Will Licon Downs NCAA, American, U.S. Open Records in 200 Yard Breaststroke

2016 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, March 23 – Saturday, March 26
• McAuley Aquatic Center – Atlanta, GA
• Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
• Defending Champion: Texas (results)
• Championship Central
• Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday prelins & finals, Friday/Saturday prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
• Live Results From Commit Swimming – Live Results from Hy-Tek

Keeping with the record-smashing theme of the night, Will Licon of the University of Texas downed the NCAA, American, and U.S. Open records in the 200 yard breaststroke, touching in 1:48.12.  That final time was just over a half-second faster than the previous standard of 1:48.66 from Kevin Cordes, which was widely considered one of the more “unbreakable” NCAA records out there when it was set.

The Texas junior was first at the 50 mark in 24.59, but really pulled away over the next 50 yards with a 27.22 split.  Josh Prenot of Cal hung tough in second place throughout the race, and even closed slightly over the final 50, but Licon had built too much of a gap to ultimately be challenged.

Split comparison:

While Cordes showed superior closing speed in his record swim, Licon carried a much better middle 100, bettering the former Arizona Wildcat’s record splits by nearly a full second from the 50-yard to the 150-yard mark.  Notably, Licon’s opening 100 of 51.81 also snuck under the Texas team record from legend Brendan Hansen.

Not to be overshadowed, runner-up and last night’s 400 IM champion Josh Prenot clocked a 1:49.38 for second place, making him the third-fastest performer in history.

Including this morning’s 1:49.43, Licon now has four of the ten fastest swims in history.

Top 10 performances in history:

1. Will Licon – 1:48.12 (Atlanta, 03/26/2016)
2. Kevin Cordes – 1:48.66 (Austin, 03/27/2014)
3. Cordes – 1:48.68 (Indianapolis, 03/28/2013)
4. Josh Prenot – 1:49.38 (Atlanta, 03/26/2016)
5. Cordes – 1:49.38 (Austin, 12/05/2013)
6. Licon – 1:49.43 (Atlanta, 03/26/2016)
7. Licon – 1:49.48 (Iowa City, 03/28/2015)
8. Cordes – 1:49.53 (Iowa City, 03/28/2015)
9. Licon – 1:49.54 (Iowa City, 03/28/2015)
10. Cody Miller – 1:49.74 (Edmond, 12/19/2015)