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WATCH: Carson Foster Crushes 400 IM PB of 4:11.56 During Longhorn Prelims

2021 LONGHORN ELITE INVITE

During the first prelims session of the 2021 Longhorn Elite Invite in Austin, 19-year-old Carson Foster crushed a monster lifetime best in the 400-meter IM, touching the wall at 4:11.56. Foster now passes Chase Kalisz‘s top US time of 4:13.64 this season and sky-rockets to No. 4 in the 2020-2021 world rankings before tonight’s finals session, which is set to being at 5:30 pm CST.

2020-2021 LCM Men 400 IM

CarsonUSA
Foster
07/23
4:08.46
2Daiya
Seto
JPN4:09.0204/03
3Chase
Kalisz
USA4:09.0906/13
4Brendon
Smith
AUS4:09.2707/24
5Lewis
Clareburt
NZL4:09.4907/24
View Top 26»

Foster’s time also bumped him from No. 18 to No. 8 on the all-time US performers list, passing the likes of 2019 national champion Bobby Finke (4:13.15), Olympian Josh Prenot (4:13.15), 2019 WUGs champion Sean Grieshop (4:12.72), 2000 Olympian Tom Dolan (4:11.76) and Olympian Gunnar Bentz (4:11.66). Foster now sits a tenth behind Charlie Swanson‘s 4:11.46, which he swam en route winning the 2019 Pan American route. Kalisz and Litherland rank No. 3 and No. 5 respectively on the list behind ’08/’12 Olympic representatives Ryan Lochte (4:05.18) and Michael Phelps (4:03.84 WR).

Foster is now the No. 2 seed on the tentative Wave II psych sheets, only behind Litherland’s 4:09.22 runner-up swim from the 2019 World Championships.

All-Time U.S. Performers List: Men’s 400 IM LCM

  1. Michael Phelps, 4:03.84 — 2008 Olympics
  2. Ryan Lochte, 4:05.18 — 2012 Olympics
  3. Chase Kalisz, 4:05.90 — 2017 Worlds
  4. Tyler Clary, 4:06.96 — 2009 U.S. Nationals
  5. Jay Litherland, 4:09.22 — 2019 Worlds
  6. Erik Vendt, 4:11.27 — 2002 U.S. Nationals
  7. Charlie Swanson, 4:11.46 — 2019 Pan Ams
  8. Carson Foster, 4:11.56 — 2021 Longhorn Elite Invite**
  9. Gunnar Bentz, 4:11.66 — 2017 U.S. Nationals
  10. Tom Dolan, 4:11.76 — 2000 Olympics

Comparing Foster’s splits from his top three best performances, he has been able to consistently take out his 100 fly in 56s, yet made small improvements in all three remaining strokes which aided his 1.83s drop. In Austin this morning, Foster also swam his best 100 back/breast splits (1:03.61/1:12.68) in the same race and chopped a half second off his 100 free (58.97). At the 2021 Olympic Trials, Foster will need to be on the lookout for Chase Kalisz‘s 1:08-capable breast split and Jay Litherland‘s 56-capable closing 100 free.

2021 Longhorn Elite (prelims) 2019  U.S. Nationals 2021 TXLA Kick-Off
1st 50 FL N/A 26.40 26.77
2nd 50 FL N/A (56.30) 30.20 (56.60) 30.17 (56.94)
1st 50 BK 32.08 32.83 32.40
2nd 50 BK 31.53 (1:03.61) 31.60 (1:04.43) 31.49 (1:03.89)
1st 50 BR 36.15 36.29 36.80
2nd 50 BR 36.53 (1:12.68) 36.65 (1:12.94) 36.74 (1:13.54)
1st 50 FR 30.03 30.18 30.55
2nd 50 FR 28.94 (58.97) 29.24 (59.42) 28.87 (59.42)
Total Time 4:11.56 4:13.39 4:13.79

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Troyy
3 years ago

I was really hoping Manuel would swim the 200 at this meet too. When trials arrives she won’t have raced a 200 since March last year.

Yozhik
Reply to  Troyy
3 years ago

If it happens that because of strong competition she has to focus entirely on 100 and 50 events she may not swim 200 at Trials at all. Everything is very strange about her this season.
She was a very valuable addition to 4×200 relay.

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

Strange about her or the world? Because of COVID, she chose to lay very low. Check out her coach’s interview w Brett Hawke. Manuel values putting in the real deal blocks of training vs travelling to meets. Hence, no ISL for instance.

Swimfan
3 years ago

Anyone knows what’s ledecky’s best in season time in 2017? Reason is in 2016 when her in season Best was 53.75 she split 52.6 in rio while in Budapest (2017) she split 53.83 on the relay after going 3:58.3 earlier in the session

Last edited 3 years ago by Swimfan
Troyy
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

54.35

Swimfan
3 years ago

Wow ledecky nudged out Manuel 53.82-53.83!!! Close finish ledecky certainly putting her named in the 4×100 free relay pool!

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

Well ….. Neal, Schmitt, Weir certainly are not the answers. Don’t bother Dana, Vollmer has retired.

https://www.usaswimming.org/times/data-hub/meet-results#olympic-trials

Deepblue
3 years ago

Sooooo what about finals???

Walter
Reply to  Deepblue
3 years ago

I am sure you can follow the link to the results to find out what happened. No?

manoj
Reply to  Deepblue
3 years ago

4:11:13 foster, f 400im Cox 4;36:61,100 Free Kl 53:82,SM53.83

Swimfan
Reply to  Deepblue
3 years ago

I was thinking the same. Strange to not have a finals recap.

So confused
3 years ago

I’d love to watch it all- where are you getting the video?

KimJongSpoon
Reply to  So confused
3 years ago

Carson’s dad’s YouTube channel. https://youtube.com/channel/UCoHzHfFNt2YNtTXB-wSMOFQ

SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

Ledecky 53.8 and then 4:00.3.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

Unlike Brown (54.85), Comerford (55.37), Dahlia (55.98), Katie Ledecky is trending in the right direction.

Comet
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

I am predicting two of them don’t even make top 6 for the relay

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Comet
3 years ago

At this point in time, Kate Douglass looks to have a better chance than the aforementioned three.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  SAMUEL HUNTINGTON
3 years ago

As a footnote, Katie Ledecky posted a time of 53.99 in the final of the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the 2016 Olympic Team Trials.

Troyy
Reply to  Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
3 years ago

She’d already been a little faster (53.75) earlier in the season.

Swimfan
Reply to  Troyy
3 years ago

Didn’t ledecky post the time 53.75 in Austin 2016 as well (in January)

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

Which is still her personal best time.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Troyy
3 years ago

As far as I can tell, this is the second fastest performance in the women’s 100 meter freestyle for Katie Ledecky (disregarding relay splits).

Hswimmer
3 years ago

53.82 KL
53.83 SM
Hope Simone fully tapers for trials, Huske and Curzan still ahead of her.

Troyy
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

Weitzeil and Mack too.

53.46 Huske
53.55 Curzan
53.66 Weitzeil
53.78 Mack
53.82 Ledecky
53.83 Manuel


Hswimmer
Reply to  Troyy
3 years ago

Damn lower than I thought. She really has to be “on” to get top 2.

Yozhik
Reply to  Troyy
3 years ago

Great! 6 of 53 sec isn’t it a time for some 52 sec? Please.

Pvdh
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

Can I ask if you know what an in season meet is?

Yozhik
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

Sure, ask. 😀

Last edited 3 years ago by Yozhik
Yozhik
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

Actually my answer to your question is “no”. I don’t know the definition of this term. Maybe you can help me with that. Why Ledecky, McKeon, Campbell, Huske, Yang, Haughty, Cursan, Mckeown, Smoliga etc are so close to or better their personal bests at so called in-season meets? And if you can’t answer this question then think twice next time before being sarcastic.

Walter
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

People are different?

Yozhik
Reply to  Walter
3 years ago

Who can argue with that? But we are talking about the same swimmer at different periods of her career. Are there any other years when Manuel was that slow at “in-season” meets? It is either she is under completely different program of preparation for OG, or there Is something not right with her currently. Maybe there are no any worries and she won’t be needed to taper for Trials. Or Trials will be a serious challenge that requires full scale readiness. In such case her performance at OG can be affected.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Walter
3 years ago

Cate Campbell has never medalled in the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the Summer Olympics. Bronte Campbell has never medalled in the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the Summer Olympics. Emma McKeon has never medalled in the women’s 100 meter freestyle at the Summer Olympics.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

Don’t bother.

Comet
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

In Omaha there will be 4 in the 52s (Manuel, Weitzeil, Curzan and Huske)

Yozhik
Reply to  Comet
3 years ago

Yes, thank you. My worries vanished away. (No sarcasm at all).
P.S.You know of course that Weitzeil has never been under 53 in her life.

Last edited 3 years ago by Yozhik
Swimfan
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

But she did split 52.54 on the 400 relay in rio, she is very much capable

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Swimfan
3 years ago

Personal Best Times
Women’s 100 meter freestyle
Manuel – 52.04
Weitzeil – 53.18
Ledecky – 53.75

https://www.usaswimming.org/meet-the-team

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

Don’t you worry, Russia does not stand a chance in the women’s 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Troyy
3 years ago

Mack’s time in the final was 54:00

Yozhik
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

At the beginning of this year there was a general opinion that Manuel same as Ledecky can save the tapering process for OG. But who would expect then that at the end of May she is still only 6th. Her initial speed isn’t that bed, but finish isn’t acceptable. And that improvement comes with tapering. We will know more tomorrow after her 50m race. If she has any issues currently with raw speed.

Dee
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

King & Ledecky are the women who should feel safe enough to do a partial taper imo.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Katie Ledecky does not need to taper for trials. As a matter of fact, Katie Ledecky was not rested at all for the 2013 Phillips 66 National Championships which incidentally doubled as the 2013 FINA World Aquatics Championships Trials.

https://youtu.be/VEkVG3Qm1RA

Yozhik
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Yes, forgot about King. And Smith was also on this list in January. Not anymore.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Dee
3 years ago

Nope!

Lilly King needs to taper if Lilly King wants to qualify for women’s 200 meter breaststroke not with Lazor (2:22.23) and Escobedo (2:22.81) on her heels.

Pvdh
Reply to  Yozhik
3 years ago

Dude…did you take a survey or something? Manuel is following the same pattern that has made her Olympic and world champion.

Trust me. As much as you might think the opposite, she knows more than you.

Yozhik
Reply to  Pvdh
3 years ago

Can you please say something substantial on the topic that would be interesting to other readers, but not just me? Who cares about what I think and if it is opposite or just right to the point.

Meow
Reply to  Hswimmer
3 years ago

Wasn’t Manuel sick recently? Hope it’s not a lingering illness.

Smith-King-Dahlia-Manuel
Reply to  Meow
3 years ago

Simone Manuel missed the 2021 TYR Pro Swim Series – Mission Viejo meet due to illness.

Horninco
3 years ago

Carson now the 6th fastest American ever 4:11.13

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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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