Joe Schooling Dips Under 53 in 100 Fly at Austin Speedo Sectionals

Results can be found on Meet Mobile.

Michael McBroom, who will be representing the U.S. in the 400, 800, and 1500 meter freestyle races at the World Champs this August, dropped almost two seconds from prelims to slide under the 1:50 barrier in the 200 free at the Austin Speedo Sectionals. McBroom’s time of 1:49.55 was a season best by over half a second. He told us a few weeks ago that he’s “trying to transition to sprinting.” That 1:49 is a great in-season time, seeing as his two best times ever (before this race) were a 1:49.21 and 1:49.66 from 2014 and 2013 US Summer Nationals, respectively. 2nd place went to 16-year-old Grant Reed (1:53.31) and 3rd to Beau Fusilier (1:53.52).

On the women’s side, NYAC pro swimmer Megan Romano swam a solid sub-2:00 race to go 1:59.82, the only swimmer under 2:03. Romano, who has been quiet since her stellar anchor leg to come back on the Aussies and win World Championship gold in the 4×100 free relay in 2013, has struggled this year in the 200. She goes a 1:41 in SCY and used to hold the American record in the event, though other than her 1:58.99 from all the way back in January, she hadn’t broken two minutes until tonight. Texas swimmer Tasija Karosas finished 2nd in 2:03.23 over Dakota Luther. The 15-year-old Luther touched third in 2:03.39.

In the 100 fly, a pair of international NCAA swimmers took titles in the men’s and women’s races. First it was France’s Béryl Gastaldello, All-American and rising sophomore for Texas A&M, who won the women’s race in 1:00.00, getting as close to the minute barrier as possible without breaking it. Gastaldello wasn’t winning easily, though, as Amber Carter was a very close second in 1:00.12. Lisa Boyce wasn’t far back, either, and grabbed 3rd in 1:00.80.

Joe Schooling of Singapore blasted a 52.58 to win the men’s 100 fly, winning by exactly three seconds over 15-year-old Jack LeVant of the North Texas Natadores (55.58). Schooling has already been 52.13 this year from the SEA Games, which puts him at a tie for 21st in the world so far this year. Nonetheless, it was a very fast swim which was close to cracking the world top 25.

Nitro 16-year-old Regan Barney is no stranger to Olympic Trials cuts of late– she racked up qualifying times in the 200 back, 200 fly, 200 IM, and 400 IM all in 2015. Tonight, she won the 400 IM with a time of 4:50.57, which is off of her 4:47.00 from the Fran Crippen SMOC, but still under the OT cut by over four seconds. She out-paced UT distance standout Kaitlin Pawlowicz, who touched 2nd in 4:53.00.

OTHER WINS

• W100 breast: 1:11.92 – Jordan Surhoff (Longhorn Aquatics)
• M100 breast: 1:02.49 – Thiago Parravincini (Streamline Aquatics)
• M400 IM: 4:27.26 Benjamin Walker (Premier Aquatics Club of Klein)