Hobson Heads 200 Free With Broad Open Relay Battle Pending

2024 U.S. OLYMPIC TRIALS

MEN’S 200 FREE — BY THE NUMBERS:

• World File: 1:42.00 — Paul Biedermann, Germany(2009)
• American File: 1:42.96 —  Michael Phelps (2008)
• U.S. Open File: 1:44.10 —  Michael Phelps (2008)
• World Junior File: 1:42.97 — David Popovici, Romania (2022)
• 2020 Olympic Champion: Tom Dean, Nice Britain — 1:44.22
• 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials Champion:  Kieran Smith — 1:45.29
• U.S. Olympic Trials Lower: 1:49.99
• 2024 Olympic Qualifying Time — 1:47.06

The boys’s 200 freestyle is a free-for-all. Exterior of the top-tier abilities, it’s a large open race for the relay spots. It took 1:47.02 to qualify for a spot on the 2023 Worlds crew and 7 American males have already been sooner than that this season. It’s the right alternative for (at the least) one swimmer to rise to the problem and shock for his or her first Olympic look.

The large open nature of the race additionally signifies that spherical administration goes to be essential. With so many swimmers coming in with season-bests within the 1:46, 1:47 vary, will probably be all too straightforward to mistime a prelim or semifinal swim and miss out. And even then, there are solely eight spots within the closing, which means that irrespective of how this race shakes on the market’s going to be a giant title on the skin wanting in.

Eddie Reese’s 200 Freestyle Legacy

The NCAA stated goodbye to the legendary Texas head coach Eddie Reese again in March on the Males’s NCAA Championships. However as Reese has stayed on deck serving to his athletes prep for Trials, there’s nonetheless yet one more goodbye to come back in Indianapolis—and one final probability so as to add a chapter to Reese’s spectacular palmarès.

Over his decades-long profession, Reese turned Austin right into a hub for rangy mid-distance freestylers. And whereas Reese’s athletes have made an impression on the worldwide stage throughout all disciplines, it’s the 200 freestyle specifically that’s been on the program’s core. In actual fact, Reese has put a swimmer onto the U.S. Olympic 4×200 freestyle relay yearly since 1988.

All indicators level to that streak persevering with for an additional Olympics, as Reese has constructed a powerful group of 200 freestylers, led by Luke Hobson.

Hobson missed the 2022 Worlds crew by a half-second within the 200 free, touching seventh. He struck again in 2023, transferring from third to first on the ultimate 50 meters of the occasion at U.S. Nationals. He gained the race in 1:45.18, incomes a spot on his first senior worldwide crew.

As soon as in Fukuoka, Hobson continued to enhance, changing into the 4th quickest American of all-time with a 1:44.87 clocking within the semifinals. He added within the closing and completed fifth however didn’t have to attend lengthy for an additional shot at a person medal. Hobson was a part of the small American contingent on the 2024 Worlds and made essentially the most of it, selecting up a bronze medal on this race (1:45.26).

Over the past 12 months, Hobson has emerged as the subsequent large hope for the usin the 200 freestyle as he’s proven that he can cling with a crowded worldwide subject.

On the 2024 Worlds, he was a part of the 4×200 free relay with fellow Longhorn Carson Foster. Foster got here up large, throwing down an enormous 1:43.94 cut up. Since making the 2022 Worlds relay by way of a third place end at Trials, Foster has been a constant presence on this relay. Although he didn’t race the person closing on the 2023 Nationals, he nonetheless earned a spot on the Fukuoka relay.

That consistency coupled together with his 1:43.94 cut up from earlier this yr offers Foster some wiggle room at Olympic Trials. He probably doesn’t have to race all three rounds of this occasion to earn at the least a spot on the prelims relay in Paris. And that flexibility is essential for him because the 200 free and 400 IM are on the identical day (the 200 free semis are just a few occasions after the 400 IM closing).

So, whereas Foster is likely one of the strongest 200 freestylers within the nation and is actually able to bettering his 1:45.57 private greatest, we could not see him within the Olympic Trials closing. However like we stated within the 400 free preview, if he’s there he is likely one of the favorites.

Coby Carrozza joined his Texas teammates on the 4×200 free relay crew on the 2022 World Championships. He completed fifth on the 2022 Trials to punch his ticket (1:46.87). He’s improved since then, posting a 1:46.72 private greatest within the prelims on the 2023 Nationals. However he added time in finals and completed eighth. This isn’t going to be the final time we’ll say this however for Carrozza, spherical administration goes to be key if he needs a spot on the Olympic crew.

And at last, we’re ending off this part with Drew Kibler, who previously educated with the Longhorns (and perhaps will once more, given Bob Bowman’s new job). Kibler has switched his coaching base twice since making the Tokyo Olympic crew on this occasion. First, he returned to his membership crew Carmel, then made the bounce to the ASU professional group final fall.

Kibler completed third on this race at 2021 Olympic Trials to make the crew. On the 2022 Trials, he earned a person Worlds berth by ending within the runner-up place behind Kieran Smith. He completed off the rostrum in Budapest by two one-hundredths, operating out of room to chase down Tom Dean and producing a 1:45.01 private greatest.

Kibler made the 2023 Worlds crew as properly however missed a person swim, ending third once more (1:45.75). Kibler is a chief contender for a relay spot and it could be an added bonus to him if he might reclaim a person occasion slot. He’s received the second quickest season-best within the subject (1:46.02) which trails solely Hobson’s 2024 Worlds efficiency. That’s a confidence increase heading into Trials, the place he’ll should be at his greatest to topple Hobson and Smith.   

Freestyle College

In the meantime, Texas new convention rivals Florida have been steadily constructing their very own freestyle hub. The Gator males swept the freestyle occasions at each the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials and 2022 Worldwide Group Trials. Smith swept the 200 and 400 freestyles at these meets. And although Hobson upset him in 2023, he nonetheless completed second which implies he’s earned a person 200 freestyle berth on the U.S.’s final three main qualification meets.

Kieran Smith (picture: Jack Spitser)

Smith has been constant on this occasion, displaying a knack for getting his hand on the wall first or second even when he’s not at his greatest (he hasn’t been underneath 1:45 because the Tokyo Olympics). When the psych sheets drop, Smith will probably be seeded proper within the combine together with his important competitors, courtesy of his 1:46.93 season-best from the Budapest World Cup cease. However don’t let the psych sheet idiot you, Smith’s received the quickest private greatest amongst energetic People (1:44.74). He ranks third all-time, 13 one-hundredths forward of Hobson.

If Foster qualifies and opts to contest all three rounds, the pre-race favourite record extends to 3 swimmers however in any other case, that is all about Hobson vs. Smith.

In fact, the Gators don’t simply have a single swimmer on this race. Since making the Tokyo Olympics within the 400 free, Jake Mitchell has flexed his 200 free talent. Mitchell missed the 2022 Worldwide Group Trials as a consequence of sickness however in 2023, he earned his Worlds roster spot by ending 4th on this race (1:46.25).

Like his 400 free, it’s clear that we haven’t seen Mitchell at his greatest in lengthy course this season. His season-best is 1:48.29 from the Atlanta Traditional, nearly two and a half seconds off the non-public greatest 1:45.82 he swam in prelims of 2023 Nationals. He’ll actually be sooner later this month.

Mitchell has a powerful again half; he had the third quickest final 50 within the 2023 closing, which moved him from fifth to 4th. However one thing to maintain an eye fixed with him is his entrance finish velocity—he wants to remain shut sufficient to guys like Hobson and Smith on the entrance half of the race. He did go a PB within the 50 free on the Atlanta Traditional and if he can translate that into straightforward opening velocity within the 200 free that might be a distinction maker for him.

The NCAA Crew

Baylor Nelson and Henry McFadden making the 2023 Worlds groups was one of many stunning and feel-good tales of the meet. Nelson went to a membership meet weeks earlier than the 2023 Nationals particularly to qualify for the 200 free. Then, over the course of Nationals, he dropped one other 2.65 seconds, swimming a lifetime greatest 1:46.51 and qualifying for Fukuoka together with his fifth place end. And McFadden qualifying as a 17-year-old (1:47.02) by transferring into sixth over the closing meters was a equally compelling narrative.

Each have an uphill climb again to the ultimate—mainly from right here on out the phrase “spherical administration is essential” applies to everybody.

McFadden didn’t make a lot of an impression together with his complete factors at NCAAs; nonetheless, he had a quietly robust freshman season at Stanford, swimming private bests within the 50/100/200/500 yard freestyle. That carried over to meters as properly. On the 2023 U.S. Open, McFadden shaved .14 seconds off his 200 free greatest in 1:46.80. He’ll probably should be sooner than that to make the Olympic crew, however breaking 1:47 for the second time in his profession whereas in-season is a confidence increase that McFadden can carry over to Trials.

Jake Magahey (picture: Jack Spitser)

Nelson doesn’t race the 200-yard free a lot throughout his collegiate season with Texas A&M. However, he nonetheless posted a lifetime better of 1:33.97 at a twin meet. Nelson owns a season-best of 1:49.75 from the early March Lonestar Final Likelihood Meet, and most lately went 1:50.84 on the Texas Senior Circuit meet.

Somebody who has been on a extra clear run of kind on this occasion of late is Jake Magahey. Final weekend, Magahey raced on the Bulldog Grand Slam, the place he posted a season greatest 1:47.82—a large enchancment from the 1:49.81 he produced on the UGA Fall Invite. Since his breakthrough performances on the 2022 U.S. Nationals, Magahey has been on the bubble of constructing his first senior worldwide crew. He missed the 2022 Worldwide Group Trials as a consequence of sickness, however his performances in each the 200 and 400 free would’ve made the Worlds crew.

The 1:47.82 time is a strong signal that Magahey is rounding into kind on the proper time—the swim is a little bit over a second off his lifetime greatest 1:46.62 from 2022. He neared that point final summer time with a 1:46.97 within the ‘B’ closing of 2023 Nationals. If Magahey could make his manner into the ultimate, he’s received a sensible probability at a relay spot.

One other NCAA swimmer posting intriguing in-season occasions is Gabriel Jett. Jett was a part of the group that Cal despatched to the Westmont Professional Swim as a substitute of Pac-12s. He made the many of the alternative, swimming a lifetime greatest 1:47.16. Jett’s received a historical past of setting PBs at Professional Collection meets. In 2023, he hit a private greatest on the Knoxville Professional Collection earlier than decreasing it at U.S. Nationals (1:47.32).

Most lately, he posted a time of 1:47.88 at membership meet on Might seventeenth. It’s going to take sub-1:47 to make the ultimate—for reference, 1:47.00 was the cut-off in 2021—however practically breaking that barrier in-season factors to Jett being able to getting underneath that customary. And like we stated with Magahey, as soon as he’s within the closing something can occur.

Two different NCAA swimmers to regulate are Patrick Sammon and Rex Maurer. At U.S. Nationals in 2023, each Brooks Curry and Sammon posted occasions that might’ve made the 2023 Worlds crew. The issue? They did them within the ‘B’ closing.

Sammon swam a lifetime greatest 1:46.83 for tenth total. That was his first time sub-1:47. He went underneath once more later in the summertime on the 2023 LEN U23 European Championships with a 1:46.91 in prelims earlier than including time in finals. He holds a season-best of 1:48.05 from the U.S. Open. He was 1:48.50 on the San Antonio Professional Collection, a strong effort shortly after serving to ASU to their first NCAA title. Sammon arrives in Indianapolis this yr after a breakthrough 2023 the place he made his first worldwide crew. And he’ll be desirous to again that up by incomes a lane within the closing.

The story with Maurer within the 200 freestyle the identical because the 400. Maurer had a great summer time in 2023; within the 200 free he swam a PB 1:47.63. He didn’t carry out properly at his first NCAAs after a promising mid-season meet and has since entered the switch portal. He repped Longhorn Aquatics on the Longhorn Elite Invite, which can level to the place he’s headed. If Maurer can adapt rapidly to a brand new coaching atmosphere and put NCAAs within the rearview then he’s received a strong shot at making the ultimate. He’s seen promising early returns; his 1:49.10 on the Longhorn Elite Invite was a season-best.

Extra Contenders

Anxious we’d run out of finals threats after 12 swimmers? Worry not, there are many extra names to circle on the psych sheets.

We already talked about Curry, who’s wanting so as to add the 200 freestyle to his repertoire. Curry raced the 200 free for the primary time since 2019 at a June 2023 Louisiana membership meet. There, he broke 1:50 for the primary time with a 1:48.37, qualifying for 2023 Nationals. At that meet he gained the ‘B’ closing in 1:46.39—a brand new lifetime greatest that might’ve completed fifth within the ‘A’ closing and made the Worlds crew.

Since then, Curry moved to coach with the Cal Bears. That is going to be his first main taper since that transfer. It’s a giant check for Curry, who’s trying to get again on the worldwide crew roster after lacking in 2023.

Brooks Curry (picture: Jack Spitser)

With a 1:46.35 lifetime greatest at Indianapolis Sectionals in March, Aaron Shackell is making a case for himself right here within the 200 free. That was his first time sub-1:47, bettering the 1:47.07 he clocked at 2023 LEN U23 European Championships. Since returning to Carmel for an Olympic redshirt yr, Shackell has seemed robust, notably in freestyle. He’s turned in lifetime bests within the 100/200 free. His time within the 200 free units him up as somebody who has an actual probability to upstage a number of the larger names within the subject.

Talking of upsets, one of many widespread discussions within the SwimSwam feedback is the query of whether or not it’s too early for Maximus Williamson to make his first Olympic crew. His 200 free lifetime greatest is a 1:47.11 he swam main off the 4×200 free relay at 2023 World Juniors. That capped off a summer time the place he lowered his PB three separate occasions.

Williamson’s had a ton of success already at solely 17 and it nonetheless doesn’t really feel like he’s near his ceiling. Whether or not or not you suppose that it’s too early for him, his lifetime greatest calls for that you simply take him severely on this occasion.

At 32, Zane Grothe is at a really totally different level in his profession than Williamson. So is 28-year-old Olympian Blake Pieroni, who returned to the game after retirement. However the three discover themselves as exterior threats for a spot on the Olympic crew.

Grothe has appeared to focus in on the 200 free within the again half of this truncated Olympic cycle. On the 2023 U.S. Nationals, he swam his quickest time since 2017, posting a 1:46.97 in prelims. That point was simply over half a second off his private greatest 1:46.39 from 2017. He completed seventh within the closing, lacking the Worlds crew by .05. Since then, Grothe swam a season-best 1:47.98 on the 2023 Pan American Video games.

In the meantime, Pieroni unleashed a 1:47.02 on the Indy Spring Cup, his quickest time since returning to the game. It was his quickest swim since ending seventh on the final Olympic Trials and needs to be a giant confidence increase for him heading into Indianapolis. Given how aggressive this subject is, Pieroni and Grothe will should be at their greatest to make the crew on this occasion. Pieroni has a little bit extra wiggle room together with his 1:45.93 PB from 2018.

That is the place age and expertise could play to their benefit. The swimmers aiming for relay spots are all largely all youthful than both Pieroni or Grothe and a few have a lot much less expertise. The stress at Olympic Trials is immense and having been by means of the expertise earlier than could also be what ideas the scales of their favor.

The Verdict

that rumor about how school admissions workplaces simply throw purposes up within the air and those that land face up get admitted? Nicely, that’s form of what it appears like attempting to choose a high eight on this race. (If I’m relationship myself by referring to printed purposes please don’t inform me.)

We see Hobson and Smith because the favorites, clearly so if Foster opts out for the ultimate. From there, it’s going to come back all the way down to who can carry themselves greatest by means of the rounds—then make the most of the chance the ultimate presents. However whoever you may have down within the high eight, there’s absolutely at the least one large title that’s missed out, that’s how shut this occasion is.

Darkish Horse: Luca Urlando — Urlando might make issues very fascinating on this occasion. On the 2021 Trials, Urlando certified for the ultimate in sixth however scratched out (bumping Foster in). He skipped this occasion on the 2022 Trials (the place he made the crew within the 200 fly). After getting injured within the fall of 2022, he didn’t compete on the 2023 Nationals.

However Urlando popped up on the U.S. Professional Championships later in the summertime with a few of his coaching mates at ASU. There, he swam 1:46.99 which he then bettered with a 1:46.98 on the U.S. Open. These are his quickest swims since he set his 1:46.51 PB in 2019. He’s made a gentle march again to his greatest kind which signifies that he’ll have loads of occasion choices in Indianapolis. He might skip this occasion once more but when he swims, he’s received pretty much as good an opportunity as anybody talked about within the physique of this text on the crew.