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Tate Jackson’s 48.20 Leads Longhorn Onslaught In Men’s 100 Free

2018 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

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.

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USA
6 years ago

Is Tate still eligible for WUGs and Pan Ams with that time?

Intrigued
6 years ago

Does this leave him in contention for WUGs?

Horninco
Reply to  Intrigued
6 years ago

Would think so

Go Hoosiers!
6 years ago

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?

NONA
Reply to  Go Hoosiers!
6 years ago

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.

Anon
6 years ago

Is Tate eligible for worlds with that time?

Horninco
Reply to  Anon
6 years ago

Not sure if they’ll use a B final time in consideration for that.

Zanna
Reply to  Anon
6 years ago

Apparently no. Only times in Nationals A finals and Pan Pacs A & B Finals will be considered for Worlds.

Right Dude Here
Reply to  Zanna
6 years ago

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.

Paul
6 years ago

What about men 100 free C final and D final? Omega Timing has not published them.

yinz
6 years ago

I am waiting for Dean Farris to start 200 fly. Because, why not?

Kobe
6 years ago

Conger should stop swimming the 200 fly. He is starting to look like the next Tom Shields

Yabo
Reply to  Kobe
6 years ago

Or he should take the opposite approach and just train for the 200fly, which is a relatively weak event in the US

Horninco
Reply to  Kobe
6 years ago

Fifth in the world last year. Scrub

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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