The Texas men’s swimming & diving teams held their annual Class Relay Meets on Thursday, and the results were the most encouraging results yet this season for the defending NCAA Champions.
In the meet, which is one of many uniquely-formatted intrasquad meets (which are more like glorified full-speed practices) employed by Texas head coach Eddie Reese every season, the swimmers compete in a 200 medley relay and 200 free relay by class. That is to say, an all-star relay of freshmen compete against an all-star relay of sophomores, against one of juniors, against one of seniors, in each of two relays.
Last year’s meet saw some incredible splits from Townley Haas and Joseph Schooling, both of whom would go on to win multiple NCAA titles in individual events.
This year saw more fireworks from the pair, along with their teammates.
The best splits in each race, regardless of class:
200 medley
- Backstroke – John Shebat – 21.16
- Breaststroke – Will Licon – 23.64
- Butterfly – Joseph Schooling – 19.68
- Freestyle – Townley Haas – 18.70
- Aggregate – 1:23.18
200 free relay
- Flat start – Jack Conger – 19.41
- Relay start – Joseph Schooling – 18.87
- Relay start – John Shebat – 19.00
- Relay start – Townley Haas – 19.19
- Aggregate – 1:16.47
Among the highlights:
- The aggregate time of the medley relay was 1:23.18, which would’ve beaten all but 3 relays at NCAAs last year. Texas placed 3rd at NCAAs in 1:22.75 with the same 3 legs, except for the now-graduated John Murray. He split 19.15 in finals for the Longhorns – Haas split 18.70 on Thursday.
- While Schooling wasn’t quite as fast as he was in the 200 medley relay finals at NCAAs in 2016 (19.36), his split was better than prelims (19.72) and also faster than any other split at NCAAs from last season. After a rocky start to the season, Schooling’s performance on Thursday says he’s rounding into form just in time for championship season to start.
- Texas won the 200 free relay at NCAAs last year with Brett Ringgold, Schooling, Jack Conger, and Murray combining for a 1:14.88. On relative terms, their 1:16.47 on Thursday wasn’t as impressive as the medley relay aggregate, though it was on a relatively quick turnaround. Schooling’s 18.87 was the only sub-19 split on Thursday – he was 18.53 to lead the Longhorns at NCAAs last year as well.
- Jack Conger, Will Licon, and the seniors won the 200 medley relay, while the sophomores, including both Haas and Shebat, won the 200 free relay. Last season, the class that are now sophomores won both relays as freshmen.
Full splits and videos will be available shortly.
Watch Texas senior PJ Dunne hold of an 18.70 split from Townley Haas on the anchor for the win:
The old guys still have it. PJ Dunne holds off Townley Haas' 18.70 anchor (‼️) to give the Seniors a 200 MR win in class relays. pic.twitter.com/GdAVdxQxAq
— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) February 1, 2017
Can someone say early take-offs please ?
Was the bulkhead in the right place? These seem like awfully fast times for just putting a suit on.
Townley -0.01 on medley relay, and some freshman -0.02 on free relay, other than that clean
One word for ya’ll: ALABAMA
Two words: No Gkolomeev
Johnty Skinner will have Bams or Waddel ready to take over the anchor leg. Haas doesn’t scare anyone for a 50
Bruh. You better be scared. Townley Haas will shame the greatest sprinters, while demolishing the distance swimmers this March.
Not until Mr Hass works on those starts and turns.
Does anyone else think that the point of Texas sharing this is to show the swimming world how “Fast” they are. Really not that impressive considering they suited up. Talk about blowing your own horn. Get over yourselves. #STATEment
I appreciate your posts man
NC State shares a lot more videos. Plus I don’t think texas put this video out; someone was there to cover the meet. They don’t ask people to come to their practices; everyone just wants to.
These times don’t mean anything other than Texas is fast. But we already knew that. NC State is also fast, and we know that.
Sounds like someone’s a little jelly that Swimswam is cheating on their #puppypack with a better team. But by all means, keep posting. Just adds fuel to the fire.
Love it JTSPOT! #puppypack made me LMAO! Thanks!
You do you man… you have become a legendary commenter on the level of Bobo Gigi and Harry P
Who is Harry P?
Good one, Bobo.
Bigly, I’m serious. No irony from my part. Maybe I have missed the joke if there’s one but I have no idea who is that Harry P.
Harry Potter? 🙂
GINA is the ultimate legend on this site.
Well if you were wondering where schooling was, now you know. He is picking up that form tat got him the 50.3 100 meter fly.
Also, Haas as an insane range, he could swim the 200,500,1650, and all three relays.
I might be wrong, and I certainly don’t have any inside info, but it seems like Texas is more likely to go 100, 200, & 500 with Haas than they are to go with the 1650. Those are definitely better events for him in long course and I think it will prove to be true in short course too.
I always wonder what Amaury Levaux would have done SCY. He had enormous range on LCM freestyle. 21.2, 47.7, 1.46.5, 3.48.9, 8.08, 15.36.
WHO can swim a 21. 50 and a 15min 1500???
Didn’t know Amaury “Hamburger” Leveaux had swum so fast in the 400 free and over.
A old UNM swimmer named Larry Farrar placed at NCAA’s in the 50 and 1650 at the same meet..I think it was 1973 or 74. The next year Larry placed in the 200 Free at NCAA’s and negative split it going out in 50.0 and coming home in 49.6. Larry also had incredible range in freestyle back in the old days!
Helds going 17.8 on the breast
Beleive it or not, this was a joke
Helds going 17.8 on the breast
Heads going 17.8 on the breast
Does anyone know if Ryan Harty is swimming for Texas this season? As an All American as a Texas Freshman he’ll be missed if he’s not part of Texas’ NCAA team this year.
I know