The first day of the Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships started off with a time trial session this morning. The 2015 Big 12 conference championships are being hosted at the University of Texas from Feb 25th to 28th. The University of Texas’s men’s program has never lost a Big 12 Conference Championship since the formation of the conference 18 years ago. The women’s team from Texas also won last year, giving the Longhorns their 12th Big 12 Conference Title.
Click here to view Jared Anderson’s 2015 Big 12 Men’s Fan Guide.
Click here to view Morgan Priestley’s 2015 Big 12 Women’s Fan Guide.
Despite Texas coach Eddie Reese not entering Jack Conger in the 200 butterfly at the Big 12 championships, Conger did go for a time this morning in a time trial. SwimSwam’s Gold Medal Mel Stewart was on deck to witness his swim.
Coach Eddie Reese told us, “Jack said he felt he could get the 200 fly record last week… Jack is unshaven. He does need more rest, but we’re happy with where he is at right now. At the Pro Swim Series Austin, when he went the 51.6 100m fly, we knew his 200 fly would be on. Jack time trialed the 200 fly because he’s not swimming it at Big 12’s. NCAA’s…? We have some choices to make, because Jack can swim anything.”
Jack Conger broke the American and US Open record with his time of 1:39.31. He took out his first 100 in 47.32 and brought it home in 51.99 for the new record. Dylan Bosch’s time from last year of 1:39.33 will still remain as the NCAA record, because NCAA rules forbid records being set in time-trials.
The old American Record was held by a tie between Tom Shields and Michael Phelps, who swam matchin 1:39.65’s.
Live results can be found by clicking here.
Splits:
- 22.09
- 25.23 – 47.32
- 25.34 – 1:12.66
- 26.65 – 51.99 – 1:39.31
Post race quotes from Conger: “After going a 1:41 in practice, I felt this was an achievable goal.”
On not swimming the 200 fly at Big 12’s: “I’m focused on the 200 back here… looking forward to that race, and seeing my teammates swim fast.”
On training: “I’m not shaven, but I rested some. I’ll be doing some more work after conference, then getting a full rest for NCAA’s.”
On 200 fly at NCAA’s?: “After conference we’ll get with the coaches and see what works for NCAA’s. My schedule isn’t set yet.”
Below is a list of the fastest SCY 200 butterflies in history as of today.
- 1:39.31 Jack Conger
- 1:39.33 Dylan Bosch
- 1:39.65 Michael Phelps
- 1:39.65 Tom Shields
- 1:39.70 Michael Phelps
- 1:40.19 Marcin Cieslak
- 1:40.24 Tom Shields
- 1:40.31 Tom Shields
- 1:40.34 Jack Conger
Jack Conger breaks 200 fly American/US Open/NCAA Record in a time trial before the 2015 Big 12 Championships.
In January, Conger posted an incredible in-season time at a dual meet against SMU and Arizona. His time of 1:40.34 broke the Texas school record and was the fastest NCAA time of the year leading into the Championship season.
That January swim gave the Longhorns the three fastest 200 butterfliers in the country this season. The top 5 at the time was:
- Jack Conger, Texas, 1:40.34, soph.
- Joseph Schooling, Texas, 1:41.00, fresh.
- Clark Smith, Texas, 1:41.42, soph.
- Dylan Bosch, Michigan, 1:41.65, jr.
- Chase Kalisz, Georgia, 1:42.22, jr.
His January swim was also the 5th-best time in the 200 yard fly in NCAA history, and made him the 4th-best performer.
Jack Conger now holds the NCAA record in the event as well, beating out Bosch’s time from last year by .02 seconds. The top 6 all-time performances in NCAA history are below
- Jack Conger, 1:39.31
- Dylan Bosch, 1:39.33
- Tom Shields, 1:39.65
- Marcin Cieslak, 1:40.19
- Tom Shields, 1:40.31
- Jack Conger, 1:40.34
Other times from the Time Trial sessions
I’m sure Mel loves this! I watched Phelps go that 1:39.65 which was incredible. Good job for this kid from Texas. I wonder if he can go under 1:38.00 fully rested. His splits were very consistent. Maybe if he is out in 46 back in 50. Whew that’s smoking fast!
Love Eddies remark, “he has been real determined and thinking about this race all WEEK” so that’s all it takes to go fast, set goals a week out (must be real nice)
Those Tom Shields-esque turns make the pool look tiny…
Here is video of the swim:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7Je75ONZwY
4, 5, 5, 5, 6, 6, ?, 7… such a good swim
SMASH (again)
From that video, and if Eddie is correct that he is unshaven, Conger is one of the least hairy person I’ve ever seen.
looking at midseason pictures, he’s not a hairy guy.
I have a good feeling that Conger will have another monstrous swim in the 200 back. This is a good sign after performing not up to his expectation last year. He’s back!!
Hear me out, I think Conger breaking the record today is a for sure sign that he is NOT swimming the 200 Fly at NCAA’s.
Remember last year, the Michigan broke the 800 Free Relay record on their first night of the conference meet, then failed to post a faster time at NCAA’s? Perhaps Conger is thinking the same thing: go for the record today while he is fresh, and then he will not have the pressure of deciding between the 200 fly and 200 back, or choosing to do the double. Now that he does have the record, he doesn’t have to worry about getting it on the third night of an emotional and exciting meet, with all… Read more »
Michigan went slower at NCAAs in the 800 FRR for 1 reason–at Big 10s, the 800 FRR is on the 1st night, and you’re fresh, while at NCAAs, it’s on Day 2 and those 4 guys already swam prelims/finals on Day 1, plus relays, then 2 200 Free on Day 2 before they swam the 800 FRR. It happens to pretty much everyone.
We all can agree that he will be much more fresh on Day 1 of Big 12s than Day 3 at NCAAs, but that certainly doesn’t mean he will or will not swim the 200 Fly at NCAAs.
As I said, Bosch and/or Schooling will probably break the record at NCAAs anyway. And there’s going… Read more »
lol u mad?
I would’ve totally skipped class to go see this… Unbelievable. Great start to the Longhorn postseason! Hook ’em! \m/
And more than 30 years ago in this same pool Rowdy Gaines set a world record in the 100 free which stood for years. It was a time trial.