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Race Video: Michael Andrew 100 Yard Butterfly 13-14 NAG Record, 46.95

100 Yard Butterfly NAG Record – Reported by SwimSwam / Braden Keith

Michael Andrew had a few more attempts at 13-14 National Age Group Records. Friday, April 18th, 2014 is his 15th birthday, but per USA Swimming rules, because he started the 2014 NASA Showcase Classic at 14, he gets to finish the meet at 14. This is the same rule we saw in effect at Worlds over the summer, where Simone Manuel broke 15-16 National Age Group Records after her 17th birthday.

On Friday evening, though, were that rule not in existence, it wouldn’t have mattered. Andrew swam a 46.95 to win the boys’ 14-year olds 100 yard fly, which is faster than both his own 13-14 record of 47.23, and also faster than the 46.99 done by Alexander Valente earlier this year that is the 15-16 record.

So whether we count this as ‘jumping an age group’ or not, it’s clear that Andrew will certainly be able to hold-his-own with his age group when he races at the Mesa Grand Prix next weekend, for the first time as an official 15-16.

So for now, Valente’s record stands among 15-16′s. It’s very rare for this to happen in the men’s pool, though we’ve seen it quite frequently in the last few years with some of the young women’s stars like Missy Franklin and Katie Ledecky.

You can follow Michael Andrew on Twitter here. 

USRPT info here.

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olden one
10 years ago

todd marinovich!!!! nuff said

lane 0
10 years ago

Good swim, now I’d like to see some LC times

anonymous
10 years ago

Fascinating prediction by swimlazy – Michael Andrew abandons USRPT so that he can achieve his true potential as a swimmer. I think I’d rather wager that a unicorn appears in my backyard.

Reply to  anonymous
10 years ago

Smash

sven
10 years ago

Seems to be cleaning up his turns. Really impressive time!

5-7-8-8 by my count (guessing based on tempo on that third length).

Breathed off his last wall, looked a little too vertical. He’s coming in a bit short to the walls for my personal taste, but it seems to be working out just fine for him. That’s tough to fix (if it’s even a problem), but I’d probably have him add an extra dolphin kick and take one less stroke, that ought to put him at perfect range to have a smooth turn. I’m excited for this summer. Once Michael gets started racing long course, I think we’re going to see some absurd times!

coacherik
Reply to  sven
10 years ago

Going to have to chalk up the short wall as fatigue setting in, same goes for the vertical look you see… Don’t think those things work for him and I’m pretty sure those race elements are not up to their standards either….

Everything goes back to the wall you just came from and early in the length going into that turn to be on or off in the last stroke. Whatever kick count/stroke count strategy you can find to hit on a full stroke on the 3rd and 4th, gotta go with it.

Sven
Reply to  coacherik
10 years ago

I believe it. His splits tell the same story. 21.58 and 25.37. Which is fine, since their typical progression is improve the front half, train at that pace til the back half catches up, then take the front half down again. Just means that, using the typical fly and breast spread of 3 seconds, once he knocks the back half down, he’ll be around 46.1. Ab-freaking-surd. I know it’s time to think about the long course swimming he has coming up, be we might see a 45 out of him this fall.

Unrelated to your comment, Coach Erik, but he went a 21.2 in the 50 fly individually, and split 21.5 here while breathing every stroke. I don’t have video… Read more »

Sven
Reply to  Sven
10 years ago

*but we might see a 45 out of him this fall.

coacherik
Reply to  Sven
10 years ago

True, but I thought Michael Phelps would have made that pretty clear about breathing every stroke to all the doubters…

Sven
Reply to  coacherik
10 years ago

You would think, but there are still plenty of people who consider him an anomaly. Which he is, but not because of his breathing pattern. The fact that 11 out of the 16 male finalists at the Olympics in the 100 and 200 fly were breathing every stroke is more indicative than anything, IMO. Anyway, just a random side point.

Sam Hayhurst
10 years ago

Don’t know why that posted twice but whatever

Sam Hayhurst
10 years ago

Wondering what events he will swim at Olympic trials in 2016. I seriously doubt he will make it to Rio but still curious about what he will attempt. Haha he can’t do what he normally does and just load up on as many events as possible.

swimzlazy
Reply to  Sam Hayhurst
10 years ago

For one, his program at trials will depend on whether he chooses to swim for the U.S. or South Africa. If he decides to swim for Africa, he can take more risks and swim a heavier program. If he swims at U.S. trials, I think he will narrow it down and focus on a few individual events, maybe 4 max, most likely 3.

Depending on how his training methods change in the upcoming years, I think adding the 400 IM should be strongly considered, especially since Phelps and Lochte are out of the picture. Most likely he will add dry-land and strength training to his regime and more aerobic focus as well training with the Swimmac philosophy. It seems that… Read more »

swimzlazy
Reply to  swimzlazy
10 years ago

Actually, I forgot about relays and the easier criteria to qualify. So, maybe he’ll end up doing the 100 free, 100 fly, 200 fly, and 200 IM. I don’t have the trials schedule in front of me so not sure if any of those events overlap each other.

Who knows, way too early to figure out what they’ll choose to swim. I’m sure Michael and Peter don’t even know yet either…

Sven
Reply to  swimzlazy
10 years ago

Re: training changes, that’s a pretty bold statement to make. I disagree. IMO, the only way they change is if they stop seeing improvement under their current regimen, and there’s no reason to believe that will happen so far. His times and age are only part of the reason MA is so famous. The other part is USRPT. I think it will take a long plateau before he abandons the hand that has fed him for so long.

Sam Hayhurst
10 years ago

Really wondering what events he will swim olympic trials. I seriously doubt he will make it to Rio but still, what will he attempt?

bobo gigi
10 years ago

Mel, I know you love doing time predictions just like me. 🙂
So, how do you see Michael Andrew’s times in long course at the end of the summer in the 50 free, 100 free, 100 back, 100 fly, 100 breast and 200 IM?

bobo gigi
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

200 back and 200 fly as well!

bobo gigi
Reply to  Gold Medal Mel Stewart
10 years ago

Ok. I’m trying first.
50 free. 22.89
100 free. 50.72
100 back. 55.64
200 back. 2.01.20
100 fly. 53.62
200 fly. 2.00.88
100 breast. 1.02.63
200 IM. 2.01.24

It’s your turn now! 🙂

lane 0
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

There’s no way he breaks 2:00 in the LC 200 fly, he just doesn’t have that endurance for long course. I’ll say 2:04. The 400 IM is another event that he has yet to prive himself in. I think it would be good for him to be under 4:30 LC.

freestyle:
22.9
50.8
1:55 (if he swims it)
backstroke:
55.8
2:01.5
breast:
1:02.9
fly:
53.8
2:04
IM:
2:01.5
4:29

If he swims for South Africa. he should focus on backstroke so he can be on their Olympic medley relay which desperately needs a backstroker

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, …

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