Adrian Posts World’s 2nd Fastest 100 Freestyle At Mesa Pro Swim Series

by Luke Ryan 11

April 13th, 2017 Club, National, News, Pro Swim Series

2017 ARENA PRO SWIM SERIES – MESA

U.S. National Teamer and Olympic champion Nathan Adrian took home the title in the 100 meter freestyle on night one of the Arena Pro Swim Series in Mesa, Arizona. Adrian finished way ahead of the field as the only swimmer to break the 49 barrier. Adrian finished in a time of 48.18, the second fastest in the world this year. Finishing in a distant second was Brazilian and former Louisville Cardinal Joao De Lucca at 49.67.

More impressive than the time may be the way with which Adrian attacked the race, taking out the first 50 in 23.24 and coming home in 24.94. The final time of 48.18 is just over the time that he went in the finals in Rio of 47.85. In Rio, Adrian split 22.67-25.18.

Adrian has clearly made tremendous strides in the past 2 years following his disappointing showing in the 100 freestyle at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan. In 2015, Adrian finished 7th in a time slower than he went this evening. In Kazan, Adrian clocked a 48.31. His opening 50 at that meet was 23.01, over two tenths faster than in Mesa. In a recent interview at the Indianapolis Pro Swim Series, Adrian discussed how he has focused significantly more on building the race rather than trying to go out as fast as he can and hold on at the end. Adrian claimed, “That’s just the direction that the 100 free is moving.”

This new strategy was first apparent in Indianapolis, where Adrian split 23.9-24.7 for a 48.66 final time. As the 2017 World Championships in Budapest approach, it seems that Adrian is continuing to experiment with controlling the first 50 in order to have a stronger back half. What makes these times so encouraging is the likelihood that Adrian is not fully rested and is saving a full taper for Worlds in July.

Right now, Adrian is planning to swim at least 2, and maybe 3, more meets before the World Championship Trials. He’s said he’ll race at the Swim Meet of Champions/Masters Nats in late April, the Santa Clara PSS (close to home for him), and is still considering the Atlanta stop of the PSS. That gives him a few more opportunities to test his new pacing before it really counts from June 27th-July 1st.

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ERVINFORTHEWIN
6 years ago

He will do damages this summer …….

Tom from Chicago
6 years ago

That’s a scary strategy to me. I always think its a good idea to go out fast in a sprint, but then again I don’t have an Olympic gold medal in the 100 Free. I’ll just get my popcorn and be a fan.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  Tom from Chicago
6 years ago

LOL

Uberfan
6 years ago

Swim swam posts an article two days ago about Cam going a 47 two days later 48 world leading time

sven
Reply to  Uberfan
6 years ago

Think of it like a currency exchange. The American second is actually worth a bit less than the Australian second, so 48.1 in America is faster than 47.9 in Australia.

Robbos
Reply to  sven
6 years ago

Haha!!!

Bigly
Reply to  sven
6 years ago

Especially since a certain someone just said the US dollar was “too strong,” and it quickly devalued. SwimSwam is just up on current events.

G.I.N.A
Reply to  Bigly
6 years ago

Bombs will fix it .

Zanna
6 years ago

2nd fastest

Cal
6 years ago

he’s actually second in the world, behind Mcevoy

dude
6 years ago

can’t be world leading. McEvoy just went 47.9