Will Licon: “I didn’t want to be ‘just another Texas swimmer'” (Video)

^{Reported by Robert Gibbs.} 

200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• NCAA record: 1:48.12 Will Licon (Texas) 3-26-2016
• American record: 1:48.12 Will Licon (Texas) 3-26-2016
• U.S. Open record: 1:48.12 Will Licon (Texas) 3-26-2016
• 2016 NCAA Champion: Will Licon (Texas) – 1:48.12

Top 3:

1. Will Licon, Texas, 1:47.91
2. Anton McKee, Alabama, 1:51.22
3. Mauro Castillo, Texas A&M, 1:52.09

Another race, another record.  Like we said, Will Licon appeared to be on cruise control this morning and primed for a record tonight.  Sure enough, the Longhorn went out under record pace, built a body length lead by the 100, and took down his own US Open, American, and NCAA record with a 1:47.91, becoming the first man to break the 1:48.00 barrier.  Licon now has five of the ten fastest times in history in this event.  Kevin Cordes has four, while Josh Prenot has one.

Alabama senior Anton McKee held down the 2nd position from wire-to-wire, ultimately touching in 1:51.22, a time that makes him the 9th-fastest performer ever in the event.  Three men jockeyed for 3rd place behind McKee.  Virginia Tech’s Brandon Fiala was 3rd at the 50, but was overtaken by South Carolina’s Nils Wich-Glasen at the halfway point.  He himself was run down by Texas A&M junior Mauro Castillo, who held on to take 3rd in 1:52.09.  Fiala would eventually finish 4th in 1:52.71, while Wich-Glasen took 6th in 1:52.87.  Between them was Louisville’s Carlos Claverie (1:52.81), while Marat Amaltdinov of Purude and Trent Jackson of Notre Dame finished 7th and 8th in 1:53.04 and 1:55.24, respectively.