Brendan McHugh Breaks U.S. Open Record in 27.10 at U.S. Nationals Prelims

There have been two men’s breaststroke events so far at the 2014 U.S. National Championships, and twice in prelims the U.S. Open Record, meaning the fastest swim ever on American soil, has gone down.

On Friday morning, University of Penn alum Brendan McHugh represented for the Ivy Leagues and broke the U.S. Open Record in the men’s 50 breaststroke with a 27.10. He swam out of the second-to-last heat, and the time stood up to Kevin Cordes, who broke the same record over 200 meters earlier in this meet, a heat later.

McHugh, who is representing the Greater Philadelphia Aquatic Club at this meet, is part of a growing class of male breaststrokers who were solid in college, and as post grads have been able to make breakthroughs. SwimSwam’s Jared Anderson, who also made the A-Final in the 50 breaststroke, falls into that same category, as does Brad Craig, who was the fastest American in the 100 breaststroke in 2014 coming into this meet.

McHugh’s previous best in the 50 breaststroke was a 28.23; in 2012, he swam a 1:01.04 in the 100 breaststroke, and if he can drop a similar amount in the 100 as he did in the 50, just over a full second, he’s got a very good chance at making the Pan Pacs team in that event and possibly even breaking a minute.

That broke the old Championships Record and U.S. Open Record set by Kevin Steel in 27.26 at last year’s meet. Steel didn’t swim the event on Friday. The American Record is a 26.86 done by Mark Gangloff at Worlds in Rome in 2009.

Full event results available here.

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Ken
9 years ago

Who is Brendan McHugh:

Brendan got 10th at Olympic Trials with that 1:01:
http://www.myswimresults.com.au/ResultsEvent.aspx?MeetID=3498&stroke=BR&gender=M&distance=100&EventMinAge=0&EventMaxAge=999

5/10th of a second behind Kevin Cordes 6th place finish.

Brendan finished 16th at OTs in 200m BR, (Kevin Cordes got 12th that year)
http://www.myswimresults.com.au/ResultsEvent.aspx?MeetID=3498&EventNumber=216

14th in NCAAs D1s in 100Br
http://www.pennathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=1700&ATCLID=205402842

14th in NCAA D1’s in 200Br
http://www.thedp.com/article/2012/03/mchugh_adds_to_his_legacy

It’s too bad Sprinting (other than free) isn’t an Olympic event.

Sam Scimeca
9 years ago

McHugh is entering his third year of law school while taking down records as well. Good luck!

Danjohnrob
9 years ago

It must be really fun for post-grads, who are probably continuing to train just because they enjoy it, to come to a big meet like this and get a best time! Now Brendan might end up swimming at a World Championships, get a sponsor and have the chance to continue his career! Good luck!

I saw his race, and his stroke is very different from Kevin’s, all pwer and quickness without much glide. I hope he has the endurance to continue that stroke, maybe slightly elongated, for 100m!

Enjoy being a PanPac/World Champ’s Trial finalist Jared!

Steve Sokolow
9 years ago

Way to go Brendan ! Good luck tonight ! Go Penn !

bobo gigi
9 years ago

I admit I had never heard of Brendan McHugh. What a performance! You say his 100 breast PB is 1.01.04? If he can lower that time in the same way as he did in the 50 breast, we could see something around 59 low! 😆
And what? Jared Anderson has qualified for the A-Final? Wow! I didn’t see that coming!

liquidassets
9 years ago

A PB by a second!! I’m betting that few listed him in their picks! Is Steel at the meet and if so, wondering why he didn’t swim it??

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Braden Keith

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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