Texas Longhorn Jack Conger is back from representing Team USA at World University Games, and has already made waves back in the States with a lifetime-best 1:48.47 in the 200 free.
Conger, representing Nation’s Capital Swim Club (NCAP), is competing at the Potomac Valley Senior Championships in Maryland this week, and blazed his way through the second night of action with a top-10-ranked time nationally.
That 1:48.47 sits at #7 for Americans this year – keep in mind that in the 200 free, the top 6 qualifiers at next summer’s Olympic Trials will make the U.S. Olympic Team to fill out relay spots.
Conger’s event selection has been a point of much discussion over the past few seasons, as he came up through the age group ranks as a backstroker and freestyler, but has really broken out as a butterflyer lately.
Still, though, the expanded relay selections in the 100 and 200 freestyles might make those events Conger’s best shot at the U.S. Olympic team, given how loaded American swimming is at butterfly at the moment. Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte have both put major focuses on the 100 fly in the latter stages of their careers, Tom Shields was last summer’s national champ and Tim Phillips is competing in the event at the World Championships in a few weeks.
Conger’s 200 free tonight saw him decisively beat the nation’s top incoming college freshman, fellow NCAP swimmer Andrew Seliskar. Seliskar was 1:50.29.
We’ll have a full recap of the PV Senior Championships after the meet concludes this weekend. Results are available here, though they don’t seem to be updated as of publication. You can also find results on the Meet Mobile app.
Finally. 200 free is his best shot at rio… Not to say he doesn’t have a shot at the 4×100 or either of the flys
Anyone wanna make bets on whether Conger will swim the 200 fly this summer, and what he’ll go?
I have no clue if he will swim it, but I’m willing to bet he could pop out a sub 2 minute without too much specific training.
he was 1:57.7 last week hombre
My guess for a trials schedule
both flys
100 free
200 free
I saw him in the Warm up pool at UMD spotting a taper beard. Definitely not shaven, could go 1:46 at Nationals
Jack has a beard? :0
Why is he at this meet? I’d have assumed he’d stay in Austin getting yardage up and coming down again only for Nationals.
Bodybyfood — 1:48.4.
So which was it, 1:47.47 or 1:48.47? Both are listed in the article.
Live results of that meet are terrible. I don’t see what they have of live. They don’t work!
Nothing new here. Conger’s future is 100 fly/100 free/200 free.
But will have probably to focus more on one stroke in the next years if he wants to become a world-class swimmer with individual medal chances.
For 2016, his best olympic qualification chances are both free relays.
The focus on one stroke comment is ridiculous. Swimming only one stroke vs free/fly isn’t going to make a bit of difference in his training or his performances.