2012 Olympic Trials qualifier Jason O’Brien has verbally committed to USC, his North Coast Aquatics coach Jeff Pease confirmed to us today.
O’Brien is primarily a middle-distance freestyler, though his long course times thus far have exceeded his short course times.
In yards, he’s been 1:40.61 in the 200 free and 4:24.29 in the 500 free. That 500 free is the only time he has that meets the U.S. Open qualifying standard in yards.
In long course, though, he’s shown a great versatility. In the 200-1500 meter freestyles, he’s been 1:54.57, 3:57.64, 8:14.97, and 16:08.51, and those times all came during his sophomore season when he was only 15 years old. His summer of 2012 was a bit rough, but in 2013 he was just about back to those same times again.
North Coast Aquatics has been a bit of a pipeline to USC in the last half-a-decade. According to the team’s website, they’ve sent 9 swimmers there all-time (second behind only UCSB and Cal all-time, with a much higher concentration as of late). That includes current freshman Kelsey Kafka and multiple-time freshman All-American last year Kendyl Stewart, among others.
Congratulations Jason!!
Congratulations Jason!! Fight On!
Much congratulations to Jason. Not only a talented swimmer but a great person as well.
Congratulations to USC and Jason. While the times may not reflect this, Jason is incredibly talented. He will blossom with Salo’s middle distance group after years of heavy yardage at NCA!