2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, July 25 – Sunday, July 29, 2018
- William Woollett Aquatics Center, Irvine, CA
- Prelims 9 AM / Finals 6 PM (U.S. Pacific Time)
- Meet website
- Meet information
- Event Order
- Full selection procedures
- Psych Sheet
- SwimSwam Previews Index
- TV Schedule
- Pick ‘Em Contest
- Omega Results
- Live Stream
- Wednesday Finals Heat Sheet
Dave Walters. Garrett Weber-Gale. Jimmy Feigen. Ricky Berens. Neil Walker. Gary Hall Jr. The first 3 names on that list have all been sub-48 in the 100 free, before it was cool. The last 3 have all been sub-49. What do they all have in common? They all swam for Eddie Reese at the University of Texas.
Well, coming up on his 41st season in Austin, TX – the 76 year-old Reese’s production house of great freestylers doesn’t seem to be slowing down. On day one of U.S. Nationals in Irvine, CA, current or former Longhorn swimmers produced 4 of the top 16 times and 7 of the top 28 times in the men’s 100 freestyle – led by rising senior Tate Jackson, who won the B-Final in 48.20 (which we suspect is probably the fastest time ever swum in a B final).
Coming into the meet, Jackson’s best time was a 48.99 set back in 2017. He popped off a 48.79 in prelims to qualify 9th and then unleashed a 48.20 to win the B-final in a time that would have placed 2nd in the A-final. Oh, and the guy who finished 2nd behind him in the B-final with a 48.52? Dean Farris. He’s been training in Austin, TX all summer. Before June of this year, the rising Harvard junior had a best of 49.84.
Even though Jackson swam the 2nd fastest time of the night, because it was performed in the B-final it is not eligible for Pan Pacs qualification. With a 3rd place finish, Townley Haas secured a spot on the team heading to Tokyo for the August 9th-13th competition.
The list below doesn’t even include Jack Conger (lifetime best of 48.76) who opted for the 200 fly where he finished in a tie for 3rd (1:55.21).
Texas is set up for a huge 400 free relay this year, with what should be incredible competition for relay spots between the outgoing seniors and incoming freshmen, and will be set up for years into the future.
Texas’ Sub-50 100 Freestyles, Day 1
- Tate Jackson – 48.20 (9th place B-final; time would have placed 2nd in A-final) – rising senior
- Townley Haas – 48.30 (3rd place; life time best of 48.20 from 2017) – rising senior
- Daniel Krueger – 49.18 (lifetime best of 48.87 in prelims; first time under 49) – incoming freshman/McFarland Spartan Sharks
- Drew Kibler – 49.44 (lifetime best of 49.28 in prelims) – incoming freshman/Carmel Swim Club
- John Shebat – 49.59 (18th place; lifetime best; 2nd time under 50 – 49.73 in prelims) – rising senior
- Jeff Newkirk – 49.81 (25th place prelims; lifetime best of 49.77 from 2017; scratched finals) – rising senior
- Tripp Cooper – 49.91 (prelims; 23rd place in finals – 50.22) – Texas postgrad
It’s worth noting that incoming freshman Matthew Willenbring finished 34th with a 50.06. His lifetime best was set last summer with a 49.57. However, Willenbring tested positive for a banned substance (hydrochlorathiazide) at the 2017 World Junior Championships – where he went his best of 49.57. He served a 4-month ban that has already expired. As part of the suspension, he forfeited all results and medals beginning on August 28th, 2017, the last day of the World Junior Championships.
Is Tate still eligible for WUGs and Pan Ams with that time?
Does this leave him in contention for WUGs?
Would think so
We’re really crediting Texas for developing Krueger and Kiebler? Have they trained there at all yet? And a bit of a stretch for sure crediting Texas for Dean as well – how long has he been there? Maybe 3 months?
I didn’t read it that way. They weren’t in the body of the article, only on a list of potential for their 400 free relay next season.
The only credit, per se, could be that having a history of developing great 100 freestylers helps to recruit super talented freestylers like Krueger and Kibler.
Is Tate eligible for worlds with that time?
Not sure if they’ll use a B final time in consideration for that.
Apparently no. Only times in Nationals A finals and Pan Pacs A & B Finals will be considered for Worlds.
Should he qualify for pan pacs or worlds in another event (most likely the 50, but it feels like 7 guys racing for a spot behind Dressel), that time will certainly get him on the 4×100 freelay.
What about men 100 free C final and D final? Omega Timing has not published them.
I am waiting for Dean Farris to start 200 fly. Because, why not?
Conger should stop swimming the 200 fly. He is starting to look like the next Tom Shields
Or he should take the opposite approach and just train for the 200fly, which is a relatively weak event in the US
Fifth in the world last year. Scrub