The transition from backstroker to butterflyer continues for Texas Longhorn Jack Conger, who blasted a 51.95 in prelims of the 100 fly at the Texas Senior Circuit meet in College Station Saturday morning.
Late in his high school career, Conger seemed to be coming up through the ranks as a backstroker, but has really blown up in the fly races over the past year. In fact, he swam backstroke and freestyle a few weeks ago at the World University Games after those were the events he qualified to represent Team USA in last summer.
But Conger continues to flash in the butterfly races. This morning, he was just three tenths off his lifetime-best, which still ranks #5 in the world this year and #1 among Americans.
Even more impressive: this morning’s 100 fly was the second half of a back-to-back double. Right before the 100 fly, Conger swam the 200 back, but only went 2:05.63 for the fourth spot.
His Texas teammate Jon Roberts, representing North Texas Nadadores, was the top qualifier in 2:03.35.
It was a great day for Texas Longhorns and Longhorn Aquatic postgrads on Saturday. Clark Smith had a pair of nice swims. The NCAA 500 free champ is the top qualifier in the 200 free at 1:52.19, and is second behind Conger in the 100 fly at 53.48.
Fellow NCAA champ Will Licon dominated heats of the 400 IM, going 4:25.12 to take the top seed by over 10 full seconds.
Rising junior Rebecca Baxley leads the 200 back at 2:16.44, and And pro swimmer Lisa Boyce, who graduated from Princeton, but now trains at Texas, took the top spot in the 100 fly with a 1:01.07.
But the hosts of Texas A&M also came up big in the prelims session. U.S. Olympian Breeja Larson went 1:11.20 to easily lead the 100 breast. Larson is gearing up for the World Championships in just a few weeks.
Another Aggie, Sarah Gibson, had a pair of high-finishing races, leading the 200 free (2:06.47) and taking second in the 100 fly (1:02.52).
Former USC Trojan Maggie D’Innnocenzo is transferring to Texas for her final two college seasons, and she leads the women’s 400 IM at 4:59.07. That just outpaced Texas A&M’s Bethany Galat (4:59.64).
Another intriguing Longhorn representative is NCAA Division III national record-holder Andrew Wilson. The Emory Eagle is competing for Longhorn Aquatics in College Station this weekend, and went 1:02.41 for the top 100 breast seed. There’s no word on whether Texas is a long-term home for Wilson, or just a training home for the summer, but he has one more season of NCAA eligibility remaining.
Full results are available on Meet Mobile.
He went 51.8 in finals. (51.83)
Conger scratched the finals of the 200 back so I hope a really good 100 fly is coming up.
STOP SWIMMING BACKSTROKE
Yes!
I was more impressed with Will Licon’s 200 breast on Friday. Conger is completely rested coming off of WUGs. And he swims pretty well in time trial situations (which this meet is for him) versus when he is in the middle of a highly contested race.
American men breastrokers all the sudden are very deep. Let’s see who makes the next step at Worlds and at Trials/Olympics.
I’m not sure I agree about U.S. male breaststroke being deep. I guess there are alot in the 1:00-1:02 range for the 100 and 2:10-2:13 for 200, but that gets you nothing internationally. Prenot or Cordes or Miller (if he can stay legal) and maybe Licon would be potential choices, but let’s see some great times instead of potential.
What do you mean by “If Miller can stay legal”?
Miller has a reputation on swimswam for cheating with his dolphin kicks. 😆
Completely rested? And you know that how?
they didn’t get back from Korea and WUGS until Sunday and the meet started on Friday. If you know Eddie at all, he just believes in rest and more rest. Whenever they swim, he always says “they should have been faster …I didn’t rest them enough.”
Weirdo, what was the time by Licon in the 200 breast?
By the way I predicted a 2.08 from him at nationals.
2:11.00
Thanks.
Yes. That’s promising.
Talking about fly, Miriam Sheehan becomes the first 10 and under US girl in history under 30 seconds in the 50 fly.
29.84 in prelims at Arizona age group championships.
http://results.teamunify.com/azbest/150716P061.htm
Andrew Wilson is training at UT this summer… intriguing.
I think he will go 51.5
would love to see Conger throw down something massive tonight, like 51.2
Amen to that!