Race Video: Tom Shields wins 200 Butterfly at 2014 US Nationals

Race Video – MENโ€™S 200 BUTTERFLY โ€“ FINALS

It was all Tom Shields of California Aquatics in the final of the menโ€™s 200 butterfly. He took it out very aggressivley, leading the first 50 and hitting the 100 in 54.22. Tyler Clary was in second down the third lap of the race. Clary tried reeling him in in the final 100, but Shields had too much of a lead. Shields touched the wall to secure his Pan Pacโ€™s roster spot and the national title with his time of 1:55.09. Clary finished second with his time of 1:56.00. Chase Kalisz finished third, dropping slightly from his morning swim at 1:56.50. Finishing in fourth was Andrew Seliskar. He touched the wall at 1:56.65, just off of the junior world record in this event of 1:56.42.

Kyle Whitaker went 1:56.67 to finish fifth, followed by Bobbly Bollier at 1:57.95.

Rounding out the top 8 of the menโ€™s 200 butterfly was Tom Luchsinger and John Martens at 1:58.13 and 1:58.27.

Ben Colley from North Carolina Aquatic Club looked strong, pulling ahead on the third 50 of the menโ€™s 200 butterfly. He touched the wall to win a 1:56.54. That is just over a second drop for Colley from his morning swim, moving him into the top 20 in the world this year. Steve Schmuhl finished second from lane 8 with his time of 1:58.64.

Justin Lynch from Terrapins Swim Club dropped over a second from his morning swim to win the C-final of the menโ€™s 200 butterfly with his time of 1:59.26.

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Calswimfan
9 years ago

Favorite race!!

mcmflyguy
9 years ago

man, I am soo happy for shields. seeing him do so well short course at CAL, always wanted him to translate that to long course. FINALLY I bet he is so happy, a huge weight lifted off his shoulders with this drop.

aswimfan
9 years ago

I was 100% sure Shields would fall apart in the final 10 metres. But he didn’t.
This is already by far the surprise of the meet so far.
Who’s he training with now?
And his underwater is just sick.

After the heights that Phelps scaled in this event, I can’t see an american medaling in this event in Kazan or Rio, unless Seliskar suddenly has huge drops.

bobo gigi
Reply to  aswimfan
9 years ago

I believe he trains at Cal Aquatics in the group of Nathan Adrian, Anthony Ervin and Natalie Coughlin. With Dave Durden as coach.
And for the predictions I think it’s perhaps a little early for 2016. ๐Ÿ™‚

aswimfan
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

yes, it’s maybe too early of a prediction for Rio, although nowhere nearly as early as people who predicted such swimmer A will dominate 2020 olympics ๐Ÿ™‚

But seriously, who do you think will be the american contender for m200 fly medal in Rio?

bobo gigi
Reply to  aswimfan
9 years ago

About 2020, I hope you don’t talk about me! ๐Ÿ˜†
About the US 200 fly in Rio I don’t know.
Shields will continue to improve but I think his entire focus is on the 100 fly.
He knows now he can be olympic champion in that event in 2 years.
Is he able to swim 3 fast 200 fly races in 2 days? I don’t know.
At the pace Chase Kalisz improves each after year, I start to wonder if he will not be a serious medal contender in 2016. 200 fly/200 IM/400 IM in Rio?
Andrew Seliskar is young. He was a little disappointing yesterday but in 2 years he can drop his… Read more ยป

Stephen
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

Going off of what you mentioned above, I have a teammate that is good friends with Ben Kolley. He told me yesterday that this was Kolley’s first long course training season and taper meet of his life. Not jumping to any conclusions, but his future looks bright in this event to say the least!

Luigi
9 years ago

To think that Phelps swam this event in 1:54.92 at the age of 15 … It really gives the measure of how immense his talent was (is).

ERVINFORTHEWIN
9 years ago

He is the clear favorite for the 100 i beleive now . Great battle to come with Phelps and Lochte .

bobo gigi
9 years ago

WOW! I would have never thought watching Tom Schields swim one day in 1.55.09 in the 200 fly in long course! Amazing performance! ๐Ÿ˜ฏ
Very cool to see a short course swimmer becoming now a great long course swimmer. Very happy for him. There’s probably much much much work behind that time.
It’s scary for the 100 fly! Anything is possible now! I wouldn’t be surprised if he swam 50.50 this week.

Zanna
9 years ago

Will Kalisz scratch the 200fly and give the spot to Seliskar? Assuming if Kalisz qualifies for the 200IM and 400IM? Kalisz mentioned before the 200fly is a fun event for him.

Danjohnrob
Reply to  bobo gigi
9 years ago

Thanks for these links, Bobo! I was struggling with the streaming video last night too (and losing)!

This was really a breakout swim for Ben Colley! I hope it encourages and motivates him!

I also hope Justin Lynch will focus on this event for the next 2 years, because he has a much better chance of making the Olympic team in the 200 than the 100! His stroke is like silk!

About Gold Medal Mel Stewart

Gold Medal Mel Stewart

MEL STEWART Jr., aka Gold Medal Mel, won three Olympic medals at the 1992 Olympic Games. Mel's best event was the 200 butterfly. He is a former World, American, and NCAA Record holder in the 200 butterfly. As a writer/producer and sports columnist, Mel has contributed to Yahoo Sports, Universal Sports, โ€ฆ

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