With the 200 breast being their only event of the meet, Will Licon and Nic Fink (2:08.16) had to make it count. After going 1-2 in prelims, the two men entered tonight’s final with the sole purpose of earning the U.S. its first medal in this event since 2011. In reality, the race was all their own, as they left the rest of the field to cinch the gold and silver with ease. Contrary to the final predicted by the heat sheets, it was Will Licon who came out victorious, posting a 2:07.62 to edge out his compatriot.
Miguel De Lara Ojeda put forth an even more historic swim for his country, earning Mexico’s first medal in this event since 1971 with a time of 2:11.23. The country turned out to be loaded, as Mauro Castillo’s time of 2:12.63 took the next spot ahead of Argentina’s Gabriel Morelli (2:12.83) and Venezuela’s Carlos Claverie (2:13.19). Marco Guarente of Venezuela and James Dergousoff of Canada rounded out the heat with time of 2:14.40 and 2:15.00, respectively.
