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An already-stellar California Golden Bear recruiting class got even better this week, with Mission Viejo distance swimmer Shane Forker verbally committing.
Forker comes out of the legendary distance program at Mission Viejo in Southern California, and will head north to join a Cal squad that has loaded up on big-time recruits for the past few seasons in a row.
This year’s class already includes #2 recruit Michael Jensen, #5 Jack Xie, #10 Andrea Vergani, #11 Ethan Young and #17 Albert Gwo. Forker brings a badly-needed distance component to the bunch.
Forker’s Top Times
- 1650 free: 15:21.35
- 1000 free: 9:11.25
- 500 free: 4:24.48
- 200 free: 1:38.70
Forker gets better as the distance goes up, and could wind up giving Cal its first true national-level mile threat since Canadian Jeremy Bagshaw, who came up with a fiery 1650 swim to lead Cal to its last national title in 2014.
Already, Forker would have been 11th at last year’s Pac-12 Championships in the 1650 based on his lifetime-best, and would have been the highest-placing Golden Bear. He would have been just outside of scoring range in the 500 as well.
With Forker in the mix, Cal’s class of 2020 is looking both strong and well-rounded. Jensen is a freestyler/flyer, Xie a flyer/IMer, Young a backstroker and Vergani and Gwo sprint freestylers. Forker now brings a distance presence to a team that finished 2nd in the NCAA last season despite not scoring a single point in the 500 or 1650 freestyle.
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@jared I think I remember his LCM time being good his sophomore yr. His yards time was pretty disappointing.
You’re right, CalSwimFan – all in all, Burns had a pretty solid summer. He only went 1 lifetime-best out of the 200/400/800/1500 (his 7:56.53 in the 800 at World University Games), but he had that odd summer schedule where he had to taper for WUGs but only got to swim the 800 and 1500. Hard to judge his other races without a true taper meet.
what about Burns? i think he was better than this guy coming out of high school in distance?
and he goes to University of Georgia so I don’t see how he’s relevant?
I think WEIRDO meant Janardan Burns?
Weirdo – Burns had a great freshman year, overlapping with Bagshaw’s senior year mentioned in the article. He had a rough sophomore year, though.
even his first year didnt match up with his long course times, he wasnt under 15 minutes scy and then was 15:11 at nationals. Maybe he’s just more of a lcm swimmer?
even his first year wasnt nearly as good as his lcm times, the shouldve been way under 15 but was like 15;05 or something then at nats he was 15:11 lcm.. Maybe he’s just more a lcm swimmer?