’t swim the 200 free. Is he also a lazy sprinter? Is his training also BS because it won’t result in him swimming fast 200s? Most people would say no.
Give USRPT a break — maybe someone will come along who executes a 200 on the system. Until then the only way to figure it out to take the risk and try it yourself.
Per my comment above, Kieran Perkins executed a longer version of USRPT, for his events. 14:41 from 1994 still gets on ANY international team and in the bigs in any 1500m race in the world. Probably top 4.
Not so sure that Ledecky didn’t practice USRPT with Gimmell. Hard to explain how a “distance” swimmer could make the 4 X 100 Relay at the last Olympics. While she is still swimming well – it’s evident her time at Stanford didn’t help (aka – other college swimmers). I think once she gets back to her normal training – she’ll be breaking records again.
None of the coaches want to talk about USRPT since it’s not “in vogue” – but wouldn’t be surprised to see some “pro” swimmers start showing up in San Diego to train with MA and PA – once they find a nice outdoor 50m pool to train in.
All this (mostly) negative talk about MA and USRPT should end now.
Some coaches tend to be risk-averse, and go with what they know. Rather than adapt new techniques, and admit possibly that they could have used other methods, they guard themselves because doing anything else is a possible admission that they could have done better. SOME coaches. Of course, there are many coaches who have achieved incredible success with other methods (Reese, Troy, Durden, Bottom, McKeever, Meehan, Holloway, etc). But the best coaches (Reese, Jim Steen at Kenyon, Bottom) are not risk-averse, and look for new ways of getting their swimmers better. Sure, it seems like the results are N=1, but, at least it is worth trying. Even… Read more »
This comment deserves to be seen by more people. Should be it’s own swimswam article
AGREED – Excellent comment / article
Post-NCAA’s, Eddie Reese admittedly he overworked his swimmers this past season and said they will be doing different types of work for next year.
He has consistently said every year coaches need to do something different with their swimmers, as the same sets will just lead to stagnation
Congrats MA and to your family. You have persevered through all the naysayers who were critical of your training, your turning pro, and the lack of support from USA Swimming. You have shown that it is possible to be a great role model and teammate, regardless what people may be saying behind your back. Your faith is refreshing in an environment when it is an “dog eat dog” world, and the confidence you have in your father and the love you have for your family is refreshing. Hopefully others will begin to recognize you can have everything in this sport, and maybe, just maybe, there are other ways to swim fast.
Beautifully said.
Lack of support from USA swimming? Like how?
The last thing that USA Swimming wanted was to see MA become successful. It doesn’t fit their traditional growth model.
well done young man.
now put all of it together again (- back), and enjoy the international scene.
Massive win for Michael. It also feels like the next step in a steady progression. Not a surprise, but certainly nothing can be taken for granted in this sport (except Ledecky). Ask any of the other guys how easy it is to get a roster spot.
Just read up on Nowicki. Gifted swimmer, obviously. That guy will break the American Record soon. He could develop into a 200 threat, too.
Yes–does anyone know if someone has had top level success with USRPT at the 200 distance?
This will keep the MA haters silent from now. I remember a comment the other day saying he wasn’t a “real swimmer”. Geez.
No it won’t. They’ll say he can’t swim 200’s now. It will always be something.
His story is really about being super consistent with his swims. Nowicki has got to have a higher upside in this event right now. Should be interesting to see this story unfold over the next two years
Nowicki lost the race on the glide into the turn. That mistake gave back a big chunk of his lead, definitely cost him more than .1 second. Fearless swimmer. Agreed, his up side is enormous. I think he’s just scratching the surface and can ride this wave of momentum a long way.
Point of semantics: MA is NOT consistent with his swims. His swims keep getting faster, overall, meet-to-meet!
That’s the kind of “inconsistency” we’d all like to see!
Congratulations, Michael Andrew!
He is consistently fast, consistently improving, and consistently trying new things to get faster.
Exaggerate much? He doesn’t do this it’s not even close. Both his 1fly and 1breast he had long dry spells without a drop. 2IM nope. 50free eh maybe a couple hundredths since last summer. I just call it consistency he gonna fight the rest of his career to drop very small amounts of time but it’s amazing how close he always swims to his best
Has he had any finals at this meet in which he DIDN’T get a best time? If he didn’t have a finals PR, how does that compare to races in this meet in which he DID get a best time? How many others who finished on a podium and earned a trip to a major meet had PR’s in this meet? I can count Regan Smith, Nowitski, and Kathleen Baker. How many others could have made USA teams this summer if they’d gone closer to their PR’s: Cordes, Miller, Shields, Hannis, Licon…? He went PR’s when it counted.
Are you allergic to giving this young man any credit? Every single person during the last several who has predicted he’d stop… Read more »
MA dropped 2 TENTHS of a second off his best time in the 50 free tonight. When you can, I’d like to see you comment on how this fits into your comment of having to fight the rest of his career to drop very small amounts.