Luca Urlando Becomes Becomes No. 3 17-18 200 Free Performer with 1:46.51

2019 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS

Seventeen-year-old Luca Urlando, fresh off his first national title Wednesday night in the 200 fly, became the third-fastest American 17-18-year-old in history Thursday night in the 200 free at the 2019 U.S. National Championships in Palo Alto.

Urlando went 1:46.51 to win the B-final, splitting 25.06/26.92/27.36/27.17. His best time before this heading into the meet was 1:47.56, from May. He entered 2018 having never broken 1:50.

Michael Phelps‘ 17-18 national age group record sits at 1:45.99 from 2003. Stanford’s Jack LeVant is the No. 2 17-18 performer with his 1:46.39 from 2018.

Top 5 Performers in History: U.S. Men’s 17-18 200 Free

  1. Michael Phelps. 1:45.99, 2003
  2. Jack LeVant, 1:46.39, 2018
  3. Luca Urlando, 1:46.51, 2019
  4. Maxime Rooney, 1:47.10, 2015
  5. Patrick Callan, 1:47.33, 2017

Australian Elijah Winnington won the event Thursday in 1:46.19. Kieran Smith was second in 1:46.25 and Dean Farris third in 1:46.45.

At the 2019 FINA World Championships last week, American entrants Townley Haas and Andrew Seliskar failed to final in the 200 free individually, going 1:46.85 and 1:46.74, respectively; it took 1:46.55 to make the final. Urlando’s time ranks him the No. 4 American man in line for the national team this season behind Smith, Haas, and Farris.

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Ro Davis
4 years ago

Luca is not fully tapered or rested. As he said in an interview either today or late yesterday, he did a 4500M set on Monday. That’s the set total, not the workout total. The meet they are looking at is the Budapest Jr Worlds…not bad…

FlyAndDie
Reply to  Ro Davis
4 years ago

I kind of expected that he wasn’t fully rested with his 200 fly performance. Obviously phenomenal swim – unless you are Urlando who went a 53 around 3 months ago. Looking at his splits at this Nationals, his back half was lacking, which is typically one of his strong suits and something that comes together with a good taper. Just something to note.

Ro Davis
Reply to  FlyAndDie
4 years ago

Look at his splits for the 2 Free tonight. I think he is getting rested as the meet progresses. 3rd fastest US 17-18 2Free of all time.

PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
4 years ago

I know it’s irrelevant for national team placement, but Seliskar’s relay leadoffs should be included in articles like this.

That NAG is toast next year.

Pvdh
4 years ago

Hey look. Someone from the US that doesn’t fly and die a 200 free

Dcswim
Reply to  Pvdh
4 years ago

I’m glad to see he didn’t attend any classes at the Le Clos School of 200 Freestylers

Teddy
4 years ago

Good timing—the relay needs new blood

Phil
Reply to  Teddy
4 years ago

Too many master swimmer in the US Team #embarrassed

About Torrey Hart

Torrey Hart

Torrey is from Oakland, CA, and majored in media studies and American studies at Claremont McKenna College, where she swam distance freestyle for the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps team. Outside of SwimSwam, she has bylines at Sports Illustrated, Yahoo Sports, SB Nation, and The Student Life newspaper.

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