U.S. Nationals: Matt Fallon Rips Back Half for Fourth-Best 200 Breast in the World
Matt Fallon’s style of racing the 200 breaststroke is familiar by now: cruise the first 100, look like he is totally out of the mix but then blast the third 50 while roaring ahead of the field. That’s what Fallon did in Wednesday morning’s prelims at U.S. Nationals, allowing Jake Foster to lead the way over the first half of their heat before coming on strong.
Fallon ended up finishing nearly two seconds clear of Foster and more than a second ahead of the field for the top qualifying time. He finished in 2:08.19, which ranks fifth globally for 2023 behind France’s Leon Marchand, Russia’s Kirill Prigoda, China’s Qin Haiyang and Japan’s Ippei Watanabe. Fallon was just off his lifetime best of 2:07.91 from last year.
After finishing his sophomore year at the University of Pennsylvania but now training for the summer at the University of Georgia, Fallon hopes to reach his first World Championships team in the final. He had the top qualifying mark after both prelims and semifinals at the U.S. Olympic Trials before fading in the final, and then he had the quickest American time in the event last year, but he skipped April’s International Team Trials to focus on his final exams. Now, the timing looks right for Fallon’s international breakthrough.
Joining Fallon under the 2:10-barrier in prelims was Indiana’s Josh Matheny, who swam a best time by almost a second to touch in 2:09.34. Matheny also moved into the global top-10 for 2023. Foster ended up qualifying third in 2:10.10.
Nic Fink, a finalist in this event at the Olympics and last year’s World Championships, swam slowly through the first half of his prelims heat, turning seventh at the halfway point, but he turned it on down the stretch to pass fellow veteran Will Licon on the last length. Fink finished in 2:10.59 for the fourth seed, while Licon’s 2:10.97 qualified him sixth. Fink is probably better at the 50 and 100 breast at this stage of his career, having won a world title in the 50 breast and global bronze in the 100 breast last year, but he can definitely make a run in the final for a spot on the team.
Virginia Tech’s AJ Pouch was fifth in 2:10.88, while Nova’s Charlie Swanson finished seventh in 2:11.59. Swanson tied with Fink for the win in this race at last year’s International Team Trials. Club Wolverine’s Tommy Cope took eighth in 2:11.66.
