For the third time in a week, Michael Andrew of Indie Swimming has lowered the 15-16 national age group record in the boys’ 100 yard breaststroke. Andrew first broke Carsten Vissering’s 100 breast mark last weekend at Speedo Winter Junior Championships with a time of 52.50 in prelims. Later that day he lowered it to 52.21 in finals.
Now, exactly a week later at the Oklahoma Elite Pro-Am, Andrew has done it again. After a lifetime third-best 52.56 in prelims, Andrew crushed his previous personal best, and the national age group record along with it, with a stunning 51.75 in finals, thus becoming the first 16-and-under to dip under the 52-second mark for the 100 yard breaststroke. He is now tied for 11th on the all-time list.
As would be expected, the lion’s share of Andrew’s improvement came in the up-front half of the race. He has also chipped away at the second half over the past week, but it’s his first 50 that has had the biggest relative impact. A week ago, his splits were 46.8%/53.2% in prelims, and 46.7%/53.3% in finals. In Oklahoma tonight, Andrew was out relatively faster, going 46.7%/53.3%
Andrew 12/18/15f | Andrew 12/11/15f | Andrew 12/11/15p | Vissering 2013 |
24.06 | 24.39 | 24.56 | 24.84 |
27.69 | 27.82 | 27.94 | 27.99 |
51.75 | 52.21 | 52.50 | 52.83 |
Andrew finished second to Cody Miller of Badger Swim Club, who touched in 50.82, making him the second-fastest in the event on the All-Time Top U.S. Performers list.
I Don’t bet on him for 2017 and not in anything on the near future before he decides his focus. Whitley is already better on lcm than him and Cordes and Miller are young. He should decide what to race. While he is trying to race everything the specialists are passing him. On fly pakhomov and zhesi are far ahead. On breast whitley lizhou and chupkov. On back rylov and on free Chalmers while on 100 he is a no factor. He has the talent but if he wants world and og level success he need to focus.
Love how Michael Andrew is improving every day. I think 100 breast and 200 im are his best olympics events. The problem is that Rio 16 is just too soon for him. I expect him to make the Budapest World Champs team in 100 breast, 200 im, plus some fifties(back, breast and fly). I might be too optimistic, but I really see the talent in this guy.
Sure the 100 breast is by far his best and only chance to go to Rio.
Right now I think he’s in 59 high/1.00 low in long course.
The qualification might be about 59 low.
MA has 7 months ahead of him to gain that missing second.
But the potential isn’t everything.
Can he swim that 59 low in an olympic trials’ final with all the pressure around and keep his technique and his efficiency in a close race against veterans?
I would say Andrew (Whitley a very close 7th) is the 6th seed in the 100 breast right now. I think the big 4 (Cordes, Miller, Fink, Wilson) a out in front and Sam Tierney have the edge right now.
I don’t know about the Prospects of Dressel, Prenot, Lycah in this event, They’re in dark horse territory right now.
I will eat my hat if Dressel swims the 100 breast at Trials. (Unless the event order has it like, super far away from the 50/100 free at the end of the meet or something.)
He’s a short course breaststroker, notsomuch in a 50m pool. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, it’s the same reason guys like Morozov, Manaudou and, my personal all-time favorite, Roland Schoeman can put up crazy times in SCM stroke races.
As ridiculously fast as this is, I think we all know Reece Whitley is just going to drop an even faster time within the next 6 months or so. I mean, his 200 is already down to a 1:53. These kids are crazy.
Yeah he converts to a 59.44 lcm now. You would think that would give him a good chance except he is still a second behind Miller in this race and probably Cordes also. Thats fast enough to make it real interesting though. Definitely great for swimming to have someone this young competing for a spot. Reece also.
He’ll break 51 by his 17th birthday and become the 3rd fastest American ever as well as top 5 ever. That’ll be crazy. It’ll be interesting how it will translate to LC. I think Cody Miller will go sub 59 at Trials. It’s hard to know where Cordes is at, but if he lives up to potential, he should also be sub 59. If not, Andrew has a chance at a 59 low (59.4?), which might sneak him in. Oh, I can’t wait!
Imagine what he could do if he actually worked hard and did some honest yardage? 😉
Haha he would probably be 57 in the 100 breast then
Looks like there are a handful of people who can’t take a joke tonight… What do you grumpy people think the winky face is for??
Race vid???