2021 ST TXLA Long Course Kick Off
- April 23-26, 2021
- Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swim Center, Austin, TX
- LCM
- Results on Meet Mobile as “2021 ST TXLA Long Course Kick Off”
It’s getting to be the time of year where we see some big swims at even relatively smaller meets, as the nation’s top swimmers tune up for Olympic Trials, and tonight, University of Texas’ Carson Foster popped a 4:13.79 in the 400 IM at the Longhorn Aquatics Long Course Kick Off meet in Austin.
That’s the 2nd-best time ever for Foster, just 0.40s off of his lifetime best of 4:13.39 from the 2019 Summer Nationals. That 4:13 also makes him the faster swimmer in the nation this season, besting Sean Grieshop’s 4:16.14 from the Mission Viejo PSS stop. Foster had had the 2nd-fastest time in the country with a 4:16.51 from the San Antonio PSS stop.
Carson’s brother and teammate Jake Foster took 2nd tonight with a 4:17.04, highlighted by a 1:11 breaststroke split. That’s his 3rd-fastest performance ever, with his lifetime best sitting at 4:15.03 from the 2019 Summer Nationals.
The only other event tonight was the 400m free, where Texas’ Coby Carrozza won with a 3:52.55. That time puts him inside the top ten in the US so far this season, and also appears to be a lifetime best by 0.15s. Teammate David Johnston also hit a new lifetime best, finishing 2nd with a 3:54.20, taking the better part of a second off of his previous best of 3:55.06. Johnston also finished 3rd in the 400 IM behind the Foster brothers with a 4:26.35.
Plenty of Texas’ other top swimmers or alum participated, including mid-distance freestylers Drew Kibler (3:56.41), Jeff Newkirk (3:57.08), and Townley Haas (3:58.10) in the 400 free.
We’ll update the recap to note, that as suggested by our commenters, it also looks like three two Texas post-grads swam stroke 400s. Longhorn alum John Shebat, primarily known as a sprinter and backstroker, logged only the third official 400m free of his career, going 4:11.83. His best time still stands at 4:07.56 from 2016, and the only other swim in the SWIMS database for him is a 5:33.69 back when he was just ten years old in 2007.
2016 Olympian and former Georgia Bulldog Gunnar Bentz, who now trains with the Texas postgrad group, posted an Instagram story indicating he swam fly for the 400 free, and he went 4:22.22. Texas alum Will Licon presumably swam breast en route to a 4:38.84. The Texas coaching staff has confirmed that Shebat swam free, while Bentz and Licon did swim fly and breast, respectively.
Is Matt Willenbring still swimming?
Rooney 52.1 100 fly
I see Townley’s rounding into shape for his ungodly time drop at taper. Oh how I miss those 1:36 200 SCY frees in-season.
I think there were meets where he’d go 1:37/1:38s in dual meets.
Yeah, 1:36 was a good day.
What I really miss are Townley’s insightful and articulate interviews. Can’t wait for Omaha.
What’s amazing about these swims is that there is nobody in the stands. This is pure unrested racing. Really impressive. Every coach and swimmer around the country have to be given a pat on the back for how they are approaching the Omaha trials.
You really think having spectators in the stands really makes a difference? I don’t think if Licon’s mommy and daddy were there cheering him would make any difference!!! Men’s ncaa meet was pretty good with no fans!
Have you ever met Licon’s mommy and daddy? They’re some A+ spectators. Often hired for various competitions to get the crowd going.
Yes, spectators in the stands DOES make a difference. If you don’t agree, fine, but getting snarky about it isn’t necessary.
Haha 😂
It’ll be interesting to see how the spectator-less OTs and Olympics will affect various swimmers. Will the ones who feed off adrenaline rush not be as sharp (as an example, would Beijing Phelps have been Beijing Phelps time-wise?) and would those who might choke under extreme pressure have better outcomes (C1, for example)?
I always thought Licon had better shot at 400im than 100 breast, but I get how it is more fun to go for the shorter race. Too bad they conflict on the Olympic schedule
Although to quote Josh Prenot from 2016, “Porque no los dos?”
Went on to go 4:14.1+59.7 in prelims at Trials.
Ledecky could give these guys a good battle for 400 Free. That would be fun to see if she would have swum with these guys, they could have pushed her to break 3.57s.
When Katie went for the first time under 4min in Barcelona at the age of 16 becoming a world champion her first reaction was surprisingly that how those boys who were training with her at home are feeling now. It was said in the interview immediately after race on the deck of the pool.
Those times are long gone already and competing with men in the pool is not a motivation for full-grown woman anymore.
Hogwash!
https://youtu.be/ePD-8aj9ruY
These guys have a ways to go to catch Daiya Seto. Is Lochte swimming the 4IM at trials or just the 2IM?
Heard Shebat retired last may…. glad he’s back in the water
John Shebat, more like John Shebetter get back in the water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!