Perhaps Connor Jaeger ought to go by the nickname, “The Technician,” as a result of the American distance ace put collectively the right race at Omaha 2016 on Sunday evening, successful the 400 freestyle in a personal-best time of three:43.79 and giving ARENA its first consultant on the American squad certain for the competitors this summer time.
Among the many favourites to prevail within the 400 free heading into Omaha, Jaeger put collectively a affected person and well-designed race, shifting up on the competitors steadily, till there was noone left to catch. Jaeger was sixth on the 100-meter mark, and moved to fourth on the halfway level. He was as much as third on the 300 and into second place with a lap remaining, when he cut up 28.05 for his final 50 meters and surged forward of Conor Dwyer.
Jaeger’s time is the third-fastest on the earth this yr and marked the primary time he was capable of break the three:44 barrier. By successful the 400 free, Jaeger earned his second berth, his first arriving in 2012. Jaeger might be again on the blocks for the 1500 freestyle (his greatest occasion), scheduled for the final day of competitors.
“Simply going again to prelims, there have been loads (3:47s) and (3:48s), and I feel again in 2012, (3:47) made the staff,” Jaeger mentioned. “I knew I used to be a aggressive area, after which I dive in and I’m looking at Dwyer’s toes. I had an out of physique expertise on the 200 and thought, ‘Can I flip this round?’ There was no giving up. I went as laborious as I might till I wasn’t feeling my legs and arms. I glanced (on the end) and it was an excellent realization.”
By clocking 3:43.79, Jaeger put himself within the medal dialog for this summer time and erased any doubts that will have been lingering from a tough interval of coaching. Within the lead as much as Omaha 2016, Jaeger had issue producing the forms of occasions that he’s been accustomed to notching throughout his profession. Absolutely, this swim may have his confidence at an all-time excessive.
“I’d say for the previous eight months, I struggled to get underneath 3:50,” he mentioned. “That’s usually simple for me, and the previous eight months, I had horrible swims. Then I went 3:47 within the morning and I had one thing left.”
Fellow ARENA swimmers Cammile Adams and Felicia Lee had been additionally in motion on the opening day of the meet. Adams was eleventh within the 400 particular person medley (4:42.61), a swim that received her going for the remainder of the meet. Adams is the highest seed within the 200 butterfly. As for Lee, she superior to the semifinals of the 100 fly, ending in 59.47 for fifteenth place.
