Reported by Braden Keith:
The Texas men’s swimming & diving teams held their annual Class Relay Meets on Thursday, and the results were the most encouraging results yet this season for the defending NCAA Champions.
In the meet, which is one of many uniquely-formatted intrasquad meets (which are more like glorified full-speed practices) employed by Texas head coach Eddie Reese every season, the swimmers compete in a 200 medley relay and 200 free relay by class. That is to say, an all-star relay of freshmen compete against an all-star relay of sophomores, against one of juniors, against one of seniors, in each of two relays.
Last year’s meet saw some incredible splits from Townley Haas and Joseph Schooling, both of whom would go on to win multiple NCAA titles in individual events.
This year saw more fireworks from the pair, along with their teammates.
The best splits in each race, regardless of class:
200 medley
- Backstroke – John Shebat – 21.16
- Breaststroke – Will Licon – 23.64
- Butterfly – Joseph Schooling – 19.68
- Freestyle – Townley Haas – 18.70
- Aggregate – 1:23.18
200 free relay
- Flat start – Jack Conger – 19.41
- Relay start – Joseph Schooling – 18.87
- Relay start – John Shebat – 19.00
- Relay start – Townley Haas – 19.19
- Aggregate – 1:16.47
Among the highlights:
- The aggregate time of the medley relay was 1:23.18, which would’ve beaten all but 3 relays at NCAAs last year. Texas placed 3rd at NCAAs in 1:22.75 with the same 3 legs, except for the now-graduated John Murray. He split 19.15 in finals for the Longhorns – Haas split 18.70 on Thursday.
- While Schooling wasn’t quite as fast as he was in the 200 medley relay finals at NCAAs in 2016 (19.36), his split was better than prelims (19.72) and also faster than any other split at NCAAs from last season. After a rocky start to the season, Schooling’s performance on Thursday says he’s rounding into form just in time for championship season to start.
- Texas won the 200 free relay at NCAAs last year with Brett Ringgold, Schooling, Jack Conger, and Murray combining for a 1:14.88. On relative terms, their 1:16.47 on Thursday wasn’t as impressive as the medley relay aggregate, though it was on a relatively quick turnaround. Schooling’s 18.87 was the only sub-19 split on Thursday – he was 18.53 to lead the Longhorns at NCAAs last year as well.
- Jack Conger, Will Licon, and the seniors won the 200 medley relay, while the sophomores, including both Haas and Shebat, won the 200 free relay. Last season, the class that are now sophomores won both relays as freshmen.
This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.
Excited to see what they throw down vs TCU this afternoon! Anyone else attending?
Heard will licon ain’t hard but his sister is
Bead will Licon ain’t hard but his sister is
Haas has an incredible range – he is gonna abe very dangerous comes Trials , specially on the 200 free LC .
He’s dangerous now.
He was our fastest split in Rio, if I remember correctly.
I’m probably ignorant, but I had no idea he had an 18.7 speed, especially in a glorified practice.
Conger had those tapes on his back…why not guess he is the one who’s in the picture?
I once saw Andrew Porte squat 400+.
Isn’t he a junior by eligibility but like 24 years old?
I showed my 11-12 yo rec team-ers the videos of both of these races at practice tonight. Mostly just wanted to show ’em what people goin’ real fast looks like, but I ended up pointing out how berserk Licon was going at the end of the medley. Gave ’em a whole spiel on practice intensity; “loogit how invested they are, etc etc.” Had, by far, our best practice of the year right after.
Also, love how candid Coach Reese is in these. Amazing.
Who was squatting that much? Any guesses? I think it was Will Licon
Can’t say…. could be a lot of UT swimmers (and I promised Eddie not to share)
…but 360 pound squats (that’s 360 lbs x4) is impressive. Can’t think of any swimmers squatting more. I’m sure some swimmer has…but I’ve not hear of it.
I can’t remember where, but i’ve heard that Phelps got up to 385×3 and Thorpe hit 405×3. Can anyone back me up?
Can’t remember where, but I remember a video saying that Phelps got up to 385×3 in pursuit of Thorpe’s reported best of 405×3. Hoping another commenter can back me up
….didn’t hear that, but I’d love some confirmation on it.
According to this article, in a Facebook live video before the Rio Olympics, Phelps said his max squat was 385 pounds.
http://www.yourswimlog.com/michael-phelps-numbers/#
I read in Michael phelps’ autobiography “no limits” that back in his Michigan days he could squat 300 pounds for 20 reps
I also remember hearing about Phelps squatting that much. I think it was in an interview of an arena pro swim series but I can not remember.
Come on dude! Adrian could squat that, easy. The guy can dumbbell press 240. I’m sure his squat max is past 450 at least.
I don’t recall the exact weight, but I remember Nathan Adrian putting up something ridiculous. 400+ maybe?
It was Will
No it was Austin Temple
Temppssssss
From where it looks like those safety pins are set up, seems like no one did.
GET THOSE GARBAGE HALF-SQUATS OUTTA HERE.
I heard Will Licon wasn’t hard though.
Definitely looks like Licon
Those aren’t real squats haha. Having something to sit down on takes away the most difficult part of the lift. Definitely fake if Will Licon is behind that bar #chickenlegs