As an encore to her 100 breaststroke time from yesterday, Texas A&M sophomore Breeja Larson posted a brilliant mark of 2:07.06 for a dominant win on the final night of the Tennessee Invitational. That cleared the NCAA Automatic qualifying time by two seconds, which makes her second NCAA Automatic QUalifying time of the meet (the only swimmer in the country with two already).
For those following her international development, in meters she swam a 2:28.88. That time doesn’t rank her quite as high as her 100 did (around top 70 in the world), and makes her the 12th-best American in 2011.
Larson’s sophomore teammate, and USA Swimming National Teamer, Cammile Adams followed-up a strong prelims LCM time (2:10.16) by posting the top time in the country in the 200 fly in finals. Her 1:55.21 is already NCAA B-final worthy for the defending runner-up. The Aggies put up the top-three times in the country, in fact, with Rita Medrano(1:55.67) touching 2nd and Caroline McElhaney (1:56.44) taking 3rd.
Maureen McLaine also posted a dominant national-best with a 15:56 in the women’s mile. That clears Elizabeth Beisel’s best swim by 13 seconds. This was a very strong mile swim – her 2nd 500 was faster than her first – and she looked like she could have even gone a better time by taking the race out a touch faster.
The final night wasn’t all Aggies, though. LSU’s Amanda Kendall also shone to the tune of a 48.19 win in the 100 free. That time is the fastest in the country and already less than a tenth away from the mark that won her the B-Final at NCAA’s. As big as her improvements were last yards season, her work over the summer seems to have had an even bigger impact. She would also lead the LSU 400 free relay to a win in 3:18.54, which is the 2nd-best time in the country this year (behind only Auburn).
If there were a swimmer (and there might not be) who could challenge Anna Vanderpool-Wallace’s dominance in the 100 free this year, it might be Kendall.
On the men’s side, Louisville continued to dominate the headlines. Joao de Lucca won the 100 free in 43.16. That’s 6-tenths better than his career best time, done at last year’s NCAA Championships. If Louisville can add freestylers like that to their lethal breaststroke group, they’re well on their way to creating a diversified, top-12 type of program.
Speaking of breaststrokers, Carlos Almeida won the 200 in 1:58.47. That’s the 3rd-best time in the country. The Cardinals would also win the men’s 1650 (Riley Martin -15:14.59) and the 200 fly (Pedro Oliveira – 1:47.01).
The big takeaway from this meet is the impressive times put up by the A&M women, especially Breeja Larson. It’s hard to know without being in practice exactly how rested they were, but they were certainly very rested for the meet. Based on history, though, they’ll still drop a little bit more at Big 12’s, and then a bit more off of that at NCAA’s (though not huge drops like other teams might see). When it comes down to it, this A&M team will score a lot of individual points at NCAA’s, but being without any true sprint freestylers is going to be a big challenge for them (picture the Florida women without Sarah Bateman, for example).
OMFG!2:28.88 and she is only 12th american(Its near a south american record!)?Damn…if she likes rio de janeiro and a brazilian citizenship…haha!
The good about Joao de Lucca:He is probably in heavy training mode.Next month he will swim OPEN Tournament(Brazilian Senior Swimming Champs), and its a Olympic Trial. I doubt he will capable to do a 48.7, but a 49 low for a relay spot is doable.
Ok, it’s not look to the future but it’s look at the future. I’m learning english every day.
I would love to know how much, if any, Amanda Kendall was rested for this meet. She said in her Morning Swim Show interview a few weeks back that she was swimming through this meet because of Pan Ams in October, but it’s hard to believe going 48.19 in the 100 free without some rest.
If she really did go into this meet with little or no rest, then perhaps she will be able to challenge AVW. I am really looking forward to SEC’s in the sprint frees with AVW, Kendall, Bateman and Romano facing off.
Unlike Breeja Larson, Cammile Adams has made for me a better time in long course than in yards. And for Amanda Kendall, 48.19 it’s good but look to the future. When Missy Franklin, Lia Neal, Simone Manuel or Kristen Vredeveld will be in NCAA in 2 or 3 years they will swim that time very easily and perhaps all these girls will swim under 47 seconds in their freshman year.
2.07.06 in yards is for me much better than her 2.28.88 in meters, but was she at full speed the morning? If yes, she struggles in long course but she continues to improve. But with all the work NCAA swimmers do in yards during the season which doesn’t help them for long course it’s not a bad time. Just a question, at all these Invitationals like you say, are swimmers fully rested? If not, Breeja Larson can attack NCAA records in breaststroke very shortly.