Michael Andrew continued his strong run at the Columbia (Missouri) Sectional by putting up the 3rd-fastest 200 meter IM in USA Swimming history for the 15-16 age group.
Andrew had already highlighted this weekend with two new National Age Group records in the 100 breast, culminating in a 1:01.00 in the final. (Race video here). But on Saturday night, he added a big time drop in the 200 IM to move into some elite company.
Andrew dropped more than two seconds off his previous lifetime-best to go 2:01.10, winning the Sectional title and moving all the way to #3 in the 15-16 historical ranks. Ahead of him? Two names you just might recognize:
Top 15-16 200 IMers in USA Swimming history
- Andrew Seliskar – 1:59.84
- Michael Phelps – 2:00.86
- Michael Andrew – 2:01.10
- Kyle Whitaker – 2:01.27
- David Nolan – 2:02.19
Andrew’s previous best was a 2:03.53 from last summer’s Junior Nationals.
After rewriting the National Age Group record books in the 13-14s, Andrew has only been able to move into the 15-16 records in the 100 breast. But tonight’s swim leaves him just over a second off the 200 IM NAG with just under a year still left in the age group.
Andrew already owns the 13-14 200 IM NAG, and his great short speed in all four strokes would suggest the 200 IM could become a dangerous event for him down the road. Tonight’s swim was keyed on the breaststroke split – as one might guess after his great breaststroke races in Columbia – but was also pretty consistent across the board.
His splits:
- Fly – 25.32
- Back – 30.56
- Breast – 34.59
- Free – 30.63
- Total – 2:01.10
You can find full Columbia Sectional results on Meet Mobile.
I was at the meet. Michael had little if no competition especially coming home in the medley. In his 200free he was working on a specific technique and not worried about his time. In the 50 he was swimming against some fast swimmers but at about the 40m mark put it into another gear and looked so strong. Michael has outstanding starts and a great kick. You couldnt ask for nicer people who are always open and willing to share. My swimmers are so inspired by Michael who is just such a great kid. He also made his 100free Trial cut last weekend. All I can say is WOW!
He looks like a robot in that fly photo. maybe terminator jr son of arnold.!!
Can he break the 2-minute barrier in a few weeks?
And what will he swim at world juniors?
Ok. First he needs to qualify.
He’s so versatile. But he can’t swim everything.
He would competitive there in the 50 free, 50 fly, 100 fly, 50 back, 100 back, 50 breast, 100 breast, 200 breast, 200 IM.
Has to make some hard but necessary schedule choices.
Just let the young man swim his way. The rest will come along if he maintains himself and is not distracted. Everyone is so exact all the time. There is always an element of a roll of the dice in all swimming and careers. Relax time will take care of it’s self.
This makes that 200 free from the other night all the more confusing….is he splitting similar in fly and back to the first 100 freestyle of his 200 free?
This is wicked fast. Gotta be looking for MA to break some barriers in August: 2:00 in the IM, 1:01 in the breast, and 50 in the free. I think there’s also a good chance he breaks 53 in the fly, if he chooses to focus on that as well.
I definitely agree with those saying he could back off just a tad on the fly. I think the back and breast are about where they need to be. Looking at Lochte/Phelps/Hagino (all 1:54-1:55 IMers), they each typically take it out in 24.8ish, sometimes up to 25.0. I don’t think that MA should be taking it out within a half second of the three best IMers in the world when… Read more »
Great swim from Andrew . Interesting to not Seliskar hasnt improved his time in this event since he set that 15-16 NAG of 1:59.84 in 2013. Hope Andrew can get this NAG this summer
Also swam a 22.63 in his 50 free so he’s closing in on that NAG as well.