2017 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 22 – Saturday, March 25
- IUPUI Natatorium – Indianapolis, IN
- Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
- Defending Champion: Texas (results)
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheet
- Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday Prelims & Finals, Friday/Saturday Prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
- Event Previews
- Live Results
- Thursday Morning Heat Sheet
It’s been a wild ride for Texas’s Clark Smith. But he ends his collegiate 500 free career with the sweetest redemption story imaginable: returning to the top of the NCAA with the fastest swim in history.
Smith went out in incredibly gutsy fashion and held on over a brutal field, going 4:08.42 to break American, NCAA and U.S. Open records in the event.
Peter Vanderkaay held all of those records from a pair of swims. His 2006 swim of 4:08.60 was the NCAA and meet record, while his 4:08.54 from 2008 held American and U.S. Open records. Those records stood for 11 and 9 years, respectively, before Smith finally got to them.
Smith, of course, has his own history with chasing the record. As a blue-chip freshman, he missed NCAAs entirely for Texas. But as a sophomore, he broke out in historic fashion, winning the NCAA title in 4:09.72. The next year, he went 4:08.82 to rattle the record midseason, then bombed out at NCAAs to finish 21st and miss finals entirely.
But as a senior, Smith found redemption, going 4:08.42 to break all of the records and conclude his collegiate career – in this event at least – on top.
In the same race, his teammate Townley Haas moved up to a tie for #4 all-time and Michigan freshman Felix Auboeck also jumped into the top 10:
Top 10 Performers All-Time In 500y Free
| Place | Swimmer | Time |
| 1 | Clark Smith | 4:08.42 |
| 2 | Peter Vanderkaay | 4:08.54 |
| 3 | Tom Dolan | 4:08.75 |
| 4 | Townley Haas | 4:08.92 |
| 4 | Jean Basson | 4:08.92 |
| 6 | Felix Auboeck | 4:08.95 |
| 7 | Michael Klueh | 4:09.32 |
| 8 | Sebastian Rouault | 4:09.48 |
| 9 | Fynn Minuth | 4:09.55 |
| 10 | Akaram Mahmoud | 4:09.73 |
Not to take away at all from Clark’s fantastic swim but, wow Felix Aubueck 4:08.95. That is a very impressive swim for the freshmen. 1650 is going to be a great race!
As I called it on the comments pages last night, UT would go 1 – 2 in the 500; Clark’s 200 last night on the relay was respectable, but he is clearly focused on the 500 and mile. I know he wanted to prove the nay sayers wrong in the 500 tonight and redeem himself for a flat 2016 (In terms of his performances at NCAA’s and Trials in the 400M and 1500M Freestyles) I think that the fact that he made the team ion the 800M Free Relay, was a surprise to the teams coaches, Eddie and even Clark himself.
As far as 2020 is concerned, it is way too early to proclaim anyone a leader, way too many… Read more »
And there you have it. Eddie has always said Clark is one of the best trainers in the world. Looking past this meet, the 400 free spot is completely up for grabs with Jaeger and Dwyer gone, think he can grab a spot.
Did he get off the podium and throw away his trophy like he did every big 12 medal?
so fantastic! so fast! great job.
Clark looked like he was favoring his right leg on the podium. Anyone know why?
Because swimmers have terrible posture
It was from carrying all the haters
Love this comment?. Go Clark!
Perfect response!
He had trouble with it immediately getting out of the pool. The trainers greeted him at the blocks. Maybe a quad cramp on the final push and sprint?
Happens every time I swim under 4:10 too.