2017 TEXAS SENIOR CIRCUIT MEET #2
- College Station, Texas
- June 8th-10th, 2017
- Live results on Meet Mobile, “Texas Senior Circuit Long Course Meet #2”
The Texas Senior Circuit Meet #2 wrapped up this evening, but arguably the best swim of the day occurred this morning.
Andrew Wilson, representing Longhorn Aquatics, threw down a 27.55 in the prelims of the 50 breast before electing not to swim in finals. However, that time not only broke the pool record, but also stands as the fastest time among US men this season, 0.03 seconds faster than Kevin Cordes’s mark from the Arena PSS stop in Mesa. Wilson’s time puts him outside of the top 25 in the world this season, but is still a good indication that he could challenge for a spot on the USA’s world championships roster, as the winner of the 50 breast at trials will be guaranteed a spot on the squad.
Wilson’s club teammate Jack Conger waited until evening to set his pool record, dropping a 1:56.73 in the 200 fly. That moves him up to 2nd among US swimmers this season, behind only Chase Kalisz and his 1:55.82, also from Mesa. Conger said last week that he hadn’t nailed down his schedule for trials, but the 200 fly will almost certainly be one of his events, and he projects to vie with Kalisz, Tom Shields, Pace Clark, and a few others for one of the two likely spots on the team in this event.
Canada’s Sydney Pickrem, representing the Aggie Swim Club, got in on the record breaking with a 2:11.28 in the 200 IM. That’s almost two seconds off her season best, but not a shabby time for what’s essentially an in-season swim for her. Unlike the American swimmers, she’s already locked up her spot on Canada’s roster, and doesn’t have to be tapered for another few weeks.
Pickrem was part of a near-sweep by the women of the Aggie Swim Club. Jorie Caneta kicked off finals with a 31.53 to win the 50 breast, followed by by Sarah Gibson’s 2:12.77 mark to take 1st in the 200 fly. Lisa Bratton kept things rolling with a 1:01.57 in the 100 back, and Kristin Malone wrapped up the evening with a 26.10 in the 50 free.
Gabrielle Kopenski of Texas Ford Aquatics was the only non-Aggie woman to take an event this evening, touching in 8:45.11 in the 800 free.
The men’s side was a little more diverse in terms of teams whose swimmers earned victories tonight, although of course the Aggies were well represented in their home pool. Jonathan Tybur took advantage of Wilson’s absence to take the 50 breast in 28.94. Fellow Aggie Brock Bonetti touched out Bryce Bohman 56.50 to 56.65 in the 100 back. Bohman, a former West Virginia University swimmer, is part of the pro/post-grad group assembling in Austin and now represents Longhorn Aquatics.
Austin Van Overdam (Aggie) took the 200 IM in 2:05.26, while Nitro’s Chris Yeager won the 1650 in 15:44.93, finishing almost 30 seconds ahead of a field that included future Texas teammate Colter Carman and former Texas swimmer Clark Smith. However, like in Atlanta earlier this month, Smith was apparently swimming the 1500 primarily for a 800 time, and he went out in 7:57.91, a time that makes him the first US swimmer to crack eight minutes this season.
The swimming portion of the meet starts on July 23rd which is 4 weeks from yesterday. If Pickrem isn’t going to be tapered until 6 weeks from now, she will miss the meet.
Correction: Austin Van Overdam went a 2:05.26 in the 200 IM. He’s going to be a key player for the aggie men this coming fall.
Fixed, thanks!
Conger might have a low 1:53 200 fly in him this year if he manages his schedule right. His 200 free the other night was 4 seconds slower than his best, and I expect him to hit what he did at OTs in that event. A 4 second drop in the 200 fly would be 1:53 territory. He improved nearly two seconds in his SCY 200 fly since his 1:54.5 200 LCM fly.
Possible US championships schedule for Conger
Day 1. 200 fly
Day 2. 200 free
Day 3. 100 fly
Unfortunately for him the 100 free is just after the 200 fly on day 1.
But it should not prevent him from applying for a 4X100 free relay spot if he makes the team and if he impresses the coaches before worlds. He’s generally a great relay swimmer.
Conger has proven he is not an elite level sprinter. They are plenty of sprinters to carry the load. He needs to have a positive meet and put the Rio disaster behind him.
Fortunately current events in the political world make the Rio incident seem like nothing. If it had occurred last week, it would have only made the sports section.
Wilson lowered his SCY 100 breast PB from 51.99 to 50.94 this season.
That’s why I pick him to make the US team for worlds. He was in 59.51 last summer in long course so he should be very dangerous at trials.
However I still hesitate between Cordes and Miller for the other spot. Logically it should be Miller. He was third in Rio and will swim at home in Indianapolis. But I’m always scared of putting my money on Miller. I don’t know why…. 😆
When was the prelims held? In the morning?
Smith was 7:57 at the 800
did Joe Schooling scratch 200 fly finals or did he not do prelims either
Schooling was 2:00.21 in prelims but scratched finals
would that have qualified him first or behind jack
Schooling went 2:00.21 in the 200 fly prelims, Conger 2:01.14.