Reported by James Sutherland.
2018 ATLANTA CLASSIC
- May 18th-20th, 2018
- Georgia Tech Aquatic Center (co-hosted by Swim Atlanta and Southern Crescent Aquatics Team)
- LCM (50m) pool
- Meet Central
- Live Results
- Psych Sheet
19-year-old Michael Andrew dropped a personal best time in the 50 free final at the Atlanta Classic on Saturday, getting down to 21.73 to beat his previous best of 21.75 by .02. Andrew went that 21.75 twice last August at the World Junior Championships when he won the title.
Andrew has been red hot in this event over the course of the season, including winning the TYR Pro Derby shootout over World Championship silver medalist Bruno Fratus. After sitting 7th in the world with his season-best of 21.84 from that meet, Andrew now jumps up into 5th, and remains the top American.
The 2016 SC World Champion in the 100 IM is priming for a big showing in this event this summer, as he hunts down his first berths on the U.S. Pan Pacific and World Championship teams. With this consistency, he has become a big favorite to score a spot on the Pan Pac team, with the Americans taking the top-3 nationals finishers in most cases, while he’s very much in the running for that second spot at the 2019 World Championships. Reigning champ Caeleb Dressel is a near lock for the first spot, sporting a best of 21.15, but that second spot is very much up for grabs with Andrew in the mix. He’ll have to deal with the likes of Nathan Adrian, along with perhaps a few others including veteran Cullen Jones and rising stars Zach Apple and Michael Chadwick, but he’s got a very good shot.
I’m rooting for MA this summer. He should just drop his other events and focus on the 50 free and 100 breast. Those are the only events where he has a shot to make the team IMO. Maybe try out other events if they don’t conflict with the two previously mentioned.
What about 400 IM?
Has he ever done a good LC 400im? According to a quick search I did, his PB is a 4:26. I know he’s put down some fast 400im in yards, but I didn’t think he is a serious contender for the LC event. I’d be happy to be wrong though.
I think he’s kidding. MA wouldn’t be anywhere near competitive to even make a final at US Nats in the 4IM
Oh lol. I’m not wanting to jump on the MA hate bandwagon so I gave that comment the benefit of the doubt haha.
I feel like 19 years olds typically drop more than .02
really? When they’re already doing 21 second 50 free lcm? Interesting..
Have him break down the 51.03
I honestly want to hear him talk about the struggles in the 100. His 100 breast is good and his 100fly is solid. What are his thoughts? We all have opinions but what are his thoughts? He seem pretty good at breaking down his swims. SwimSwam, get on it!
Full disclosure, I am firmly rooting for him to have a fast 100.
I see what you did there….”break down.”
Swimming reporters need to ask the tough questions. I also would be interested in how someone can go 21/51.
By having one good swim and one bad swim? I’m not sure what kind of hard-hitting questions you’re envisioning. There are hundreds of swimmers out there with great 50s and 100s that aren’t as good. Especially in-season, when fatigue can easily suppress endurance. Should SwimSwam be shaking down every teenager who goes a lifetime-best in a 50 but doesn’t drop time in a 100? Or who is good at the 50 but not at the 100? Should we all be trying to discover the great conspiracy behind why Jessica Hardy was great at the 100 breast but not at the 200 breast? Is it unexplainable to you that Caeleb Dressel could have a decent 100 last weekend but such a… Read more »
This argument is 100% valid… Comparing the 50/100 free to the 100/200 breast is ridiculous… In no way are they comparable in what you are arguing. If someone can swim a 200im or a 100 breast or 100 fly… They should be able to swim the 100 free. At least if they are putting up a world class time in the 50…. You could expect a decent swim.
Great 50 swim though by MA.
Because his no-breath freestyle is 1000 times more efficient/faster than his breathing freestyle. He obviously has some technical limitation with breathing. It’s not a conditioning thing, because his 100 fly and 100 breast were fine.
MA can only swim 50s stroke and a 100 br. He honestly isn’t a huge contender in anything for the long run. Unless he starts swimming real events his shot at the 2020 Olympic Team is zero to none. His 100 free is worthy of an individual event let alone a relay and with only 2 spots for the 50 free unlikely he will make that too. Defending vets will put him in his place. There should be no hype surrounding this man at all.
The fact that you’ve been trawling Michael Andrew articles all day letting us all know how terrible he is probably says a lot more about you than him.
Follow up: Don’t forget that at only 18, in Atlanta, MA swam a time in the 100 fly that ranks him as the 4th-fastest American this year. Puts him 7-tenths better than the next-fastest swimmer of the same age or younger.
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a group wanting to write an athlete off as a teenager as they do Michael Andrew…it’s like people forget how historically fast he is for a swimmer at his age.