New Coach, Same Tradition: Luke Hobson Continues Texas 200 Free Legacy with NCAA Record

by Madeline Folsom 20

March 29th, 2025 College, News, Records

2025 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

Luke Hobson might have a new coach, but the result is the same. He didn’t just win his 3rd straight title in the men’s 200, but he also set a new NCAA record by almost half-a-second touching in 1:28.33

Men’s 200 Freestyle – Finals

  • NCAA Record: 1:28.81 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2024)
  • Championship Record: 1:28.81 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2024)
  • American Record: 1:28.81 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2024)
  • U.S. Open Record: 1:28.81 – Luke Hobson, Texas (2024)
  • 2024 Champion: Luke Hobson, Texas – 1:28.81
  • 2024 Time to Final: 1:31.42/1:32.15

Top 8:

  1. Luke Hobson (Texas) – 1:28.33 (NCAA Record)
  2. Chris Guiliano (Texas) – 1:29.42
  3. Gabriel Jett (California) – 1:30.08
  4. Charlie Hawke (Alabama) – 1:30.14
  5. Jack Alexy (California) – 1:30.28
  6. Jordan Crooks (Tennessee)/Tomas Koski (Georgia) – 1:31.36
  7. Henry McFadden (Stanford) – 1:31.45

Hobson held the previous record at 1:28.81, which he swam to win the event at last year’s Championships. Tonight, he split an excellent 200 free at 20.68/22.33/22.50/22.82 by 50 to drop half-a-second and continue a long-standing Texas legacy in the event

Seven of the last nine titles have gone to Longhorn swimmers, and they have won 11 titles total, a legacy in the 200 freestyle that is being upheld by their new coach Bob Bowman. In tonight’s final, they finished 1-2 with Chris Guiliano making it under 1:30 for the first time to finish 2nd in 1:29.42.

The Longhorn legacy goes beyond just the NCAA titles, however. When Hobson and Drew Kibler earned spots on the 4×200 freestyle relay at the Paris Olympic last summer, it marked the 10th Olympic Games in a row that Texas has put somebody on the 800 free relay. Texas has been pumping out 200 freestylers for more than 40 years, and Bob Bowman does not seem to be putting a stop to that dynasty.

Hobson is a league above the rest, however, holding five of the 10 fastest times in history. He is also the only person who has ever been sub-1:29 on multiple occasions

Top 10 Swims in History:

  1. Luke Hobson, Texas– 1:28.33 (2025 NCAA Championships)
  2. Luke Hobson, Texas– 1:28.81 (2024 NCAA Championships)
  3. Luke Hobson, Texas– 1:28.90 (2025 NCAA Championships)
  4. Leon Marchand, ASU– 1:28.97 (2024 NCAA Championships)
  5. Luke Hobson, Texas– 1:29.13 (2024 NCAA Championships)
  6. Dean Farris, Harvard– 1:29.15 (2019 NCAA Championships)
  7. Chris Guiliano, Texas– 1:29.42 (2025 NCAA Championships)
  8. Kieran Smith, Florida– 1:29.48 (2021 SEC Championships)
  9. Townley Haas, Texas– 1:29.50 (2018 NCAA Championships)
  10. Luke Hobson, Texas– 1:29.60 (2025 NCAA Championships)

In This Story

20
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

20 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
PFA
1 day ago

This was nearly perfectly balanced like last year only every leg was a bit faster than last year. Dude put this record into the might now take several years to break.

Only guy I believe right now I can say really has a chance of breaking that record which would be Maximus Williamson. I truly hope with this upcoming generation of college Swimming especially at UVA things change for the better because it’s rly not looked great by their current roster. Some guys looked good at their midseason and that but not so far at NC’s other than King and their 800 free relay on night 1 everything else has not looked good here and it’s gonna turn into a… Read more »

Doug Swimmadome, owner of the Swimsdale Swimmadome
2 days ago

Kieran Smith had multiple 1:29s in 2021. And pour one out for Blake Pieroni, the first man under the 90 second barrier is now out of the top 10

43.0/45.3 is absolutely godforsaken

Bobthebuilderrocks
2 days ago

Maximus, this is your sign to head to Austin in the fall

TexasLonghorn Alum
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
2 days ago

Agreed.

Bobthebuilderrocks
Reply to  TexasLonghorn Alum
2 days ago

I’m not saying it to be a jerk to UVA or anything. It just seems logical that the best option to unlock what Maximus can do is Bowman. I feel like that isn’t crazy to say. We’ve got all these people crying about how the US men don’t look too good heading to a home Olympics but then get all pissy when there’s talk about how the best upcoming American IMer/mid-d freestyler should switch to Texas.

barelyaswammer
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
1 day ago

I hope UVA works out for him, but it is hard to ignore just how well the move has worked for Rex Maurer. Whether you love him, hate him, or are ambivalent about him, Bowman is the best coach for his event lineup.

Swimshark1
Reply to  Bobthebuilderrocks
1 day ago

Would make the most sense, his home state. Has a year at Virginia and if things don’t go as planned…

moonlight
2 days ago

Hobson = the male Allison Schmitt

Swimz
Reply to  moonlight
2 days ago

Hobson is better than schmitt I guess..Schmitt is great..but Hobson is competitive in 100 free also..specially in relays..LC SC Y on all forms

Swimz
Reply to  Swimz
2 days ago

Schmitt never went under 52s in free relays. She anchored the London WR breaking medley relay in 53.25. I wonder what would be the split if Hardy anchored the relay..but Schmitt was a super star that year..she was phenomenal in 200 though, hobson in other hand had very cool relay legs in Doha 47.6, 47.7 ..and 45.1 in SC..

CINt🇺🇲COKAT
2 days ago

🤘🤘🤘

dirtswimmer
2 days ago

Forgot his 1:29.13 leadoff from last year.

Michael Andrew Wilson
2 days ago

Luke really is a lunchpail kind of guy…. reliable, understated, extremely consistent when it matters most. Get that man a hardhat for the podium. 👷🏻‍♂️🤠🤘🏻

Christine Breedy
2 days ago

Why isn’t Chris G listed in your top 10 in history list?

Tom Dolan Fan
Reply to  Christine Breedy
2 days ago

??? #7

Tom Dolan Fan
Reply to  Christine Breedy
2 days ago

Oops #6