Produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Tony Carroll.
Michael Phelps destroyed the men’s 200 IM, winning the national title by nearly four seconds and scaring Ryan Lochte‘s World Record with his time of 1:54.75. Phelps’ time was over a second faster than Lochte’s time from the World Championships in Kazan, and is the fastest time in the world this year. He was under world record pace through the first 150 meters, but fell off during the freestyle leg.
Take a look at the comparative splits:
- LOCHTE, World Championships
- RT 0.70
- 25.10
- 54.39 (29.29)
- 1:27.73 (33.34)
- 1:55.81 (28.08)
- PHELPS, US Nationals:
- RT 0.79
- 24.65
- 53.14 (28.49)
- 1:26.48 (33.34)
- 1:54.75 (28.27)
Will Licon finished second with his time of 1:58.43. He had a fantastic NCAA season, winning two individual NCAA titles.
Travis Mahoney, Austin Surhoff, and Eduardo Solache-Gomez all finished together in third through fifth with 1:59’s.
Gunnar Bentz and Max Litchfield were sixth and seventh at 2:00, and Ryan Hartyrounded out the final with his time of 2:02.99.
Matt Josa won the B final with his time of 2:00.94, and Michael Andrew won the 18&u final with his time of 2:00.13.
MP is “pumped” and “sleepy”, LOL!
I’d L-O-V-E to see him swim a best time in the next year too! I think his best chance is in the 200 IM actually. I’d like to see him experiment with Lochte’s technique off the breast to free turn kicking on his back. Great job, Michael!!!
A happy swimmer is a fast swimmer.
I simply can’t get enough of his new persona in front of cameras. Joyful, excited, determined, but most importantly comfortably happy!
Yeah, you can tell he’s in a good head space.