Reported by Torrey Hart.
COLLEGE STATION SECTIONALS
- February 28th-March 3rd, 2019
- Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
- 25y (SCY) prelims/50m (LCM) finals
Fresh off of breaking the 200 free NAG record last night, DART Swimming’s Gianluca Urlando had himself another day College Station. The biggest win margin of the night came from the 16-year-old, who scared Michael Phelps‘ long course 200 fly record (1:54.58), splitting 25.98/28.61/29.83/31.34 en route to a 1:55.76 finish – his best is 1:55.21. Urlando set the short course NAG record of 1:40.91 in December. In second in that race was 21-year-old Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz in 2:01.81, and in third, Katy Aquatics’ Seung Joon Ahgn in 2:03.22.
At the end of the night, Urlando became the fourth 16-year-old in U.S. history to break :50 in the 100m free, with only Caeleb Dressel’s 49.28, Destin Lasco’s 49.40, and Adam Chaney’s 49.95 ahead of him. He led off DART’s winning relay in 49.97, a new best time by over 3.5 seconds; it was the fastest split in the field by two full seconds. Eric Fierro (55.96), Connor Daniels (52.08), and Christopher Ranlett (52.21) followed him for a final time of 3:30.22. Lakeside Aquatic Club was second in 3:31.29, and Nitro was just behind in 3:31.98.
Good thing he will get that international World Championships experience this summer prior to going to Tokyo.
Oh wait…thanks USA Swimming!
How is it possible that this policy is nearly universally hated by everybody but somehow USA swimming keeps it in place every cycle. Consistantly leads to terrible USA performences at world’s before Olympic years. Not to mention screwing over young, upcoming talent
2015 burns bright in our minds, but the USA did well in 2007, 2011, and will kick major butt in 2019. The issue in 2015 in my eyes was no Phelps. With him there they do better in the relays, pick up a few more individual medals, and overall it does not look as bad. I am not saying I support the selection process, I just think there are some other factors at play.
The system doesn’t work. It’s just more logical to have a trials the same year of worlds. There’s no excuse. Imagine if Dressel only qualified for the 100 fly last year for worlds, then got back to top form. Or Luca and Carson , this summer they could be going crazy fast, but they won’t be on the team.
“We’re like shaved and tapered, yeah.”
No, Luca you’re supposed to say, “We shaved, but we only just started resting.”
He’ll learn.
ugh, noo!!
Luca the honesty only got me excited to see how you do! I wish more people were comfortable about saying everything is on the line.