Townley Haas on 200 Free: “It’s going to be a crazy race” (Video)

Reported by Jared Anderson.

500 FREESTYLE – FINALS

Top 8 finishers:

  1. Townley Haas, Texas – 4:08.60
  2. Felix Auboeck, Michigan – 4:09.03
  3. Anton Ipsen, NC State – 4:09.13
  4. Grant Shoults, Stanford – 4:10.02
  5. Akaram Mahmoud, South Carolina – 4:12.14
  6. Sam Pomajevich, Texas – 4:12.83
  7. Liam Egan, Stanford – 4:14.49
  8. Ricardo Vargas, Michigan – 4:17.23

Texas’s Townley Haas led the entire way, but things started to look bleak with about 150 to go. The field started to charge on Haas – first Michigan’s Felix Auboeck, then NC State’s Anton Ipsen, then Stanford’s Grant Shoults. But Haas suddenly surged home in 23.94 to hang on for the win, his second NCAA 500 free title in three years.

Auboeck finished second in 4:09.03, closing hard and holding off NC State’s Ipsen, who was 23.8 over the final 50 yards. Shoults looked like the hard-charger through the last couple hundreds, but just ran out of pool, finishing fourth in 4:10.02.

South Carolina’s Akaram Mahmoud was 4:12.14 from an outside lane, taking 5th. Texas freshman Sam Pomajevich surged out front early, but couldn’t hold his early speed the way Haas could, fading to 6th in 4:12.83. Liam Egan of Stanford and Ricardo Vargas of Michigan rounded out the A final.

The B final went to Louisville’s Marcelo Acosta in 4:11.61, winning his heat by more than two seconds.

Texas’s big event of the day pushed them to the points lead with 95, but NC State is just 5 back. Stanford rockets up to third at 75, with Florida sitting fourth, Michigan fifth and Cal sixth. The top seven teams have been extremely volatile in place so far – it’s still very early, but things are setting up to be a multi-team barnburner for at least a few days.

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Don Megerle
6 years ago

You know…..

Ol' Longhorn
6 years ago

The look on his Haas’ face on the still shot of the opening of the video says it all.

anonymoose
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
6 years ago

thumbnail is what its called 😉

USA USA USA
6 years ago

Is it just me or does every year at NCAA’s his voice sounds deeper than the year before?

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  USA USA USA
6 years ago

Puberty. Longhorn style.

Years of Plain Suck
6 years ago

It’s fun to see how much poise Townley has gained since he burst onto the scene at NCAAs in 2018. He’s become articulate and reflective in his interviews. Nice job, Mr. Haas!

Years of Plain Suck
Reply to  Years of Plain Suck
6 years ago

Should be 2016.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
6 years ago

He looks like he saw an E.T. after the race ? ……he is so unique in the sport of swimming . Great on him to give credit to Pieroni’s 200
free record from Tuesday’s relay . Those 2 will rock this summer;s 800 free relay – they are the real base for that new relay set up . Can’t wait to see the 200 free final battle tonight .

swimcoach
6 years ago

I live for Townley Haas interviews.

Right Dude Here
6 years ago

FULL OF SWIMMING

Hswimmer
Reply to  Right Dude Here
6 years ago

???? the commentator

sscommenter
6 years ago

FOLKS!

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