Max McHugh Blasts Fastest Ever 22.51 Breast Split On Medley Relay

2018 HAWKEYE INVITATIONAL

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Minnesota freshman standout Max McHugh hit the NCAA A cut in the 100 breast at the Hawkeye Invite last night, posting a 51.73, but his fastest performance came in the men’s 200 medley relay. McHugh blasted a 22.51 breast split on Minnesota’s 200 medley relay, with the relay ultimately being DQ’d, but the reason for the DQ isn’t stated in the results. *we’ve now received confirmation that the DQ was due the lead-off leg kicking out past 15 meters, meaning the DQ in no way affected the accuracy of McHugh’s split*

If the disqualification was unrelated to McHugh’s leg of the relay, that split stands as the fastest breast split ever. By our research, Carsten Vissering of USC has the previous fastest breast split on a medley relay, with a 22.58 from NCAAs last season. McHugh is known for stunningly fast breast splits, as some of you may remember, he made waves after splitting 22.69 at his high school sectional meet in Wisconsin earlier this year.

In addition to being the fastest split ever, McHugh’s split was actually faster than all but 2 of the backstroke lead-off splits from the 200 medley relay at the Hawkeye Invite.

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Jalen Stimes
6 years ago

0___0 Whoa!!!

Just a swimmer
6 years ago

McHugh’s breast split shouldn’t even make the news as it was a DQ. Although an amazing swim, it can’t be the fastest ever split because the team DQ’d. Does the backstroke leg of this relay get any credit? His time is the only legitimate time in a medley relay. This is disrespectful to Will Licon and Peter Stevens whose teams weren’t DQ’d. Tired of false praise in sports. This should not even be a discussion.

Admin
Reply to  Just a swimmer
6 years ago

You’re trying to argue the ‘countiness’ of something that literally only exists as a product of media coverage, because relay splits are not formally tracked by any governing body. But, because you apparently want to get esoteric about it, according to official FINA rules, leadoff legs up until the disqualification occurred are to be recorded in official results, and lead-off legs count even if a latter swimmer is disqualified. Rolling that logic forward, relay splits unperturbed by a disqualification, if there were some official tracking, would also be counted.

Also, why are you doubling down on PJ Stevens and Will Licon when we already discussed above that they weren’t the previous-best splits? Carsten Vissering was.

SW 12.12 The first swimmer… Read more »

fluidg
Reply to  Just a swimmer
6 years ago

False praise? And you get to decide what counts and what is legitimate for recognition and discussion? Sounds like unearned self-regard.

sscommenter
Reply to  Just a swimmer
6 years ago

you seem like a good time at parties

Bossanova
6 years ago

Only the fastest split bc Michael Andrew went pro.

Live Audience Member
6 years ago

false. the backstroker missed the pad. max’s split was closer to 23.3

Towelie
Reply to  Live Audience Member
6 years ago

Just curious – assuming the backstroker missed the pad, why would his reaction time still be .3? Isn’t that the amount of time it take for weight to leave the blocks after the pad is hit? I very seriously doubt it took him 1.1 seconds to get off the block, if there were a touchpad error that made a 50 .8 seconds faster because the clock didn’t start on time you’d think his reaction time would be negative or ~0. Why wouldn’t his reaction time be around -.5 if there were a touchpad error?

Socrateshatesoliveoil
6 years ago

Swum in November! Amazing swim. Congrats to Max and Minn

Scribble
6 years ago

There is going to be a bunch of guys who go :50 in the 100 Breast at NCAAs. I wonder if it will take a :51 to make finals?

Gator
6 years ago

Amazing split- best ever!

Swimguy
6 years ago

He’s just lucky Dean hasn’t swim this