Will Licon Wins With 2nd Fastest 200 IM in History, Breaks Pool Record

SwimSwam’s Lauren Neidigh also contributed to this report. 

2016 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

In an incredibly fast and exciting race to the finish, Texas Longhorn Will Licon took the NCAA title in the men’s 200 IM. Licon, a junior, reeled in California’s Josh Prenot and Ryan Murphy to claim the NCAA title, breaking Ryan Lochtes pool record in the process with his time of 1:40.04. Licon is now the second fastest performer of all time in this event and also has the second fastest performance in history behind Stanford’s David Nolan.

In 2007, Ryan Lochte set the American record in this pool at 1:40.08. It wasn’t until last year that his record was knocked off by Nolan at the Pac 12 Championships. At that NCAA Championships, Licon paced with Nolan to finish second at 1:40.09, just missing Lochte’s best time. At the time, Licon’s 1:40.09 was the fourth fastest swim in history.

Take a look at the top 5 performances in history in the 200 IM:

Licon’s swim tonight was huge for the Longhorns. Through the first four events, Texas claimed every possible NCAA title.

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Chris
8 years ago

This was a tremendous swim. He didn’t lead the entire way except when it mattered most. Didn’t look panicked whatsoever, just did his thing.

swimdoc
8 years ago

How frickin fast was Ryan Lochte in college. Geez 2007. I guess he still is pretty fast.

BKP
Reply to  swimdoc
8 years ago

Pretty darn fast! My guess is that he could go sub 1.39 if he ever tapered for a SCY meet. I’m sure Phelps could possibly do the same.

I recall that he went 1.40 high at winter nats BEFORE his taper for short course worlds where he crushed his own WR!

floppy
Reply to  swimdoc
8 years ago

Lochte’s 1:49.6 SCM 200 IM converts to around 1:38-high.

Lochte was a beast of a college swimmer. I think one year he had the NCAA’s fastest time in 5 different events. He also went 14:55 mile and 1:42 fly in college.

About Tony Carroll

Tony Carroll

The writer formerly known as "Troy Gennaro", better known as Tony Carroll, has been working with SwimSwam since April of 2013. Tony grew up in northern Indiana and started swimming in 2003 when his dad forced him to join the local swim team. Reluctantly, he joined on the condition that …

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