2016 Texas Invite Day 3 Prelims: Clark Smith’s 1:34.2 Leads 200 Free

2016 TEXAS INVITATIONAL

Olympic gold medalist Clark Smith followed up his fast 500 free victory last night with the top 200 free time in this morning’s prelims at the 2016 Texas Invite. Smith led the pack with a 1:34.22, giving him about a half second over Stanford’s Tom Kremer (1:34.66). Harvard freshman Dean Farris, who blasted a 1:33 anchor split on the 800 free relay, swam a personal best 1:34.79 to close out the top 3 this morning.

Townley Haas, Smith’s Olympic relay teammate, squeaked into the top 8 in this morning’s prelims. Haas, who holds the American Record in this event, picked up 8th with a 1:35.62 this morning. Narrowly missing out with a 9th place finish was Stanford’s Grant Shoults in 1:35.76.

Arizona’s Nick Thorne and Texas’ Jonathan Roberts have set up a good race in the 400 IM tonight. This morning, Thorne was the fastest swimmer with a personal best 3:43.54, while Roberts was just behind in 3:43.73. Also in the mix tonight will be Stanford’s Abrahm DeVine, the 200 IM champ, who qualified 4th in 3:46.88. His Stanford teammates Curtis Ogren (3:46.82) and Max Williamson (3:47.18) will be swimming on either side of him tonight.

On the women’s side, USC freshman Louise Hansson put together a strong 100 fly/100 back double. In the 100 fly, her 52.46 landed her 2nd only to Texas’ Remedy Rule, who took top seed with her 52.13. When she returned to the pool for the 100 back, she was the only woman under 52 with a 51.83 for top seed. In the final, she’ll be up against 2nd seed Tasija Karosas (52.03), who broke the Texas school record with a 51.06 backstroke split on the 400 medley relay last night.

Also taking on that double was Arizona All-American Annie Ochitwa, who finished 3rd in the 100 fly in 52.62 and 4th in the 100 back with a 52.23. The Wildcats lined up 2 more swimmers in the 100 back final, as they took the 3rd through 5th slots in prelims. Katrina Konopka cracked the top 3 with a 52.10, while Olympic Trials semifinalist Taylor Garcia threw down a 52.54 for 5th.

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newswim
7 years ago

Farris’s swim also broke Kiedel’s school record from 1999.

Caleb
Reply to  newswim
7 years ago

Scott Jaffe never went faster?

newswim
Reply to  Caleb
7 years ago

Nope let’s give him his due. He swam a 1:36 low in the early 90s and I’m sure they’d love to have a few more guys capable of that on this year’s conference team. The Ivy record is 1:33.5 set in 2009 by some guy from Princeton. His parents named him after a town in the Berskshires but didn’t know how to spell it correctly.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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