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Luke Hobson Breaks 17-18 National Age Group Record in 1000 Free

Southern Methodist vs. Texas

  • Friday, February 4, 2022
  • Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center, Dallas, TX
  • Dual Meet Format
  • SCY
  • Live Results
  • Also on Meet Mobile as “2022 SMU v Texas”

We already did a full recap of yesterday’s match between Texas and Southern Methodist, but we missed one notable detail in the sea of fast swimming, However, one of our commenters pointed out this evening that Texas freshman Luke Hobson set a new National Age Group record for the 17-18 age group as he won the 1000 free with a time of 8:43.66.

When Hobson committed to Texas as a high school junior a little over two years ago, he had best times of 4:27.20/9:13.41/15:33.09 across the 500/1000/1650 freestyle events. By the time we re-ranked the class of 2021 after their senior seasons, he had improved to 4:16.56/8:58.07/15:20.29, plus a 1:35.09 in the 200 free.

But Hobson quickly took his times to the next level within months of arriving on The Forty Acres. He exploded at the Minnesota Invite, splitting 1:31.34 on the Longhorn’ ‘B’ 800 relay on the first night. The next day, he broke Michael Phelps’ National Age Group record in the 500 free in prelims, then broke his own record that night finals with a 4:09.72. He wrapped up the meet by winning the 1650 with a time of 14:40.15.

Hobson has kept that momentum going during the second semester. Just two weeks ago, he moved to #6 in the 17-18 age group and (#1 in the NCAA this season), with a 8:48.09 in the 1000 free against TCU. In that race, he narrowly beat teammate and NAG record holder, sophomore David Johnston.

The pair dueled again last night, and once again Hobson just beat his teammate, this time 8:43.66 to 8:43.96. However, this time Hobson’s performance was enough to take the NAG record from Johnston, who had set it in the fall of 2020.

ALL-TIME PERFORMERS, MEN’S 17-18 AGE GROUP

  1. Luke Hobson – 8:43.66, 2022
  2. David Johnston – 8:45.38, 2020
  3. Bobby Finke – 8:45.50, 2018
  4. PJ Ransford – 8:46.40, 2015
  5. Michael Brinegar – 8:47.53, 2018

After struggling for a few years after the gradation of Clark Smith, who owns the American Record in the 1000 free, the Longhorns distance crew appears to be back on track. If Hobson, Johnston, and other distance guys like Alex Zettle can all score at NCAAs, that’ll go a long way toward helping the Longhorns hold off the Cal Bears in their perennial battle for the NCAA team title.

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Bill
2 years ago

“He’ll be joining a high-level training group in Austin as well—six of the top-21 finishers in the 500 at the 2021 NCAAs were Longhorns, all of whom will be returning this season. While that may make it very hard to crack the NCAA roster from the jump, Hobson has the tools to contribute both individually and in relays, sooner rather than later.”

I’m not trashing swimswam at all, but this is what they had to say about Luke as recently as Aug ’21

Horninco
Reply to  Bill
2 years ago

Not an unfair assessment given the strength of the UT squad and his known (at that time) times

Hell, Gabe Jett was a “best of the rest” and dropped at 1:32 200 free. You think ranking 17-18 year old swimmers is an exact science? Have you ever followed football recruiting?

We welcome your class of 2022 rankings so we can break them down after the fact 🙂

Bill
Reply to  Horninco
2 years ago

Horninco – I’m not being critical of it at all. As a matter of fact, I’m supporting your point. Things change and can change quickly. I kind of wrote it for all those class of ’22 and ’23 and ’24 who don’t “rank” where they want to. Get up and prove people wrong.

MeSoShammy
2 years ago

Dang him fast

go faster
2 years ago

What happened to Clark Smith?

25Backstroke
Reply to  go faster
2 years ago

A lot of injuries. Hasn’t been the same since 2017

Mr Piano
Reply to  go faster
2 years ago

Heart surgery

ReneDescartes
Reply to  go faster
2 years ago

Made the Olympic team

N P
Reply to  ReneDescartes
2 years ago

And won an Olympic gold medal to boot.

HJones
2 years ago

Wow. This guy is gonna do something SPECIAL at NCAAs…

On another note, I personally don’t believe that NAG records should be able to be set by college swimmers, even if they meet the age requirement. College swimmers can’t compete at junior nationals, so it doesn’t make sense why they can set junior records.

Joel
Reply to  HJones
2 years ago

But if they are the correct agave, I don’t see the problem. They are not “older” just because they go to college. In Australia there are a lot of 17 and 18 year olds in the first year of college or University.

ReneDescartes
Reply to  HJones
2 years ago

Take Quake

Sam B
Reply to  HJones
2 years ago

there are several college swimmers on the Junior National team

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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