Produced by Coleman Hodges.
Reported by Jared Anderson.
500 FREE – FINALS
- NCAA Record: Peter Vanderkaay, Michigan, 4:08.60
- American Record: Peter Vanderkaay, Club Wolverine, 4:08.54
- U.S. Open Record: Peter Vanderkaay, Club Wolverine, 4:08.54
- Pool Record: Peter Vanderkaay, Michigan, 4:08.60
- 2015 Champion: Clark Smith, Texas, 4:09.72
Top 3:
- Townley Haas, Texas – 4:09.00
- Mitch D’Arrigo, Florida – 4:09.98
- Reed Malone, USC – 4:12.55
Winning their third NCAA title of the meet, the Texas Longhorns watched Townley Haas take control of the men’s 500 freestyle early on to win the event with his time of 4:09.00. That time will stand as the sixth fastest 500 freestyle in history. It also give Texas two straight NCAA wins in that event after Clark Smith won it a year ago.
Florida’s Mitch D’Arrigo and USC’s Reed Malone both made strong moves later in the race to run down Haas, but it wasn’t enough to reel in Haas. D’Arrigo picked up second with his time of 4:09.98 and Malone finished third at 4:12.55.
Akaram Mahmoud from South Carolina was the final swimmer to finish under 4:13 at 4:12.86.
Florida’s Pawel Werner won the B final with his time of 4:13.79.
Cool to watch this because he was on my team last year, and we’re all watching to see what he goes in his events. Would be great if he became our first Olympic swimmer
On track for 1.46 low in the 200 free next summer and a relay qualification. And who knows? If Lochte doesn’t swim the 200 free in individual, after Dwyer, the second individual spot would be very open.
I don’t see him qualify in the 400 free but a top 5 in 3.45/3.46 is possible.
Haas and Rooney can be the saviors of the US 4X200 free relay at olympic games. And both are the future US leaders in the 200 free in individual. No doubt about that.
I second that – he is one of the best to be emerging for Team Usa for this summer .
After this, I think 1:46 anything would be a disappointment. He’s already been 1:47, and is clearly showing huge strides… 1:45 and an individual swim isn’t a reach. I’d put him ahead of Lochte on my list at this point.
I laughed out loud when I heard that on the video. Some fans here can’t seem to grasp that the mental edge is just as important as the physical side and can influence the race just as much if not more. “But, but.. he must be ill!”
Townley has his head on straight. Great interview – I love his race strategy. Get after it early, show your hand, worry about the details later.
Lucid…..matter of fact. That’s Townley. He has an equally superior ability to filter the noise (chaos) around him. We call it focus. Lots of credit to Eddie as well. He does such a great job.
“We all know Clark, and sometimes that happens to him.” Pretty interesting and candid remark, even if it doesn’t tell a whole lot.
That’s the most we’ve heard about him since his bust, its interesting that his teammates weren’t as surprised as us.
Last night’s swim in 1:30 off the 800 Free relay was no fluke. 4:09.00?? Are you kidding? Everything I wrote last night is accurate. Townley Haas is in the zone, swimming for Team and seemingly unfazed by the Championship pressure which is consistent with his approach the last four years. Proud of this young man’s performance but earned with his incredibly hard work in the pool. Watch out RIO……………he’s real