Kentucky’s Mason Wilby Posts 1:55.97 LCM 200 Fly, #5 British Performer All-Time

2021 ESSZ Summer Long Course Championship

• July 15-18, 2021
• Greensboro Aquatic Center, Greensboro, NC
• LCM (50m)
• Results on MeetMobile

This weekend’s Greensboro Sectional meet kicked off this morning at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, featuring prelims of the 200 IM, 50 free, and 200 fly. University of Kentucky rising senior Mason Wilby absolutely obliterated his lifetime best, and the field, in prelims of the men’s 200 fly. Wilby cracked a 1:55.97, for a new personal best by 4 seconds, and the top time of the morning by 7 seconds.

Wilby, who is a dual citizen of United States and United Kingdom, had established his previous personal best of 1:59.89 back in July of 2017. He swam that time at the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games, in which he represented Great Britain. The time stood as Wilby’s best for almost 4 years to the day. Following his 1:59.89, Wilby hit a bit of a plateau in the event, swimming 2:00’s for the next 3 years. Here is a table of Wilby’s yearly bests from 2017 to today:

In addition to the breakthrough, and ending his plateau in the event, Wilby is now the #5 British performer all-time in the men’s 200 fly. Here is the current list of top 5 all-time British men in the event:

Wilby’s swim also marks a University of Kentucky program record. During his first 3 years at UK, Wilby has been an SEC A finalist and NCAA qualifier. At the 2021 NCAAs, he finished 13th in the men’s 200 fly (1:42.63), and competing in the 200 IM and 200 free as well. Wilby is also the UK record-holder in the SCY 200 fly (1:42.26).