5 Big Things from Day 3 of the 2016 Longhorn Elite Invite

2016 LONGHORN ELITE INVITE

• June 3rd-5th, 2016
• Austin, Texas (University of Texas Jamail Swim Center)
• Prelims start at 9:30 AM, Finals start at 6:30 PM, except Sunday, 5:30 PM (U.S. Central Time)
• Psych Sheets
• Meet Central
• Timeline
• Live Results 
• Finals Live Stream (Longhorn Network)

#1 DAVID NOLAN SWIMS FIRST SUB-2:00 200 IM

After failing to qualify for the championship final in prelims of the men’s 200 IM, David Nolan got a chance to redeem himself tonight after his teammate Michael Phelps scratched out of the final. He took full advantage of the opportunity, cranking out a new best time of 1:59.40 to beat out Texas IM stud Will Licon. That’s a new best time for Nolan, and his first time under 2:00. His previous best was a 2:00.15 from Nationals last summer.

#2 PACE CLARK BEATS LOADED 200 FLY FIELD

Georgia’s Pace Clark blasted a 1:56.97 to win the men’s 200 fly over a field loaded with talent. Clark’s winning time of 1:56.97 was over a second faster than his previous season best of 1:58.03, and just shy of his lifetime best 1:56.84 from Nationals last summer. That put him ahead of Jack Conger (1:57.01), Chase Kalisz (1:57.32) and Joseph Schooling (2:02) tonight. Clark is now the 2nd fastest American this year, sitting behind Michael Phelps‘ 1:56.11 from Winter Nationals.

#3 WILL LICON SWEEPS BREASTSTROKE RACES

After winning the 200 breast earlier in the meet, Will Licon neared his best time in the 100 breast to win tonight’s final. Licon went head-to-head with Longhorn teammate Andrew Wilson, getting to the wall in 1:01.36 for 1st place. That time is just over a tenth shy of his lifetime best 1:01.24 from Nationals last summer. Licon’s breaststroke wins are a good confidence boost ahead of this month’s Olympic Trials, where he’ll be one of the top swimmers competing for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team.

#4 MADISYN COX DOMINATES WOMEN’S 200 IM

Madisyn Cox was in a league of her own in the women’s 200 IM final tonight, posting a top time of 2:11.60. That time is within a second of Cox’s lifetime best, a 2:10.75 from Nationals last summer, and beats her previous season best of 2:12.35 from the Arena Pro Swim Series at Mesa. Cox is now the 5th fastest American this year.

#5 CLARK SMITH SWIMS SUB-15:10 TO WIN MEN’S MILE

Texas’ Clark Smith, the American Record holder in the 1000 yard freestyle, blew away the field in the men’s 1500 free tonight. Smith won the event by over 10 seconds, hitting the wall in 15:08.59. That’s his 2nd time under 15:10 this season, having swum his season-best 15:05.97 in late May.

Smith may not have much experience in this race, but his times indicate he has the potential to challenge for an Olympic berth in this event. Prior to this April, his best time was a 17:01.68 from 2009, and this was only his 3rd time swimming the event in the last 6 years.