Jack Conger was one of several Texas Longhorns to shine at the George Block Invite over the weekend, blasting two big butterfly swims along with a 1:48.8 in the 200 free.
Full results available on Meet Mobile under “2018 ST AAAA-NS George Block Invitational” or you can view full results on the web here.
The Texas alum Conger was 51.76 in winning the 100 fly by almost a full second over current Longhorn John Shebat, who had a solid 52.74, just a few tenths off his lifetime-best. Conger currently leads the nation in this event with his 51.00 from the Atlanta Pro Swim Series, and his 51.7 was faster than anyone else in the country has been this season. Conger was also 1:56.90 in the 200 fly – faster than anyone in the nation besides top-ranked Chase Kalisz (1:55.63) and Conger’s own season-best from Atlanta (1:55.88). Conger also won the 200 free in 1:48.88.
Will Licon, another Texas pro, was right at season-bests in winning both breaststrokes. He was 1:00.60 in the 100, taking two tenths off his best of the year. His 2:10.24 in the 200 was within a second of a season-best, which currently ranks 2nd among Americans for the season. Licon also won the 400 IM in 4:26.57, but took a DQ in the 200 IM.
National rankings leader Andrew Wilson was second to Licon in both breaststroke races, going 1:01.27 and 2:14.11 in the 200.
The 100 free had some potentially-impactful swims on this summer’s national team relay battles. Current Longhorn Tate Jackson tied for the win with Harvard standout Dean Farris, who is training in Austin for the summer. Both were 49.75. Farris was also 1:50.53 in the 200 free.
On the women’s side, rising Stanford sophomore Lauren Pitzer was 56.14, swimming for the Lakeside Aquatic Club. Pitzer would also win the 200 free (2:01.23), 400 free (4:15.33) and 50 free (25.82) over the next several days.
Olympian Clark Smith went 3:53.67 to win the 400 free, and was 1:51.44 in prelims of the 200, though he faded to 1:54.16 in the final. NCAA champ Austin Katz won both backstrokes, going 55.61 in the 100 and 1:59.40 in the 200. In the former, teammate Shebat was actually faster (55.41) in prelims, but fell off in the final, while Ryan Harty was 55.66 to push Katz for the win. Rising sophomore Sam Pomajevich moved to 5th nationally in the 200 fly, going 1:58.07 in taking second to Conger. That’s within a second of a lifetime-best for Pomajevich.
Conger is going to be special next month at trials ……rooting for him once more , come on Jack !!!
Remember Conger was a 500 freestyler in high school, entered Texas as a backstroker, now is one of the best butterfliers. Hey talent-gods, spread some of the damn talent to us lesser mortals.
Photo of Jackson and Farris’s finish (left and right respectively)
Does that mean that Daniel Roy is the #1 American for this season? If Licon’s 2:10.24 is 2nd, that would make Roy 1st. Pretty impressive for a high schooler.
Current American 200 Breast rankings in 2018 are:
Andrew Wilson- 2:08.52
Will Licon- 2:09.47
Daniel Roy- 2:09.73
Chase Kalisz- 2:09.90
Josh Prenot- 2:10.15
So Roy is third, still very impressive for an incoming freshman.
That would have made the Olympic team in 2012.
Roy is going to be a monster one day. Olympics or not, he will be going off
Oh, I see. After reading the article again, Licon’s best time this season is #2, not the time he just went. Still, very impressive for Daniel Roy. I’m excited to see what he can do later this summer.
The Us level is purely impressive over the board right now …..scary as well for other countries
Shebat gonna be the fly leg on Texas medley next year, Katz back, Jackson free, ? breast
Townley or Jackson on free… One of those freshmen could pop in, too.
No Schooling jokes yet?
He took his gold medal and went home and doesn’t want to play anymore. No one in the pool even noticed he was gone.
Man people really really hate Joe Schooling lol. I mean I think his personality is annoying too but I think it’s officially gone overboard.
He already submitted a couple at last NCAAs.
He only swims long course under a waning gibbous moon now
Would love a video of that swim…
Dean!!!