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British sprinter Joe Clark will swim for the Virginia Cavaliers next fall, bringing free and fly prowess to the UVA program.
Clark’s Top Times (LCM/SCY converted)
- 50 free – 24.25/21.12
- 100 free – 51.44/44.90
- 200 free – 1:54.40/1:40.18
- 100 fly – 55.72/48.93
Of note, Clark would have Winter Nationals cuts in both the 100m free and 100m fly if he were registered as a USA Swimming athlete. He trains under coach Josh Williamson with Guildford City in the UK, and represented Wales over the summer at the 2015 Youth Commonwealth Games in Samoa.
At those games (from which all of his best times are from), Clark made finals in all of his events. He had 5th place finishes in the 100 fly and 100 free, and added an 8th in the 200 free and a 9th in the 50 free.
Clark’s best event looks to be the 100 free, and it took a 44 low to make it back into the C final at ACC Champs last season. Even if he isn’t quite ready to score at the ACC level, Clark is an NCAA coach’s dream; sprint free versatility that extends through the 200 makes him an option for any free relay, and his fly prowess makes him a likely medley relay player.
As Virginia is in a rebuilding phase, Clark looks to be a great addition to the team. He would’ve been the Cavaliers’ #3 100 freestyler and #4 100 butterflier last season, and he’s joined by a number of talented incoming freshmen:
- SwimSwam’s #20 recruit Ted Schubert
- Henry Keel
- Jared Norton
- Jason Quinn
- John Whiteside
- Ryan Baker
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