Chase Kalisz Destorys Clary’s 400 IM American, U.S. Open, NCAA Records

After hanging back through the first 100 yards, Chase Kalisz laid the hammer down on the field over the final 300 yards en route to a new American, NCAA, and U.S. Open Record in the 400 IM, clocking in at 3:34.50.  That swim crushed the previous suit-aided record from Olympian Tyler Clary of Michigan in 2009 of 3:35.96.

Kalisz was third to the wall at the 100 mark before blowing away the rest of the heat over the next 300 yards, recording the fastest split over each of the last three 100’s.  Notably, Dan Wallace of Florida was second in 3:38.17.

Here’s the split comparisons between Clary’s record, Kalisz’s swim from SEC’s this year, and his swim tonight:

Clary 2009 NCAA’s:
48.58-1:41.54 (52.96)-2:44.02 (1:02.48)-3:35.98 (51.96)

Kalisz 2014 SEC’s:
51.06-1:46.83 (55.77)-2:46.02 (59.19)-3:36.89 (50.87)

Kalisz 2014 NCAA’s:
50.04-1:44.16 (54.12)-2:43.57 (59.41)-3:34.50 (50.93)

Clearly, the big difference for Kalisz tonight was pushing the front half harder than he has in the past.  He was still well behind Clary’s absurd 1:41.54 front half, but Kalisz’s is better than just about anyone in the world over the final 200 yards.