The crowd went wild at the Counsilman Aquatic Center in Bloomington, Indiana on Friday when US National Team members Zach Apple and Blake Pieroni turned in under 50 seconds after the first 100 meters of a 200 meter freestyle.
The splits, which had Pieroni flip in 49.8 and Apple flip in 49.9.
The Indiana Instagram account, which was the motivator of the swim after a challenge put out to surpass 18,000 followers (they’re now north of 21,000), posted the first half of the swim, where the pair split the promised sub-50s.
But that’s not what you’re here for. 49.8 and 49.9 are solid early-season 100 freestyles for the pair, but the fun comes on the back-half. Apple (closest to camera, lane 6) held on a little better than Pieroni (furthest from camera, lane 5), but both looked pretty worked – and were passed by the rest of the field in the exhibition race (Joao de Lucca is at the top of the screen, Marwan El Kamash is at the bottom of the screen).
Watch the whole race from a deck-side vantage below.
I wonder if at all that this could be the beginning of a breakthrough for this event, and to anyone with the goal of breaking the world record. Biedermann went out in 24.23, 50.12 which would make his back half 51.88…I’m sure the lactic acid was through the roof by the 100, but if someone were to train in-season doing more of this, I wonder come taper time they learn to hold that just under 50 second 1st 100 (in other words, don’t take the 1st 100 out any faster just because you are rested, hold that 50 second 100), but the boost of taper help them bring it home. Sort of like back in they day Steve Prefontaine, who… Read more »
Going out in 50.xx is something that is difficult in itself. Only people like Phelps and Agnel could take it out in a 50 and come back under 53. For the past few years, people have been trying to take it out like those two, then they die at the end. People need to slow down the first 100 if anything, not speed it up lol. The back half is where it’s at bro.
Agnel: 143.14 50.68/52.48
Phelps: 143.86: 51,00/53.86
Lochte: 1:44.44 51.10/53.34
Everyone else: 50.6/55
Rapsys knows how to swim it right. He splits around 51 low 53 low iirc.
and ?
IU has been good for Zapple. He may make an Olympic relay and have an outside chance at an individual event.
Zapple was this good before IU. I’d say Zapple’s genetics and work ethic have been good for Zapple.
He will make the relay with what we have seen last summer ( 46 split + few 47’s )
Thought they were going to have to tilt the pool on that last lap for Blake.
Imagine being in that heat and having no idea what’s going on
I would love an interview with both them. So awesome they did that. I cant even imagine how bad it hurt.
I don’t get why this is impressive? They are both 47 100 free LC so who cares that they go 49+ with a turn and go 1:09 on the 2nd 100? Most if not all LC 100 freestylers can do this.
Firstly, if they had finished into the wall normally rather than a flip turn, it probably would have been faster. Even with those times, they would have ended up 2nd and 4th in the pro series meet in NC in the normal 100, even with the fact that they know that they need do another 100 right after.
Secondly, they are in season. Taper makes a big difference. In November, sub 50 is quite good for a 100 free.
quite good especially sub 50 to the feet
@blaize god forbid people do something for fun
This video is Great!
Great meet overall for the pros at IU. Finnerty 1:00.2 and miller 1:01. Lily king and Annie Lazor going at it… Zapple and Blake P being rockets the first 100 of the 200.
Why do the pros suit up and the college swimmers get called out for wearing them?
Pros can do whatever they want. Most have enorsers who give them free suits so they have enough suits to suit up whenever they want.
great answer
Not letting swimmers suit up at dual meets is some of the most non-sense rules I’ve ever experienced as a swimmer
I dont think its a rule (i could be wrong), but there really isnt a reason to suit up for a dual meet. I think the college athletes use dual meets to see where they are in the season and practice their race strategies with others they might end up racing at ncaas. From what I know, dual meets dont mean much for schools ( could be wrong here too)
What do you think the pros use in season swims for?
The pros make money on in season swims, both in prize money and showing up wearing expensive suits made by their sponsors
Dual meets are basically glorified race pace practices