Coverage of the 2015 World University Games is proudly sponsored by adidas. Visit Swimming World’s event coverage page for live results and recaps.
By David Rieder
At the halfway point of the men’s 400 free relay at the World University Games, Italy led the top-seeded Americans by more than a half second. Then the versatile Jack Conger jumped into the water, and he had the gap made up before the teams were halfway down the pool. Sure, Conger has a fine history in the 100 free, finishing ninth at last summer’s National Championships in 49.28, but few expected to see a 47.75 out of Conger at WUGs.
Coming into the World University Games, Conger had already put together an outstanding 2014, setting an American record in the 200 fly at the Big-12 Championships and finishing second in both fly events at the NCAA Championships. Teammates Joseph Schooling and Will Licon earned the bigger headlines with their performances in Iowa City, but Conger was still a big contributor to Texas’ dominant national championship performance.
But for all of Conger’s recent successes in the butterfly events, he first made a name for himself on his back. He swam just two events at the 2012 Olympic Trials, the 100 and 200 back, and he finished in the top eight in both. During his high school career, he frequently exchanged National Age Group records in the backstroke events with Ryan Murphy and Jacob Pebley. And around the same time, he set a still-standing National Independent High School record in the 500 free.
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
But the 100 free? An event that before today few would have considered among Conger’s best? All of the sudden, he looks like a real contender to qualify for the American Olympic team in the 400 free relay. If that seems far-fetched, consider: in the Americans’ silver medal-winning relay at Pan Pacs last summer, only one man split faster than Conger’s 47.75; that was Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian, who put up a 47.71.
Conger still has the individual 100 free on his docket later in the meet, as well as the 100 back final on Sunday after he qualified third in the semi-finals with a 54.53. He will have a chance at U.S. Nationals next month to prove his mettle in his other main events, including the butterflys. But with American sprint freestyle at less than its peak − the third-ranked American in the 100 last year (Anthony Ervin) topped out at 48.71 − Conger now has a real shot to make a mark.
Meanwhile, hard to glean too much from the American women’s performance in the 400 free relay. Both Abbey Weitzeil (lead off in 54.78) and Shannon Vreeland (split 54.34) swam well off their performances from a year ago, but both have their sights set higher, with spots already booked on next month’s World Championships team. Expect both to improve in Kazan, as they each split in the 53-high range at Pan Pacs last summer, where the U.S. finished second to Australia.
Sarah Henry Completes American Golden Sweep
In the only individual final of the day, Sarah Henry added earned gold in the women’s 400 IM. The win marked her second major title in the event this year after winning the NCAA title in March. As she did at NCAAs, she fell behind on butterfly − she touched eighth today − but rebounded to grab the win in 4:38.88, while fellow American Hali Flickinger placed third in 4:40.54.
Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott
While the American medal count will love their day one performances, neither makes much of a dent into the rankings of top Americans in the 400 IM. Neither time would have cracked the top three at Nationals, where Melanie Margalis placed third in 4:37.84. Elizabeth Beisel and Maya Dirado appear entrenched as the top two Americans in the event, with Beisel having clocked a time in the 4:31-range each of the last five years in the event and Dirado having a 4:32.70 to her credit from the 2013 World Championships.
Well-written and informative wrap-up. Love the historical references.
Angel Alcala
47 split in the relay ?