After a 2016 season that has been up, and down, Michael Andrew is coming in guns-hot to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials. The 17-year old Kansas resident swam a 1:00.46 on Saturday morning at the Omaha Cup, which is the official Olympic Trials pool test event.
That breaks the old 17-18 National Age Group record that was held by one Kevin Cordes, current U.S. National Team member and one of the favorites in this 100 breaststroke to make the Olympic Team later this month. Cordes set the record when he was 18 at the 2012 U.S. Open after that year’s Olympic Trials, though he also broke National Age Group Records at this equivalent pre-trials meet in 2012.
Comparative Splits:
- Michael Andrew NEW RECORD: 28.12/32.34 = 1:00.46
- Kevin Cordes OLD RECORD: 28.33/32.14 = 1:00.47
Andrew didn’t swim on the first day of this year’s Omaha Cup, but entered the 100 breaststroke and 50 free on Saturday.
Update: Andrew swam 22.41 in his 50 free prelim on Saturday morning. His lifetime best in that event is a 22.33.
Andrew now holds 14 National Age Group Records in short course and 11 in long course (once this swim is ratified). That’s among over 100 record-breaking swims in his age group career.
Andrew’s previous lifetime best in the event was a 1:00.68 done at the 2015 U.S. National Championships in San Antonio. That swim stands as the 15-16 national age group record.
Andrew is now the 7th-fastest American 100 breaststroker during the Olympic Trials qualifying period, which began on July 30th, 2014. Every other swimmer in that top 8 will turn 22-or-older by the end of this summer.
The top 8 American qualifiers heading into Trials:
- Cody Miller, 59.51
- Nic Fink, 59.52
- Andrew Wilson, 59.65
- Kevin Cordes, 59.70
- Sam Tierney, 1:00.15
- Brendan McHugh, 1:00.31
- Michael Andrew, 1:00.46
- DJ Macdonald, 1:00.51
This is one of five events Andrew is entered to race at the Olympic Trials that begin next Sunday.
Congrats to MA..being the topic of speculation is tough for anyone..and it has been interesting reading ” opinions” in the last several years..it seems this kid is tough, and I hope he has a fun and rewarding career!
He went a 1:00.37
28.27/32.10
Today Michael Andrew swam a best time and broke a NAG record. That’s all that matters. Congrats on a phenomenal accomplishment Michael
I’ll never understand why this kid gets so much hate. He just dropped a legit time, especially for a 17 year old, and everyone will end up arguing about his training method. Get over it and give him some credit
I’m pretty sure that almost every person in the male 15-16 17-18 NAG categories went on to have pretty insane careers. Just give them time… Andrew Seliskar had a pretty insane freshman season going 1:39 for 200 fly… overshadowed by a guy like Conger who had a pretty crumby freshman season in comparison. I think that this Trials is going to be a HUGE statement for USA swimming. Too much development and progression has happened in the scy pool to not convert over to lcm. These young guys are going to do some damage, Michael Andrews is an amazing racer whatever you say, and I think he will step it up in the big moments!
I’m cheering for MA tonight and in Omaha. This kid is amazing and still is doing great things!
That’s a good swim. I think it safe to assume that he will be a touch faster at OT’s, so going 59.+ is a realistic goal. Even if he misse Rio, he will have a good shot at Worlds next year. I’m still look for more from his other events like the 200IM and the 100 fly. It doesn’t matter what benchmark you compare him to, this guy is still swimming fast.
Has MA been doing weights?
Bob – in an interview he did with Elvis Burrows a after Orlando, they said they tried weights for a very short period of time, and decided it wasn’t working with their training so they stopped.
Thanks Braden. I am curious about the USRPT-weight training mix.
Weight training is so misunderstood, defining the difference between a ‘powerlifiter’ , a ‘weightlifter’ and a ‘bodybuilder’ and what a swimmer needs can be so negative towards a swimmer. Michael Andrew at 16/17 can get away without weight training, but to excel in his 20’s on the world stage he will need to have a structured weights program.
With no disrespect, his NAG records are looked at as ‘amazing’ been 6’6 and doing so much race pace coached 1-1 his yards times aren’t suprising. Most international coaches in my country have never heard of him. His best events long course seem to be 100brs and 50bk.
Now I look forward to following his career and think he could… Read more »