Defending Champion Clark Smith Misses 500 Free Finals

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold/Aringo

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In a preliminary stunner, defending champion Clark Smith of Texas went out a bit too fast and could not hang on as he took 21st in the men’s 500-yard free at the 2016 NCAA Division I Men’s Championships.

Smith, who clinched the NCAA title last year with a 4:09.72, added more than seven seconds to his time from last year with a 4:17.17 to miss finals completely. It will be up to Townley Haas to defend the title for Texas as the super freshman qualified third in 4:12.68. Haas is on fire so far this meet, posting the fastest 200-yard free split of all time last night with a 1:30.52.

Florida’s Mitch D’Arrigo topped qualifying with a time of 4:11.48. D’Arrigo, who is the 14th-fastest swimmer ever in the event, is looking to become just the third Gator ever to win the event.

Previous Florida Winners:

1986 Matt Cetlinski, Florida, 4:15.19
2010 Conor Dwyer, Florida, 4:13.64

South Carolina’s Akaram Mahmoud, meanwhile, could make history as the Gamecocks’ first NCAA champion after qualifying second in 4:12.59.

Michigan’s Andres Nielsen (4:12.77), Stanford’s Liam Egan (4:13.52), Southern California’s Reed Malone (4:13.59), Wisconsin’s Matthew Hutchins (4:13.74) and NC State’s Anton Ipsen (4:13.97) also made the top eight.

                      === Preliminaries ===                       
 
  1 D'Arrigo, Mitch        JR Florida           4:13.92    4:11.48  
    r:+0.69  23.41        48.85 (25.44)
        1:14.63 (25.78)     1:40.46 (25.83)
        2:06.21 (25.75)     2:31.92 (25.71)
        2:57.53 (25.61)     3:22.86 (25.33)
        3:47.19 (24.33)     4:11.48 (24.29)
  2 Mahmoud, Akaram        SO S Carolina        4:12.78    4:12.59  
    r:+0.72  23.17        48.40 (25.23)
        1:14.00 (25.60)     1:39.53 (25.53)
        2:04.98 (25.45)     2:30.57 (25.59)
        2:56.35 (25.78)     3:22.06 (25.71)
        3:47.56 (25.50)     4:12.59 (25.03)
  3 Haas, Townley          FR Texas             4:12.63    4:12.68  
    r:+0.72  22.54        47.59 (25.05)
        1:12.92 (25.33)     1:38.39 (25.47)
        2:04.01 (25.62)     2:30.16 (26.15)
        2:56.08 (25.92)     3:21.81 (25.73)
        3:47.39 (25.58)     4:12.68 (25.29)
  4 Nielsen, Anders        SR Michigan          4:12.83    4:12.77  
    r:+0.71  23.39        48.81 (25.42)
        1:14.53 (25.72)     1:40.46 (25.93)
        2:06.14 (25.68)     2:31.96 (25.82)
        2:57.70 (25.74)     3:23.30 (25.60)
        3:48.98 (25.68)     4:12.77 (23.79)
  5 Egan, Liam             SO Stanford          4:13.67    4:13.52  
    r:+0.72  23.69        49.18 (25.49)
        1:14.73 (25.55)     1:40.30 (25.57)
        2:05.92 (25.62)     2:31.53 (25.61)
        2:57.20 (25.67)     3:22.93 (25.73)
        3:48.29 (25.36)     4:13.52 (25.23)
  6 Malone, Reed           JR USC               4:11.80    4:13.59  
    r:+0.72  23.19        48.55 (25.36)
        1:14.50 (25.95)     1:40.53 (26.03)
        2:06.53 (26.00)     2:31.85 (25.32)
        2:57.45 (25.60)     3:23.28 (25.83)
        3:48.71 (25.43)     4:13.59 (24.88)
  7 Hutchins, Matthew      JR Wisconsin         4:14.36    4:13.74  
    r:+0.75  23.25        48.52 (25.27)
        1:14.00 (25.48)     1:39.79 (25.79)
        2:05.46 (25.67)     2:31.33 (25.87)
        2:57.11 (25.78)     3:22.83 (25.72)
        3:48.59 (25.76)     4:13.74 (25.15)
  8 Ipsen, Anton Oerskov   SO NC State          4:14.53    4:13.97  
    r:+0.77  23.63        49.03 (25.40)
        1:14.67 (25.64)     1:40.43 (25.76)
        2:06.14 (25.71)     2:31.98 (25.84)
        2:57.82 (25.84)     3:23.53 (25.71)
        3:49.09 (25.56)     4:13.97 (24.88)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
  9 Werner, Pawel          SR Florida           4:13.31    4:14.18  
    r:+0.72  23.38        48.82 (25.44)
        1:14.71 (25.89)     1:40.72 (26.01)
        2:06.59 (25.87)     2:32.44 (25.85)
        2:57.96 (25.52)     3:23.62 (25.66)
        3:49.06 (25.44)     4:14.18 (25.12)
 10 Litherland, Kevin      SO Georgia           4:15.10    4:14.64  
    r:+0.68  23.52        49.02 (25.50)
        1:14.89 (25.87)     1:41.00 (26.11)
        2:07.15 (26.15)     2:32.98 (25.83)
        2:58.54 (25.56)     3:24.01 (25.47)
        3:49.55 (25.54)     4:14.64 (25.09)
 11 Ransford, PJ           SO Michigan          4:15.54    4:15.54  
    r:+0.74  24.18        49.73 (25.55)
        1:15.51 (25.78)     1:41.45 (25.94)
        2:06.67 (25.22)     2:32.09 (25.42)
        2:57.72 (25.63)     3:23.70 (25.98)
        3:49.75 (26.05)     4:15.54 (25.79)
 12 Kiraly, Bence          SR Utah              4:15.75    4:15.77  
    r:+0.73  23.64        48.93 (25.29)
        1:14.58 (25.65)     1:40.31 (25.73)
        2:06.19 (25.88)     2:31.97 (25.78)
        2:58.05 (26.08)     3:24.11 (26.06)
        3:50.17 (26.06)     4:15.77 (25.60)
 13 Wieser, Chris          SO Arizona           4:16.09    4:16.20  
    r:+0.63  23.71        49.18 (25.47)
        1:15.00 (25.82)     1:40.52 (25.52)
        2:06.30 (25.78)     2:32.20 (25.90)
        2:58.27 (26.07)     3:24.38 (26.11)
        3:50.52 (26.14)     4:16.20 (25.68)
 14 Swanson, Chris         SR Penn              4:16.13    4:16.29  
    r:+0.70  24.09        50.01 (25.92)
        1:15.87 (25.86)     1:41.41 (25.54)
        2:07.46 (26.05)     2:33.54 (26.08)
        2:59.64 (26.10)     3:25.62 (25.98)
        3:51.24 (25.62)     4:16.29 (25.05)
 15 Peribonio, Tom         SO S Carolina        4:16.88    4:16.43  
    r:+0.64  23.60        49.29 (25.69)
        1:15.27 (25.98)     1:41.64 (26.37)
        2:07.83 (26.19)     2:33.72 (25.89)
        2:59.62 (25.90)     3:25.63 (26.01)
        3:51.49 (25.86)     4:16.43 (24.94)
 16 Linker, Adam           JR NC State          4:18.20    4:16.79  
    r:+0.72  24.05        49.76 (25.71)
        1:15.85 (26.09)     1:41.89 (26.04)
        2:08.10 (26.21)     2:34.26 (26.16)
        3:00.39 (26.13)     3:26.41 (26.02)
        3:51.93 (25.52)     4:16.79 (24.86)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
 17 Williams, Trent        SR California        4:20.85    4:16.87  
    r:+0.66  23.50        48.98 (25.48)
        1:14.44 (25.46)     1:40.23 (25.79)
        2:06.16 (25.93)     2:32.24 (26.08)
        2:58.59 (26.35)     3:25.25 (26.66)
        3:51.39 (26.14)     4:16.87 (25.48)
 18 Litherland, Jay        SO Georgia           4:20.76    4:16.93  
    r:+0.82  24.03        50.17 (26.14)
        1:16.57 (26.40)     1:43.07 (26.50)
        2:09.62 (26.55)     2:35.56 (25.94)
        3:01.62 (26.06)     3:27.77 (26.15)
        3:52.88 (25.11)     4:16.93 (24.05)
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
 19 Lawless, Ben           SO Florida           4:21.09    4:17.00  
    r:+0.74  23.81        49.68 (25.87)
        1:15.59 (25.91)     1:41.66 (26.07)
        2:07.96 (26.30)     2:34.00 (26.04)
        3:00.02 (26.02)     3:25.96 (25.94)
        3:51.67 (25.71)     4:17.00 (25.33)
 20 Roberts, Jonathan      SO Texas             4:18.53    4:17.10  
    r:+0.70  23.07        48.28 (25.21)
        1:13.76 (25.48)     1:39.66 (25.90)
        2:05.86 (26.20)     2:32.11 (26.25)
        2:58.42 (26.31)     3:24.92 (26.50)
        3:51.69 (26.77)     4:17.10 (25.41)
 21 Smith, Clark           JR Texas             4:08.82    4:17.17  
    r:+0.69  22.95        47.79 (24.84)
        1:12.92 (25.13)     1:38.39 (25.47)
        2:04.13 (25.74)     2:30.44 (26.31)
        2:57.68 (27.24)     3:24.70 (27.02)
        3:51.40 (26.70)     4:17.17 (25.77)
 22 Manganiello, Austin    SR Florida           4:19.10    4:18.16  
    r:+0.65  23.18        49.18 (26.00)
        1:15.46 (26.28)     1:42.03 (26.57)
        2:08.29 (26.26)     2:34.40 (26.11)
        3:00.41 (26.01)     3:26.56 (26.15)
        3:52.60 (26.04)     4:18.16 (25.56)
 23 Powell, Garrett        SR Georgia           4:17.36    4:18.22  
    r:+0.66  23.35        48.42 (25.07)
        1:13.83 (25.41)     1:39.55 (25.72)
        2:05.27 (25.72)     2:31.36 (26.09)
        2:57.75 (26.39)     3:24.46 (26.71)
        3:51.47 (27.01)     4:18.22 (26.75)
 24 Thomson, Danny         SR Stanford          4:14.61    4:18.35  
    r:+0.73  23.38        48.68 (25.30)
        1:14.37 (25.69)     1:40.20 (25.83)
        2:06.43 (26.23)     2:32.78 (26.35)
        2:59.32 (26.54)     3:25.82 (26.50)
        3:52.55 (26.73)     4:18.35 (25.80)
 25 Koski, Matias          SR Georgia           4:15.74    4:18.63  
    r:+0.72  23.50        49.10 (25.60)
        1:15.11 (26.01)     1:41.36 (26.25)
        2:07.22 (25.86)     2:33.15 (25.93)
        2:59.01 (25.86)     3:25.56 (26.55)
        3:52.31 (26.75)     4:18.63 (26.32)
 26 McKee, Anton           JR Alabama           4:17.46    4:18.93  
    r:+0.70  23.80        49.36 (25.56)
        1:15.28 (25.92)     1:40.97 (25.69)
        2:06.82 (25.85)     2:32.98 (26.16)
        2:59.06 (26.08)     3:25.37 (26.31)
        3:52.13 (26.76)     4:18.93 (26.80)
 27 Campbell, Henry        SO UNC               4:17.72    4:19.03  
    r:+0.75  23.71        49.28 (25.57)
        1:15.10 (25.82)     1:41.02 (25.92)
        2:07.22 (26.20)     2:33.74 (26.52)
        3:00.34 (26.60)     3:26.96 (26.62)
        3:53.28 (26.32)     4:19.03 (25.75)
 28 Hogan, Brian           SR Yale              4:19.94    4:19.07  
    r:+0.70  23.71        49.45 (25.74)
        1:15.73 (26.28)     1:41.94 (26.21)
        2:08.47 (26.53)     2:35.04 (26.57)
        3:01.49 (26.45)     3:27.85 (26.36)
        3:54.10 (26.25)     4:19.07 (24.97)
 29 Tolosa, Juan           SR Arizona St        4:20.18    4:19.55  
    r:+0.76  24.14        49.99 (25.85)
        1:16.19 (26.20)     1:42.42 (26.23)
        2:08.80 (26.38)     2:34.84 (26.04)
        3:00.99 (26.15)     3:27.23 (26.24)
        3:53.68 (26.45)     4:19.55 (25.87)
 30 Lewis, Sam             SR Texas             4:22.15    4:19.78  
    r:+0.65  23.48        48.63 (25.15)
        1:14.00 (25.37)     1:40.21 (26.21)
        2:06.68 (26.47)     2:33.12 (26.44)
        2:59.67 (26.55)     3:26.59 (26.92)
        3:53.68 (27.09)     4:19.78 (26.10)
 31 Harting, Zach          FR Louisville        4:19.75    4:19.85  
    r:+0.68  23.50        49.45 (25.95)
        1:15.91 (26.46)     1:42.40 (26.49)
        2:08.76 (26.36)     2:35.51 (26.75)
        3:01.89 (26.38)     3:28.30 (26.41)
        3:54.43 (26.13)     4:19.85 (25.42)
 32 Burns, Janardana       JR California        4:16.47    4:20.02  
    r:+0.77  23.40        48.76 (25.36)
        1:14.36 (25.60)     1:40.37 (26.01)
        2:06.44 (26.07)     2:32.84 (26.40)
        2:59.46 (26.62)     3:26.13 (26.67)
        3:53.28 (27.15)     4:20.02 (26.74)
 33 Higgins, Kyle          JR Kentucky          4:20.36    4:20.45  
    r:+0.67  23.65        49.83 (26.18)
        1:16.18 (26.35)     1:42.77 (26.59)
        2:09.58 (26.81)     2:35.61 (26.03)
        3:01.98 (26.37)     3:28.59 (26.61)
        3:54.83 (26.24)     4:20.45 (25.62)
 34 Kao, Ryan              SO California        4:16.86    4:20.63  
    r:+0.68  23.74        49.40 (25.66)
        1:15.38 (25.98)     1:41.65 (26.27)
        2:07.96 (26.31)     2:34.41 (26.45)
        3:00.98 (26.57)     3:27.64 (26.66)
        3:54.57 (26.93)     4:20.63 (26.06)
 35 Perry, Barkley         JR Arizona St        4:20.67    4:20.79  
    r:+0.65  23.98        49.85 (25.87)
        1:15.84 (25.99)     1:42.25 (26.41)
        2:09.05 (26.80)     2:36.00 (26.95)
        3:02.19 (26.19)     3:28.12 (25.93)
        3:54.33 (26.21)     4:20.79 (26.46)
 36 Frayler, Arthur        SR Florida           4:18.55    4:21.56  
    r:+0.73  23.92        49.76 (25.84)
        1:15.99 (26.23)     1:42.43 (26.44)
        2:08.91 (26.48)     2:35.11 (26.20)
        3:01.43 (26.32)     3:28.06 (26.63)
        3:54.79 (26.73)     4:21.56 (26.77)
 37 Irwin, Max             JR Indiana           4:17.19    4:21.81  
    r:+0.74  23.85        50.23 (26.38)
        1:16.56 (26.33)     1:42.97 (26.41)
        2:09.25 (26.28)     2:35.73 (26.48)
        3:01.99 (26.26)     3:28.65 (26.66)
        3:55.73 (27.08)     4:21.81 (26.08)
 38 Bekemeyer, Cody        FR S Carolina        4:19.95    4:21.99  
    r:+0.66  24.15        50.04 (25.89)
        1:16.34 (26.30)     1:43.00 (26.66)
        2:09.75 (26.75)     2:36.18 (26.43)
        3:02.90 (26.72)     3:29.40 (26.50)
        3:55.84 (26.44)     4:21.99 (26.15)
 38 Litherland, Mick       SO Georgia           4:22.40    4:21.99  
    r:+0.76  24.39        50.89 (26.50)
        1:17.61 (26.72)     1:44.33 (26.72)
        2:11.33 (27.00)     2:37.79 (26.46)
        3:04.46 (26.67)     3:30.98 (26.52)
        3:57.05 (26.07)     4:21.99 (24.94)
 40 Fowler, Ty             JR Arizona           4:19.62    4:22.13  
    r:+0.73  24.43        50.28 (25.85)
        1:16.38 (26.10)     1:42.85 (26.47)
        2:09.66 (26.81)     2:36.36 (26.70)
        3:03.06 (26.70)     3:29.68 (26.62)
        3:56.40 (26.72)     4:22.13 (25.73)
 41 Hyogo, Kei             SO Yale              4:17.66    4:22.25  
    r:+0.70  24.10        49.91 (25.81)
        1:16.23 (26.32)     1:42.64 (26.41)
        2:09.22 (26.58)     2:35.98 (26.76)
        3:03.02 (27.04)     3:30.15 (27.13)
        3:56.99 (26.84)     4:22.25 (25.26)
 42 Bunch, Dylan           SR Denver            4:18.06    4:22.50  
    r:+0.78  23.83        49.34 (25.51)
        1:15.35 (26.01)     1:41.36 (26.01)
        2:07.74 (26.38)     2:34.41 (26.67)
        3:01.32 (26.91)     3:28.33 (27.01)
        3:55.54 (27.21)     4:22.50 (26.96)
 43 Norman, Nick           FR California        4:20.66    4:22.75  
    r:+0.71  24.04        50.17 (26.13)
        1:16.40 (26.23)     1:42.95 (26.55)
        2:09.57 (26.62)     2:36.29 (26.72)
        3:03.11 (26.82)     3:30.20 (27.09)
        3:56.65 (26.45)     4:22.75 (26.10)
 44 Seal, Brayden          SO Ohio St           4:17.73    4:22.87  
    r:+0.71  23.98        49.90 (25.92)
        1:16.02 (26.12)     1:42.46 (26.44)
        2:08.48 (26.02)     2:35.23 (26.75)
        3:02.06 (26.83)     3:29.08 (27.02)
        3:56.45 (27.37)     4:22.87 (26.42)
 45 Peterson, Alex         SO Penn              4:21.07    4:22.97  
    r:+0.67  23.86        50.34 (26.48)
        1:17.00 (26.66)     1:43.79 (26.79)
        2:10.49 (26.70)     2:37.21 (26.72)
        3:04.15 (26.94)     3:31.06 (26.91)
        3:57.84 (26.78)     4:22.97 (25.13)
 46 Furtek, Pawel          SO USC               4:17.04    4:23.13  
    r:+0.79  24.00        49.45 (25.45)
        1:15.35 (25.90)     1:41.74 (26.39)
        2:08.45 (26.71)     2:35.27 (26.82)
        3:02.14 (26.87)     3:29.28 (27.14)
        3:56.59 (27.31)     4:23.13 (26.54)
 47 Manganiello, Blake     SO Florida           4:21.17    4:24.35  
    r:+0.74  24.12        50.15 (26.03)
        1:16.47 (26.32)     1:43.04 (26.57)
        2:09.81 (26.77)     2:36.65 (26.84)
        3:03.75 (27.10)     3:30.28 (26.53)
        3:57.37 (27.09)     4:24.35 (26.98)
 48 Rainey, Ian            SO Michigan          4:21.85    4:24.38  
    r:+0.76  24.37        51.07 (26.70)
        1:17.83 (26.76)     1:44.57 (26.74)
        2:11.46 (26.89)     2:38.24 (26.78)
        3:04.87 (26.63)     3:31.82 (26.95)
        3:58.44 (26.62)     4:24.38 (25.94)
 49 Green, Connor          SO California        4:24.40    4:24.70  
    r:+0.77  23.89        50.35 (26.46)
        1:17.49 (27.14)     1:44.43 (26.94)
        2:11.41 (26.98)     2:38.19 (26.78)
        3:04.96 (26.77)     3:31.79 (26.83)
        3:58.13 (26.34)     4:24.70 (26.57)
 50 Singley, Ted           SR USC               4:20.30    4:25.64  
    r:+0.71  23.87        50.25 (26.38)
        1:16.94 (26.69)     1:43.66 (26.72)
        2:10.69 (27.03)     2:37.32 (26.63)
        3:04.28 (26.96)     3:31.51 (27.23)
        3:58.74 (27.23)     4:25.64 (26.90)
 51 Duvall, Thomas         SR Navy              4:17.32    4:26.37  
    r:+0.75  23.83        50.05 (26.22)
        1:16.28 (26.23)     1:42.74 (26.46)
        2:09.51 (26.77)     2:36.51 (27.00)
        3:04.01 (27.50)     3:31.44 (27.43)
        3:59.03 (27.59)     4:26.37 (27.34)
 52 Heron, David           SO Tennessee         4:24.14    4:28.65  
    r:+0.66  24.31        50.61 (26.30)
        1:17.47 (26.86)     1:44.68 (27.21)
        2:12.04 (27.36)     2:39.34 (27.30)
        3:06.62 (27.28)     3:34.20 (27.58)
        4:01.80 (27.60)     4:28.65 (26.85)

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onehandtouch

8 years ago

After watching him look disappointed after the 800 free relay (perhaps because of his split, 1:33 compared to his teammates being the weak leg), this was bound to happen. Having his arms crossed while they broke all the records was sad to watch. Where is his excitement? He didn’t even smile on the podium, and rushed off after being angry about taking pictures. Bad sportsmanship goes a long way on elite decks like these, and attitudes spread like wildfire. Hope he can bounce back.

Jim

8 years ago

Reply to onehandtouch

Bad sportsmanship? Guess you missed him smiling and shaking hands after possibly the most disappointing race of his career so far. He’s doing just fine.

onehandtouch

8 years ago

Reply to Jim

More disappointing than getting 19th in the 100 back (1:02.39) at 2011 junior nats? Losing to Tarasevich, Dale, his now teammate Sam Lewis, and Sean Lehane? Truly a hiccup in his career. Like I said, hope he bounces “back”.

Niles Keeran

8 years ago

Not Hook em Horns…but Hooked Horns! Clark!!