Texas junior Jack Conger has declared a false-start in prelims of the men’s 100 backstroke, leaving an empty lane in one of the race’s early heats.
Conger was seeded 32nd in the 100 backstroke heading into Friday morning – far lower than in his other two individual events, the 100 fly and 200 fly. He swam the 100 backstroke at last year’s NCAA Championship meet to a 7th-place finish, but this year only swam it at the Longhorns’ mid-season invite in December and the Big 12 Championships.
Unlike his teammate Joseph Schooling, who only entered two events at the meet, Conger is still not eligible to swim all 5 relays because he didn’t scratch the race before the scratch deadline. A DFS (or Declared False Start) still counts as a race swum for the purpose of event limits.
Conger swam to a 5th-place-qualifying 45.55 in the 100 fly earlier in the session.
Also sitting out the 100 back among high seeds were Michigan’s Aaron Whitaker (seeded 19th in 45.97), Indiana’s Bob Glover (seeded 21st in 46.04), and Auburn’s Kyle Darmody (seeded 22nd in 46.09).
The physical development for murphy and dressel have been incredible. In terms of Jack, when you look at him during these post relay interviews, he is extremely thin. I understand muscle isn’t a necessity but if he wants to be on the Olympic team I think he could use some more power.
Also, did anyone else see him not want to talk in the interview post 400 MR. Even when the interviewer asked for someone besides licon to speak jack pawned it on shebat.
Conger is a great swimmer, but must feel disappointed with his development. Not anyone’s fault, but he was faster than Murphy in high school, now Murphy’s so good Jack isn’t even swimming those events.
Conger’a fast…But I know in his mind he looks at Murphy and is pissed, Ryan’s obviously been more successful in college and is more likely an Olympian this summer.
Conger still hasn’t won an individual event at NCAA, and isn’t even the best on his own team at his best events (now fly). He’s a fast swimmer, but his time drops haven’t been that dramatic since high school.
Want to throw in my two cents that he’s legit, but not the greatest thing ever like… Read more »
He has shown tremendous improvement in his sprint free (100-200) and butterfly (100-200). His improvement has shown as he has broken several NCAA records, individual and on relays.
I’m not his coach, but I like the transition he has made. As swim geek said earlier, making it in the Olympics in the backstroke is going to be very hard. I think it was smart to move into the fly/sprint free areas. He’ll have a really good chance in those areas.
Yeah, but Murphy has McKeever strolling the same pool deck. An unfair advantage.
watch 200fly coming…
he is solid #2 flyer in the usa…nothing wrong with that and in about 5 month he will be #1 after Phelps retires. Murphy hasn’t exactly lit up the international stage so it remains to be seen if either one gets all the way to the top of it all
It seems everyone has forgotten he broke Jeff Kostoff’s eons old national high school record in the 500 free. Has he even swum that event in college?
DUNC1952- He swam it freshman year
Honestly if he’s going to swim 3 individual events, I’m not sure why he doesn’t try the 200 IM. I don’t see any times for him since an unrested 1:48 at a high school meet in 2013, but I’d have to think he could place pretty highly given what we know about at least three of strokes and his endurance. His free and fly are stronger than Murphy’s, and he has at least as good a backstroke as anyone not named Murphy. How bad could his breast be?
Conger has officially broken up with Backstroke.
Sure looks it. Only a couple years removed from 1:55 in the 200 LCM. Would love to hear why.
I think of about 6 reasons: Ryan Murphy; Tyler Clary; Ryan Lochte; Matt Grevers; Nick Thoman; David Plummer. I think Jack is looking for a ticket to Rio and recent history suggest his fly/free chances are better.
Yeah, those first 3 are big.
Anyone who gives up the 500 free (freshman year) for sprint relays and the 100 fly is a genius, in my opinion.
I guess they weren’t planning on Conger swimming another relay. Strange “plan”? Texas must think they will have a 41 point lead going into the last relay.
That has been the plan all along
Are there any Lativians on Texas’ squad?
The pod where Simmons and Rapaport talk about Porzingis was unbelievable.