Reported by Mitch Bowmile.
MEN’S 200M BREASTSTROKE FINALS
Top seed: Kevin Cordes (2:07.81)
World record: 2:07.01 – Akhiro Yamaguchi (Japan)
American record: 2:07.42 – Eric Shanteau
U.S Open record: 2:07.86 – Kevin Cordes
U.S Nationals record: 2:07.86 – Kevin Cordes
JR World record: 2:09.84 – Anton Chupkov (Russia)
2012 Winning Time: 2:09.01 – Scott Weltz
Move over Kevin Cordes, Josh Prenot is the new American record holder in the 200m breaststroke and the second fastest performer of all time in this event.
Prenot swam the most controlled 200m breaststroke of the field, waiting patiently until the last 50 to fully strike and take down both Cordes and Texas’ Will Licon.
After the first 50, it was Cordes ahead of the field with a 28.49 split, turning in under world record pace. Prenot turned fourth in 29.21 behind Cordes, Cody Miller and BJ Johnson.
At the 100-meter mark Cordes turned in a 1:00.77, well under world record pace and almost a full second faster than Prenot who turned in 1:01.47. Once again, he was fourth to the wall, this time behind Will Licon and Miller.
On the last wall Cordes was ahead and still well under world record pace with just 50-meters to go. Prenot moved up to second at the 150, passing both Licon and Miller in order to make his move.
Prenot began to fly, splitting a 32.98 on the last 50 (almost a full second faster than anyone else in the field), and heading hard into the wall. He passed Cordes with roughly 30-meters to go and charged to the wall, chasing the world record.
Cordes and Licon began to battle for the silver, trading the second place position back-and-forth.
Prenot touched in for gold in 2:07.17 to put up the second fastest performance only behind world record holder Akhiro Yamaguchi.
Cordes managed to get has hands on the wall ahead of Licon with a 2:08.00 to Licon’s 2:08.14.
- Josh Prenot (2:07.17) AM
- Kevin Cordes (2:08.00)
- Will Licon (2:08.14)
- Andrew Wilson (2:09.35)
- Cody Miller (2:10.22)
- BJ johnson (2:10.70)
- Nic Fink (2:11.55)
- Brendan McHugh (2:14.88)
For official results click here.
I wonder what kind of times be could’ve put up if he swam the finals of the 2 and 4 im. Obviously, his breaststroke has improved but based off his college season performances, his fly has gotten a lot better as well.
I don’t wonder that at all.
Fortunately he scratched the 200 IM.
His future is breaststroke and only breaststroke.
His future is what he wants it to be. Breaststroke only? Fine. But he has a great IM, and we’ll be missing the two best IMers ever very soon.
You can tell the future of his career by his 400 IM in prelims he didnt try on? Starting to understand by people down vote you. He beat litherland at ncaa and would have given him a good race again here if didn’t decide to focus on the 100 br.
You can’t judge someone’s future by one meet Bobo. He knew he had a way better chance of making the Breast events, I believe he could’ve made all of the Im and breast events if he wanted to.
Question, when was the last time an American made the team in a breaststroke event and a non-breaststroke event? I can’t think off the top of my head, for females I think of Leverenz, but I don’t think she ever made an Olympic team in breaststroke. Can anyone else think of someone?
Shanteau made a World Championship team, going 1:55 and 2:07/58.9 in 2009. That year Phelps didn’t swim IM. Other than that, its been a WHILE. Granted it’s been nearly impossible for anyone not named Phelps or Lochte to make the team since then have been unbeatable in the IM’s the past decade.
On the Women’s side, I know Tracy Caulkins did it in the 1980’s. She had the American record in EVERY STROKE at the time, so I’m not sure if you would call her a “breaststroker” but she did swim breast in the US medley relays.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bF9XNk7iARk
Race video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5Rwcy0QuC0
That was the fastest 200 breast i have seen in a long while – and so close to the WR . Amazing depth in the Usa in Breast right now …like in the UK .
He says he got caught up in uni preparation and prioritized that, stopped obsessively watching videos for technique tips, and then lost his confidence when he got slower. He’s still young so hope he can get it back.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/cordes-prenot-head-rio-200m-breaststroke-trials