Thanks to Paralympian-turned-swim coach Tom Miazga for pointing out this peculiarity of perfected pacing. Follow him on Twitter at @TomMiazga.
Think that North Carolina’s Meredith Hoover and Cari Blalock train together? Check out the splits of the #3 and #4 finishers in the 200 fly at this weekend’s Women’s NCAA Championship meet. 
They both split 26.35’s on their first 50 yards. They both split 29.14’s on their second 50 yards. On the third 50, something went horribly wrong and Blalock outsplit Hoover….by exactly a tenth. Then on their last 50, they both split 29.71’s.
And it wasn’t as if they were looking at each other. Blalock was out in lane two, while Hoover was in lane 6.
This might be one of the odder splitting coincidences (or not concidences) that I’ve ever seen. The two’s strokes aren’t identical; if you watch the race footage, it’s not as if they’re matched stroke-for-stroke. Their splitting, though, was uncanny.
That’s great training and execution. Props to them and their coaches.
that’s awesome.