Townley Haas Olympic Trials Focus: GMM presented by SwimOutlet.com

Gold Medal Minute presented by SwimOutlet.com

Every time I see Coach Eddie Reese he laughs that Townley Haas, 200 and 500 free NCAA Champion, wants to swim the 50. It’s kind of a joke, but not really. Haas swam in 18+ 50 free on a relay during the Texas Speed practice back the fall of 2015.  Haas has nitro, and he’s a miler too, 4th in the 1650 at NCAAs. Haas is a rising star to get excited about.

Before the Longhorn Invite Haas’ best unshaven 200 free was a 1:49.  He topped the field in a 1:47 point 8 in Austin. His PB–1:47 point 5.   With the 1:30 200 yard free NCAA Championship win at his back, Haas has a lot of confidence on the run-up to the 2016 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha.

Haas Predictions:

Predictions for swimmers so young is challenging. Haas is still an infant by elite standards, just coming off of his freshman year at the University of Texas…and Trials is an extremely tough environment.  Any experience at Trials is great for his future, but Haas could breakthrough! Is Haas is on, this is what I think could happen…

Based on Haas’ Big 12 to NCAA important, I think Haas is a 1:45 low 200 meter free.

400 Free? Anything under 3:46 point 5 is a solid swim, but I could see him focusing all of his energy on 200 free. 

The mile?  Push. I just don’t know.  Sure, he was 4th at NCAAs, but I think Haas is focused on 200-400m free at US Trials. Still,  14:34  in the 1650 at NCAA is mean, makes him Boss Haas in my book.

100 Free? I think Haas can go 48.4. I think he’s got it in him. I mean everything has to come together for a swim like that, but if he snuck into the final, you’d have a MILER in 100 free final. I don’t know if it could happen, and yes it’s another big 100 free prediction, but I’d love to see it.   (NOTE: If Haas is anything under 49, it’s a great swim, but I think he’s the kind of guy that could swim past a lot of men on the final 10 meters.  This is out-there prediction,  but I’m mentioning it because of his 18+ 50 yard free back in the fall of 2015. Haas has speed.)

What do you think?

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This is a Gold Medal Media production presented by SwimOutlet.com. Host Gold Medal Mel Stewart is a 3-time Olympic medalist and the co-founder of SwimSwam.com, a Swimming News website.

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Just Keep Swimmin
7 years ago

Townley is a monster in the water. After the 200 free record at NCAA Eddie commented that Ricky Berens sent him a text asking how fast he will be when he learns how to turn and work the walls. Eddie agreed. Townley does not tire when he is tapered/rested and the adrenaline is pumping. He said that he literally had no idea how fast he went at NCAA in the 200 until he heard everyone screaming after the race. Townley can sprint a 200, and it is all speed without help from turns and walls. If you watch him in the yard pools, he does not even kick off of the walls. We’ve seen him blow it out when the… Read more »

MGG
7 years ago

This has been brought up about Haas before, but I think it’s worth mentioning again. He has NEVER trained long course before this year……..I think he’s primed for some big drops at Trials. He’s already going right around best times with what sounds like minimal rest.

Prediction:

100 Free: 48.3
200 Free: 1:44.9
400 Free: 3:45.5

Why is nobody talking about Clark Smith? I think he has just as good of a shot at making the team as Haas does. I know he had a really bad NCAAs, but seems to be in a better place and is dropping some impressive times so far. You can see in that video if he had another 3 – 5 meters… Read more »

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  MGG
7 years ago

yes 400 free is going to be awesome as well

Wirotomo
7 years ago

And Townley was his name.
I never knew him but I love him just the same.
I loved his name.

🙂

ArtVanDeLegh10
7 years ago

If that were true, then why do so many college swimmers make the Olympic team, and why do so many international swimmers choose to come and train in the USA? Because of the coaching, training, facilities, and competition–all done with a mix of both scy and lcm.

Frank
7 years ago

Does anyone know if there are time trials at this meet? and when/where they would be?

Billabong
7 years ago

“Haas has got Nitro”. That must be the coolest quote of the year. Can’t wait to see him “light it up” in Omaha.

bobthebuilderrocks
7 years ago

Townley will go-

48 mid 100 Free
1:44 high 200 free
under 3:45 400 Free

He isn’t swimming the mile, according to his USA Swimming 20 Questions article

Crawler
7 years ago

The Dwyer-Haas 200 free duel should be one of the OT highlights as both have 100 speed and strong 400 endurance.

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, …

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