Kevin Cordes Takes U.S. Open Record with 2:07.81 200 Breast Semi

2016 U.S. Olympic Trials

• Sunday June 26th-Sunday July 3rd, 2016
• Century Link Center – Omaha, Nebraska
• Friday-Sunday – Prelims – 11:00 am EDT   Finals – 7:45 pm EDT
• SwimSwam Preview Links & Schedule
• NBC Televison Coverage Schedule
• Psych Sheets
• Wednesday heats sheet
• Live results

Kevin Cordes of Fox Valley set a new U.S. Open record in the 200 breaststroke semifinals today, clocking in at 2:07.81 to take down his own previous record, a 2:07.86 from September of 2014.

Cordes’s 50 splits from his swim tonight were 28.89, 32.18, 32.93, and 33.81; his 100 splits were 1:01.07 and 1:06.79.

He is the second-fastest American 200 breaststroker in history, behind only Eric Shanteau, who swam his record performance at the suit-era 2009 World Championships in Rome, Italy.

Tomorrow, Cordes will fight for another event on the Olympic team; he already took down the American and U.S. Open records in the semifinals of the 100 breast, then winning the event for a spot on the Olympic team.

He is also second in the world this year behind Germany’s Marco Koch, who went 2:07.69 at the January Euro Meet in Luxembourg.

Tomorrow, Cordes will have Josh Prenot right on his tail. The Cal standout also played with world record pace through 150 meters prior to falling short and ultimately touching in at 2:08.41.