Matias Koski Overcomes Ryan Lochte’s New Underwater Kicking Skills In 200 Free In Athens

Matias Koski
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Matias Koski can say he’s beaten one of history’s best in the 200 freestyle, taking down Ryan Lochte in the event Friday in Athens, Ga., at the USA Swimming sectionals.

Koski, who was raised in the United States but represents Finland internationally, made a big push in his long course standing in the event with a lifetime best 1:47.65. That’s just half a second away from the Finnish national record of 1:47.11, which Antti Kasvio swam in 1993 at the European championships.

Lochte tried to shake Koski throughout the race, but was unable to break away from the reigning 1650 freestyle NCAA champion. Lochte was working on his new technique of kicking on his back underwater off each turn, but Koski responded on top of the water in each 50. Lochte settled for second with a 1:47.69, which is his best time of 2015 and puts him just inside the global top 30. Club Wolverine’s Connor Jaeger was third with a 1:49.51, while Kevin Litherland of Dynamo Swim Club also broke 1:50 with a 1:49.96 for fourth place and a lifetime best.

Japan’s Junya Koga, training in the United States with Club Wolverine, is looking to return to his home country’s elite international racing squad in time for the 2016 Olympics. The 2009 100 back world champion made a big statement with a blazing 53.50 in the 100 back, good enough for ninth in the world rankings. His best swim of the year had been 53.87 from January, and is the fastest time he has swum in a textile suit. (He won the 2009 world title in 52.26.)

Luke Papendick made it a Club Wolverine 1-2 finish in the men’s 100 back with a 54.81 for second place, while Louisville’s Grigory Tarasevich placed third with a 54.98.

St. Petersburg Aquatics’ Melanie Margalis grabbed her third win of the meet with a 1:59.04 in the women’s 200 free. She’s just a second off her lifetime best, but had very little competition as the only swimmer under two minutes today. Gabby DeLoof of Club Wolverine placed second with a 2:01.99, while Mallory Comerford was third in 2:02.30.

SwimMAC Carolina’s Kathleen Baker nearly got under 1:00 in the 100 back final, holding off Olympic medalist and teammate Kirsty Coventry to win with a 1:00.18 to Coventry’s 1:00.80. Baker put herself in position for a sub-1:00 swim with a 28.88 opening 50 meters. Also in the hunt for a win was Club Wolverine’s Ali DeLoof, who was third with a 1:01.04.

About 12 hours after his brother Jay won the World University Games title in the 400 IM, Mick Litherland stepped up for the men’s 400 IM final in Athens. The future Georgia Bulldog had the lead after butterfly, but Crawfish Aquatics’ (and Auburn freshman-to-be) Sam Stewart passed him on backstroke. Ian Rainey of Club Wolverine made it a three-man race for the final 200 meters. Stewart took command on breaststroke and never relinquished the lead, winning with a lifetime best 4:21.64. Using a strong freestyle similar to his brother’s come-from-behind victory at WUGs, Mick Litherland’s 57.95 freestyle leg helped him place second with a 4:22.34, also a lifetime best. Also making a big push in the freestyle was PJ Ransford, the NCAA runner-up in the 1650 freestyle, with a 4:23.56. Ransford’s 59.44 on freestyle helped him to drop nine seconds in his lifetime best.

Cammile Adams returned to the 400 IM, an event in which she was once a top talent among American women, and won handily with a 4:41.13. Among Americans, that’s the fifth-fastest time of 2015, with swims from Margalis and Katie Ledecky not far off. Two seconds back was Emily Cameron of Georgia with a 4:43.28, with Chelsie Miller unable to match Cameron’s freestyle and placing third with a 4:46.03.

2015 Speedo Sectionals Athens, Day Two – Results

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Ravi Natarajan
8 years ago

Lochte is known for his backstroke…can U beat ?.

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