Michael McBroom’s and Stephanie Peacock’s 1000 Freestyles Become NCAA Records

PHOENIX, Arizona, February 4. AN NCAA official today confirmed that the 1000-yard freestyle time of 8:43.48 posted by Texas senior Michael McBroom last Friday is in the process of being recognized as an official NCAA Division I record.

While no one had debated that the swim, done during the Longhorns' tri-meet against Arizona and Southern Methodist, was the fastest time in collegiate history, many believed that the time would only stand in an unofficial capacity.

But Brian Gordon, the NCAA secretary-rules editor, told Swimming World today that official records are kept for the 1000 freestyle. The University of Texas has sent the paperwork required to make the time official, according to Gordon and staff in the Texas athletic department, with the time to be officially recognized later this week.

The previous Division I record in the event was 8:44.11, swum by Chris Thompson at the 2001 NCAA championships on the way to his then-American and NCAA record in the 1650 freestyle. Chad La Tourette and Martin Grodzki nearly broke the 1000 free record in their epic battle at the 2012 NCAAs in the 1650, with La Tourette flipping at 8:44.38 and Grodzki turning at 8:44.52. Both would eventually surpass Thompson's 11-year-old 1650 freestyle record.

McBroom's swim is the third-fastest in history behind the official American record of 8:36.49 set by Erik Vendt in 2008 and Robert Margalis' 8:42.64 from 2007. Vendt now holds the fourth-fastest 1000 free time of 8:43.62 from 2008, done as a split time on the way to a failed American record chase in the 1650 free, three days after his 8:36.49. Thompson's 8:44.11 now sits as fifth-fastest in history.

Though her 1650 NCAA record was broken last year, Janet Evans still holds the NCAA record in the women's 1000 free in Division I with a 9:29.49 from 1990, done as a split on the way to what was the NCAA record in the 1650 free. Notably, though, North Carolina's Stephanie Peacock split a 9:28.92 at the 1000 mark on the way to a new NCAA record of 15:37.06 in the 1650 at the Ohio State Invitational in December.

North Carolina head coach Rich DeSelm said he was not aware that the 1000 free was officially part of the Division I record books, and he said he'll work to get Peacock's swim recognized.

“I'd like to get her just rewards for that swim,” he said.

Update, February 5: Peacock's 1000 split will be officially recognized as the NCAA record, according to DeSelm. The paperwork sent in for the 1650 NCAA record will be used to make the 1000 record official, since it contains all the splits for the race.

Peacock will have another run at the 1000 record at the NCAA championships next month when she races in the 1650 freestyle final. McBroom will also make a run at the record in March, racing with Grodzki and others in the NCAA final.

While the NCAA Division I championships does not hold a 1000 freestyle event, the race is swum at the Division II championships in addition to the 1650 free. That meet is held over a four-day period, largely to accommodate the extra event. The 1000 free is swum regularly in dual-meet competition, though very few swimmers rest enough to make a run at the record.

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