U.S. Nationals: Fast-Closing Luke Hobson Claims Crown in 200 Freestyle; American 800 Free Relay Looking Good
During a recent interview with Swimming World, Great Britain’s James Guy didn’t mince words when discussing the 800-meter freestyle relay at this summer’s World Championships in Fukuoka. The veteran and British team leader proclaimed his homeland as the favorite for gold in the event – a declaration that certainly has merit.
Behind a lineup of Guy, Tom Dean, Duncan Scott and Matt Richards, Great Britain boasts a squad that will rival any in the world. It was that quartet which claimed Olympic gold in Tokyo during the summer of 2021, the world record just out of reach. And anything less than an exceptional showing in Japan next month would be a surprise.
Team USA, though, is not going to back down, and what transpired at the Indiana University Natatorium on Wednesday night served as proof. With Luke Hobson leading the way at the United States National Championships, a trio of Americans clocked in the 1:45 range in the 200 freestyle and set up an enticing showdown at the World Champs.
Surging over the second half of the race, Hobson pulled away from the field to post a victorious time of 1:45.18. He was followed in second place by Kieran Smith (1:45.63) while Drew Kibler finished third (1:45.75). The fourth spot went to Jake Mitchell, who touched the wall in 1:46.25.
Carson Foster qualified as the second seed during the preliminaries, but opted to scratch the final. Foster still has the individual medley events on his schedule this week, and conserving energy will be a key. However, by going 1:45.64 during the morning session, Foster did more than enough to secure a spot on the 800 freestyle relay at Worlds.
Known for his closing speed, Hobson produced a patient race. He was third after the opening 50 meters and sat in fourth at the midway point, with Smith and Kibler at the front of the field. But Hobson upped the pace on his third lap, splitting 26.61 on that length, and he closed with a split of 26.56. Both of those laps were the fastest in the race, and meant Hobson was timed in 53.17 for his last 100 meters.
“I was pretty confident in that swim,” Hobson said. “I’m not going to say it didn’t hurt at the end because it always does. There is some on the technical side to improve on.”
The U.S. enters the World Champs as the reigning global champion from last summer, when Kibler, Foster, Trenton Julian and Smith combined for a mark of 7:00.24. That effort supplied a commanding victory over Australia, while Great Britain secured bronze. It’s worth noting, though, that the British were without Scott, and Richards was far from the elite level he has displayed in 2023.
When the countries next meet, they’ll both be in peak form – and fireworks will be expected. The talent slated to compete in the relay is eye-popping, and it would not be stunning to see the super-suited world record of 6:58.55, on the books since 2009 in Rome, go down.
As far as this season goes, Great Britain owns a composite time of 7:01.51, compared to the 7:02.06 of the United States. Given the atmosphere of the World Champs and the fact that the athletes will be in top condition, there is much more to come from both nations.
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