Jack Conger Blasts 1:44.8 200 Fly as Texas Men Defeat Georgia

TEXAS VS. GEORGIA

  • Results
  • Hosted by University of Georgia
  • Saturday, January 14th
  • 25 yards
  • Dual meet format

FINAL TEAM SCORES:

  • TEXAS- 180
  • GEORGIA- 114

The reigning NCAA champion Texas Longhorns hit the road this weekend, completing a sweep of their weekend meets with a victory over Georgia. Despite missing out on the dual meet with Auburn earlier this week, Jack Conger was back in action to help the Longhorns go up against the Bulldogs. He took a light schedule for this meet, swimming only the butterflies. In the 200 fly, Conger blasted an impressive 1:44.82 to win by almost 2 seconds. He returned to the pool for the 100 fly, completing the sweep with a 47.15 to outpace Georgia’s Gunnar Bentz (47.58).

Conger’s teammate Joseph Schooling, the reigning NCAA butterly champ, wasn’t entered in the individual fly races today. He did, however, swim fly on their medley relay, where he clocked a 20.54 fly split. He also threw down a 19.93 to win the 50 free individually.

Will Licon took on Georgia’s Chase Kalisz in the breaststroke races today, sweeping the events for the Longhorns. In the 100 breast, Licon touched a second ahead of Kalisz, winning in a quick 52.67 to Kalisz’s 53.72. He then posted another convincing win in the 200 breast, winning in 1:54.38 to Kalisz’s 1:56.02. In his 3rd event of the day, the 400 IM, Licon came up with a 2nd place finish. Georgia’s Jay Litherland dominated the race from start to finish, winning in 3:47.05, while Licon followed in 3:54.70.

Distance ace Clark Smith started his day off with a speedy 8:57.86 to win the 1000 free by well over 10 seconds. He returned to the pool for the 500 free, an event in which he was the 2015 NCAA champ, to race teammate Townley Haas, the 2016 NCAA champ. Smith pulled away after the 1st 100 and never looked back, racing to a 4:19.70. He was over 5 seconds ahead of Haas, who took 2nd in 4:25.05. Haas won the 200 free earlier in the session with a 1:35.69, coming from behind to out-touch teammate Jonathan Roberts (1:35.87) and Georgia’s Litherland (1:35.89).

Roberts had another fast swim in the 200 back, which he won in a blistering 1:43.25.

PRESS RELEASE – TEXAS

ATHENS, Ga. – No. 2 Texas (4-3) won the first 14 events and deflected a formidable challenge from No. 7 Georgia, as the Longhorns claimed a meet loaded with Rio Olympians and posted a convincing 180-114 victory at UGA’s Gabrielsen Natatorium.

Saturday’s meet featured six U.S. Olympians – UT’s Townley Haas, Clark Smith and Jack Conger & Georgia’s Chase Kalisz, Jay Litherland and Gunnar Bentz – plus Singapore’s Olympic gold medalist in the 100m butterfly, Texas junior Joseph Schooling.  The Longhorns set the tone from the outset by way of their 200-yard medley relay.  Sophomore John Shebat led off in 21.75 seconds before six-time NCAA champion senior Will Licon split 24.06 seconds on the breaststroke leg and put the Horns in the lead.

Schooling out-split UGA’s Pace Clark by eight-tenths of a second with a 20.54 butterfly leg, and he gave way to All-America junior Brett Ringgold who anchored in 19.42 and delivered the win for Texas by over two seconds.

Smith, the American record holder in the 1,000 freestyle, blew away the field in the same event Saturday and won going away in 8:57.86.  The Denver native held 27-second splits throughout the race and, behind a powerful kick, came home in an impressive 23.85 seconds in the 50 yards.  He defeated his nearest competitor, UGA’s Aidan Burns, by nearly 13 seconds.

Haas, the NCAA and American record holder in the 200 freestyle, won the same event in 1:35.69 while teammate Jonathan Roberts followed closely behind in second at 1:35.87.  Shebat added a win in the 100 backstroke at 46.85, and Licon, who earlier joined Shebat on the medley relay, claimed the 100 breaststroke at 52.67.

Conger, the American record holder in the 200 butterfly, led a one-two Texas finish in the event Saturday at 1:44.82.  His classmate Will Glass followed in second at 1:46.60.  Schooling led a one-two Texas showing in the 50 freestyle and edged Ringgold for the win at 19.93.

All-America senior Mark Anderson completed a sterling week of competition and swept the diving events.  The Californian claimed the one-meter board with 384.08 points and secured the win on three-meter with 423.53 points.

Ringgold added a win in the 100 freestyle in 43.95 to go with his runner-up swim in the 50 freestyle.  Roberts and Shebat paced a one-two Texas showing in the 200 backstroke, where Roberts was victorious at 1:43.25.  Licon, the two-time defending NCAA champion as well as the NCAA and American record holder in the 200 breaststroke, won the same event Saturday in 1:54.38 and topped Kalisz, a U.S. Olympian in the 400m individual medley.

The 500 freestyle yielded a one-two Texas finish from the last two NCAA champions in the event.  Smith took the win at 4:19.70 while Haas placed second at 4:25.05.  Conger gave Texas a sweep of the butterfly events with his 47.15 at 100 yards.

Texas resumes dual-meet competition on Friday, Jan. 27 when it hosts Arizona in a two-day meet at UT’s Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

PRESS RELEASE – GEORGIA

ATHENS, Ga. — The Georgia swimming and diving teams were swept by Texas on Saturday at Gabrielsen Natatorium.

The No. 7 Bulldogs (5-1) dropped a 180-114 decision to the No. 2 Longhorns, while the second-ranked Lady Bulldogs (6-1) fell 171-124 to No. 5 Texas.

The loss snapped the Lady Bulldogs’ winning streak at Gabrielsen Natatorium at 103 straight, dating back to 1995. Georgia is now 104-2 all-time at home.

“Texas deserves all the credit in the world,” Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle said. “They were better than us today. I am proud of our kids for the way they competed. We are sad to see the streak end, but we are proud of what we accomplished. The sun will come up tomorrow, and we will continue to work hard.”

Olivia Smoliga had the Lady Bulldogs’ lone victory of the day as she claimed the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 52.84.

Chantal Van Landeghem placed second in the 50 freestyle in 22.72 and the 100 freestyle in 49.41. Stephanie Peters came in second in the 500- and 1,000-yard freestyle (4:47.96 and 9:49.88, respectively).

Other runner-up finishes for the Lady Bulldogs on Saturday came from Meaghan Raab in the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.03) and the 200-yard individual medley (2:02.49); Kylie Stewart in the 200-yard backstroke (1:54.69); Emily Cameron in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:14.61); Chelsea Britt in the 100-yard butterfly (53.87); and Megan Kingsley in the 200-yard butterfly (1:57.43).

The 400-yard freestyle relay of Taylor Dale, Chase Kalisz, Gunnar Bentz and Javier Acevedo claimed the Bulldogs’ lone win of the meet, finishing in 2:55.40.

Kalisz took second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 53.72 and the 200-yard breaststroke in 1:56.02. Dale was the runner-up in the 100-yard freestyle as he reached the wall in 44.07. Aidan Burns was second in the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:10.47. Acevedo came in second in the 100-yard backstroke in 47.93. Bentz went 47.58 in the 100-yard butterfly for the runner-up spot. Jay Litherland stopped the clock in 3:47.05 for second in the 400-yard individual medley.

Geogia’s squads will return to action next Saturday at noon at Tennessee. Georgia will cap its regular-season schedule and have Senior Day Jan. 28 at home against Emory.

 

AB

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bobo gigi
7 years ago

Why there are so many comments every time people see “Jack Conger” in the headline?

completelyconquered
Reply to  bobo gigi
7 years ago

College swimming.

Swimmer
7 years ago

Headline is deceiving. A 1:44 is the 30th fastest time this year. A nice win for a rested Texas but the times are not that impressive.

samuel huntington
Reply to  Swimmer
7 years ago

a 1:44 after winter training is extremely fast. Texas definitely not rested.

Swimmer
Reply to  samuel huntington
7 years ago

He has been 1:40 this year and this was his first event of the day. His 100 fly was only 47.1. Good times but not great times like the headlines want you to think. Congrats to Texas for the win

samuel huntington
Reply to  Swimmer
7 years ago

the 1:40 was at the fall rest meet….

Korn
Reply to  Swimmer
7 years ago

He didn’t swim anything vs Auburn so definitely rested. I doubt Eddie had him “blasting” 7k workouts the last few days while the rest of the raced!?!?

Gogglez
Reply to  Korn
7 years ago

Korn… he was out with a back injury for the Auburn meet. Eddie wouldn’t rest his swimmers for a random dual meet.

Bigly
Reply to  samuel huntington
7 years ago

I think Schooling’s 49.1 100 fly the other day was proof of that.

Rookery
Reply to  Swimmer
7 years ago

Texas women may have rested, the men obviously did not

Hmmmm
Reply to  Rookery
7 years ago

Texas men or women were not rested. They raced Auburn Thursday, swam 2 practices on Friday at Georgia and Raced Georgia Saturday Morning. The only rest the men or women got on the trip was the plane ride each direction

TXSWIMDAD
Reply to  Lauren Neidigh
7 years ago

That’s true but they were commenting on use of “blasts” In this context I think

Swimmer
Reply to  Lauren Neidigh
7 years ago

Blasts is a strong word, I am not doubting the 1:44. Thanks. Keep up the good work. Thanks.

Side eye Joe
Reply to  Swimmer
7 years ago

Because many of those other 29 200 flys faster were done in season….. 1:44 in season will always be a hell of a swim.

WolfPack
7 years ago

Texas decided to run all the way to Georgia to avoid racing NC State at the Arena Pro series??? Guess they wanted an easy win to bring their morales up. They are softer than I thought. Georgia couldn’t produce a single sprinter even if their house depeneded on it. NCAA’s will be fun.

Sparkle
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

Uhh Olivia Smoliga is the reigning NCAA champ in the 50 and Megan Romano is one of the few women to split under 21

Sir Swimsalot
Reply to  Sparkle
7 years ago

Uhh, we are talking men’s meet. Either way, Cal and Texas men are the ones to beat. NC State isn’t going to come close right now.

Sir Swimsalot
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

You sir, are in for one heck of a disappointment come March. 🙂

Pvdh
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

You can bark with all that bravado as much as you want, NC state is gonna be tasting Florida’s, Cal’s, and Texas’s bubbles all meet.

Mikeh
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

Hahahahahahaha hook em horns!

Pennsylvania Tuxedo
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

Got a cuppa haters!

Bigly
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

Yep. They would’ve had their hands full trying to match Held’s 56 100 fly. They probably only have 20 guys who could do that.

Hmmmm
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

Wolfpack New to college swimming or who swims for Texas and whether they swam against NC State? Texas didn’t need to run anywhere to avoid crushing NC State. If you are thinking NC States win over Texas 2 months ago means anything to anyone but you, think again. They could care less about their meet record. Last years dismantling of NC State was over at the midpoint of the meet and was so bad Coach Reese began exhibitioning all Texas swims to keep from running up the score. Don’t believe me, go back and look. This year Texas swam the meet without Harty, Schooling, and an injured Licon. Schooling just rejoined the team after Christmas break. As a team, Georgia… Read more »

Texas swimmer
Reply to  WolfPack
7 years ago

It’s a tradition for them to go to auburn and Georgia not rested and after training trip. It’s the real test. NC State keeps drop tapering to flex its muscles in season when you need to be dead in season to be killer in March.

IMs for days
7 years ago

What I want to see at NCAAs:
Sub 18 50 free
Sub 40 100 free
Sub 1:30 200 free
New American records in the 500 and 1650 free
43 flat 100 back
1:34 200 back
100 breast in under 50.8
200 breast in 1:47
100 fly in under 43.5
200 fly under 1:37
Nolans 200IM record to fall.
Kalisz to lower his own 400im record
Auburns 200 and 400 free relay records to fall.
Texas to improve on their 800 free relay record
New record in 200 Medley relay
Sub 3:00 400 medley relay

I am going to be so disappointed, last year got my hopes up way to much.

PVK
Reply to  IMs for days
7 years ago

Your unrealistic predictions, IMO:
200 fly
200 back
200 free relay

Sir Swimsalot
Reply to  IMs for days
7 years ago

I honestly think we were a little spoiled with last year’s NCAA’s. It will be fast, but I don’t know if it will be quite as fast or if as many records will go down. But who knows?

Pvdh
Reply to  IMs for days
7 years ago

I think Dressel can go sub 40 but I think he’s maxed out his 50 time as I think he’s shifting to longer events.

MPFORTHEWIN
Reply to  IMs for days
7 years ago

Bama will take the 200 Medley relay record that they missed by just .01 last year… you heard it here first

nope
Reply to  IMs for days
7 years ago

Dressel will win the 50 and 100 but i don’t think he gets either of those… on relays maybe?
Townley is swimming about the same, even a bit slower than he was last year, well see how he does come taper time
Townley or Clark Smith will get the 500 record, 1650 might be Sweetster, but we’ll see
I think Murphy is done dropping short course, he’ll stay 43 mid in the 100 but maybe get close to the 1:35 barrier in the 200
100 breast win will definitely be under 51, especially if Licon swims it
200 Breast might barely be under 1:48, not under 47 though
I don’t have much to say… Read more »

phelps swims 200 breast rio
Reply to  IMs for days
7 years ago

For a sub 40- what are y’all predicting he has to split at the 50? maybe 18.7?

Iceage Swimmer
7 years ago

Love King Cong!!!

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  Iceage Swimmer
7 years ago

Damn straight! 😉

PowerPlay
Reply to  Iceage Swimmer
7 years ago

Best swimmer who’s never won anything

SWIMGUY12345
Reply to  PowerPlay
7 years ago

Ricky Berens

Rookery
Reply to  PowerPlay
7 years ago

Except 3 NCAA team championships and an Olympic gold medal…

Bigly
Reply to  Rookery
7 years ago

And a night out with Lochte.

ct swim fan
Reply to  Rookery
7 years ago

Has he won 3 NCAA championships already? I thought Texas had only won the last 2.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

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