2020 SECs: Florida’s Bobby Finke Demolishes American Record with 14:12 Mile

2020 SEC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Last season, Florida’s Bobby Finke won the mile as a freshman with a new SEC Record, narrowly missing the NCAA Record in the process. After he smashed his best in the 500 free to take bronze on Wednesday, the 1650 free record was on notice tonight. He blew away the field to become the fastest man in history.

Video:

Finke repeated as champion in 14:12.08. That time is not only a new SEC Record, but it breaks the NCAA and American Record as well. That’s over 10 seconds faster than Clark Smith‘s former NCAA Record, which stood as a 14:22.41 from 2017. It’s also 6 seconds faster than Zane Grothe‘s former American Record of 14:18.25 set in 2018.

His former SEC Record was a 14:23.01 last season, which stood as his lifetime best until tonight.

Finke’s Splits by 100:

49.17 49.17
1:40.44 51.27
2:32.04 51.6
3:23.68 51.64
4:15.28 51.60
5:07.19 51.91
5:58.91 51.72
6:50.85 51.94
7:42.88 52.03
8:34.63 52.75
9:26.87 52.24
10:18.80 51.93
11:10.88 52.08
12:03.00 52.12
12:55.07 52.07
13:46.99 51.92
14:12 25.09

ALL-TIME TOP 10 PERFORMERS: MEN’S 1650 FREE

Place Swimmer Time
1 Bobby Finke 14:12.08
2 Zane Grothe 14:18.25
3 Clark Smith 14:22.41
4 Felix Auboeck 14:22.88
5 Akaram Mahmoud 14:22.99
6 Jordan Wilimovsky 14:23.45
7 Connor Jaeger 14:23.52
8 Martin Grodzski 14:24.08
9 Chad La Tourette 14:24.35
10 Anton Ipsen 14:24.43

This is Finke’s 3rd medal of the meet. He took bronze in the 500 free on day 2 and bronze in the 400 IM on day 3. Both Zane Grothe and Clark Smith are currently training as postgrads. Finke will, however, match up with Michigan’s reigning champion Felix Auboeck at the NCAA meet next month. Auboeck is the 4th fastest man in history.

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Conrad Kraus
2 years ago

Wow!!!!! I just watched your 1500 meter swim at the 2020 Olympics. The 1500 meter looks like a 50 meter sprint today since I swam it in 1961 here at Kelly pool in Philadelphia at the Mid Atlantic AAU championships representing the Vesper Boat Club Swim Team.I too was noted for the last leg of the race and also passed many swimmers in the last leg of the race.400, 800, 1500. all the same in the last leg. Kick, kick, kick like there is not tomorrow.

Swimmer
4 years ago

Clark Smith is now just a distance memory.

Dman
Reply to  Swimmer
4 years ago

All kidding aside, what is Clark Smith doing now well after the heart procedure – is he training and racing still? Haven’t seen any news lately about this great swimmer.

swimfast
4 years ago

finally someone remotely decent looking to hold this record

Anonymous
4 years ago

Swim of the year! So far anyway.

Clay
4 years ago

I was counting for another swimmer in the heat and had a hard time paying attention to them. Glad I got to watch such an amazing performance

DBS
4 years ago

the saturation in these cover photos has reached zack snyder / “300” levels

Eagleswim
Reply to  DBS
4 years ago

Nesty is painting abs and pecs on his swimmers to make them swim faster. Someone please look into this because it’s despicable.

USAUSAUSA
4 years ago

video or it didn’t happen

Lane 8
Reply to  USAUSAUSA
4 years ago
Dbswims
4 years ago

Poor Grothe. Both his American yards records erased

Zane G
Reply to  Dbswims
4 years ago

I’m not heartbroken

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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