2016 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 23 – Saturday, March 26
- McAuley Aquatic Center – Atlanta, GA
- Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
- Defending Champion: Texas (results)
- Championship Central
- Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday prelins & finals, Friday/Saturday prelims /Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
- Live results
Texas junior Clark Smith has missed both the A and B finals of the men’s 500 free on day 2 of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships.
Smith entered the meet as the top seed and the defending NCAA Champion in the event. His 4:08.82 from December was the 4th-fastest 500 yard free in history.
Early in the swim, Smith split 1:38.39 at the 200 and a 2:30.44 at the 300, which put him on pace for around a 4:10, which would’ve made him the top seed. At that point, however, his splits dramatically fell-off, relative to the rest of the field.
- 1st 100 – 47.79
- 2nd 100 – 50.60
- 3rd 100 – 52.05
- 4th 100 – 54.26
- 5th 100 – 52.47
By comparison, the splits of the top seed Mitch D’Arrigo were:
- 1st 100 – 48.85
- 2nd 100 – 51.61
- 3rd 100 – 51.46
- 4th 100 – 50.94
- 5th 100 – 48.62
Smith is also the 10th seed in the 200 free and the top seed in the 1650 free later in the meet. Smith split 1:33.28 in the 200 free on Wednesday’s 800 free relay, which Texas won in record-setting fashion.
Texas had three swimmers in the A-Final of the 500 free at NCAAs last year. Jonathan Roberts, who was 8th last year, finished 20th; and Sam Lewis, who was 7th last year, finished 30th.
ITS THAT TIME I can’t believe you said that. Being an ex swimmer myself, swimmers have off swims, believe me, especially top ranked – world record holders, Graig Beardsley ( didn’t even make the Olympic Team in 84. I can’t believe you would make such a comment – you have no idea what kind of pressure swimmers put on themselves .
Looks like it’s time for Clark to hang up the goggles and retire. A shame indeed.
I don’t buy the mental meltdown thing. I think there is something physically wrong with him, perhaps having to do with breathing.
In the 500 he was ahead and very smooth when he literally fell off the race. In the 800 relay, Reese said that he went out too fast; maybe Reese is keeping the pb under wrap. If Smith has breathing issues, he could have started the first 100 at his pace and then started to weaken in the next 100, but just made it. in that case, 500 was too long a race for him.
We will see what happens with the 1,650, and at the end of the meet the truth will come out.
Thought it was weird Reese said Clark went out too fast. Conger went out in 44.3 flat start. Haas and Schooling were out 43.3. Clark Smith was going out too fast in a 44.6??? Makes me think Reese doesn’t expect too much this weekend.
Smith doesn’t have the speed those guys have, though. So he can go out slower than them, but still too fast for him.
I think there might be something to this. Townley Haas’ comment on video suggests as much. At any rate, I hope Clark is OK and not beating himself up too much for it. Would love to see him rally for a mile win on Saturday. Great to see the guys rise up in such a big way Thursday night, with the great relays, and Haas and Licon were studs. I think Conger’s 18.7 and 41.2 freestyle splits were actually the *worst* Texas swims of Thursday night. Everything else done by everybody was a personal best. Pretty stout night.
Also, I think Eddie said Clark “overswam” his 200. The conference meet results do show him going out slower and bringing a… Read more »
I think everyone is overanalyzing this thing. I am sure he tried to train through the meet without much of a taper. He probably sacrificed sure victories in the 500/1650 to increase his chances for the Olympic team. Everyone can move along now nothing else to see here…
I think Dr. Evil stole his MOJO. Don’t fret Clark, it was there the whole time!
This is a huge disappointment. I was looking forward to seeing Smith go sub 408 and he didn’t even make consols… His 1650 better be out of this world to get rid of this swim’s disappointment
I think Clark maybe saving for the 1650 and letting Townley Haas take over the 500 free, but of course this is all speculation, just hoping to see a better performance from him…
I think part of the answer is getting lots of the many top flight guys in Texas, and having modest in-state tuition at that.