Longhorns Crush Three Minute Barrier, Go Fastest 400 Medley Relay Ever

by Robert Gibbs 25

March 23rd, 2017 College, National, News

2017 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Texas may have lost its US Open Record in the 800 free relay last night, but the Longhorns showed they have plenty of fight left in this morning’s prelims, and this evening they ripped a new US Open record in the 400 medley relay.

The team of John Shebat, Will Licon, Joe Schooling, and Jack Conger combined for a time of 2:59.22, almost a second a half faster than their 3:00.68 which had stood as the US Open and NCAA Records.

Comparative Splits:

2016 2017
Shebat 45.36  44.58
Licon 50.69  49.75
Schooling 43.34  43.60
Conger 41.29  41.29
3:00.68  2:59.22

Whereas the past two years the Longhorns found themselves having to come from behind to overcome Cal’s devastating back-breast combo, this year Texas’s front half may have been more impressive.

Backstroker John Shebat threw down a 44.58, staying within a few tenths of Cal’s Ryan Murphy, the fastest man ever in the event, and then Will Licon followed with a 49.75 breast split.  Shebat now ranks 4th all-time in the 100 back, and we believe that Licon is just the second man ever to break 50, the other being Kevin Cordes.

On the ‘Horns’ backhalf, Joe Schooling was a little off his split from last year, “only” going 43.60, while Jack Conger anchored in the exact same 41.29 as last year.

In This Story

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Bonazananolopolous
7 years ago

Any idea what this would convert to in SCM/LCM?

sven
Reply to  Bonazananolopolous
7 years ago

7.

Person
Reply to  sven
7 years ago

I’ve got it at 6.89

Uberfan
Reply to  sven
7 years ago

minutes? That’s insane

Bigly
Reply to  sven
7 years ago

Dean Farris!

Cartman
7 years ago

If Schooling had gone his split from last year they would have broken 2:59 too.

Person
Reply to  Cartman
7 years ago

Yeah they weren’t ideal. In fact nobody really was. I think it’s because of how much pressure there is in prelims just to make it back, it’s draining. Maybe some lowered expectations because of that.

Bigly
Reply to  Person
7 years ago

Licon and Shebat were ideal. They hit their potential.

Dru
Reply to  Cartman
7 years ago

Schooling’s start was pretty conservative.. he didn’t do the rolling start from the wedge

Pretty sure he did it on the anchor for the 200 free relay

MBL
7 years ago

Conger hit the wall funny on the finish and it seemed to hurt him… hope that doesn’t affect him later.

Bigly
Reply to  MBL
7 years ago

Jammed his elbow. Massaging it on the podium.

Uberfan
7 years ago

YUGE swim fro Shebat

George Taylor
7 years ago

your live results link is showing the women’s results not the men’s.

iLikePsych
Reply to  George Taylor
7 years ago

Refresh your cache

Reply to  George Taylor
7 years ago

No, it isn’t. Please hit Control+shift+r and try when on the page and try again

Steve Nolan
Reply to  George Taylor
7 years ago

These are my favorite comments.

Bigly
Reply to  Steve Nolan
7 years ago

I if had a nickel…

MemeTEam
7 years ago

First

Andrew Undershaft
7 years ago

“In This Story” but no link or pic of Joseph Schooling? What’s up with that?

AAA
Reply to  Andrew Undershaft
7 years ago

It’s because they called him Joe Schooling and not Joseph. His tag is Joseph Schooling

Kathy Quintana
7 years ago

Wowza!! Studs.

RyanMurphy Backstroke KingOfTheWorld
Reply to  Kathy Quintana
7 years ago

Before the meet many-many fans on this board were predicting that Ryan would give Cal at least a 2 second lead and all the “experts” chimed in with their predictions on what the Horns needed to do to creep back and win. Well…. that is not what I saw tonight. Even though Ryan is unquestionably the king-of-the-world in backstroke AND swam one of his fastest times ever, the lead he delivered was not seconds but hundredths-of-a-seconds. Let’s give credit where credit is due…. Ryan swam a great leg BUT Shebat almost matched it stroke for stroke. And ABSOLUTELY NO ONE PREDICTED THAT. Hook’em!!!!!

PKWater

Yes it was one of his fastest ever… but it was almost a full second off his personal best. I would say Murphy swam a great leg for anyone other than Murphy. For him it was not that good at all.

Bigly
Reply to  PKWater
7 years ago

Last 50 of the 200 IM shot his legs. His back split was the same/faster than his free split.

Confused

I could see why they were predicting that since Murphy had such a big lead last year. Shebat really stood out and did his part for the relay. Schooling, while an amazing split, didn’t perform. If they swam it again, they could go 2:58.

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