Will Licon Edges Michael Phelps In 200 IM Prelims At USA Nationals

Photo Courtesy: Andy Ringgold

Will Licon claimed the pole position in the 200-meter IM this morning with a solid 1:58.50, a 2.94 second drop from his entry time. Licon swam a well-constructed IM, splitting 25.99, 29.16, 34.48, and a 28.87. Austin Surhoff took the second-place spot with his 1:58.80.

Michael Phelps registered a 1:59.63 to grab the third seed heading into tonight’s final. Phelps did enough to place himself in a competitive lane for finals despite adding 3.59 seconds.

Phelps: 25.45/30.24/34.35/29.59

Although Phelps is swimming in San Antonio, his times are being closely watched by the rest of the world. The past two evenings, he’s clocked world-best times in the 200 and 100-meter fly. At the FINA World Championships in Kazan, Ryan Lochte won gold with a world-best 1:55.81. Tonight’s final could wind up being another top time for Phelps.

Gunnar Bentz, the 400-meter IM champion, captured the fourth seed with a 2:00.93. Eduardo Solaeche-Gomez claimed fifth in 2:01.14, followed by Travis Mahoney‘s 2:01.26. Max Litchfield (2:01.47) and Ryan Harty (2:01.78) nabbed the final two spots for tonight’s championship final.

Matthew Josa (2:01.87), Josh Martens (2:01.94), Mark Szaranek (2:02.22), Curtin Ogren (2:02.45), Sean Grieshop (2:02.59), Connor Green (2:02.69), Tom Kremer (2:02.85), and Adam Hinshaw (2:02.91) will swim in tonight’s B Final.

2015 USA Swimming Long Course Summer Nationals: Live Results – Results

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Kristie Wisniewski

8 years ago

Phelps never brings his A game to prelims. Saves it for finals.

Rhonda Horton Miller

8 years ago

Reply to Kristie Wisniewski

True of most Olympians. It was fun @ Southern Zone Sectionals watching Elizabeth Beisel barely squeak into prelims & absolutely kill it at finals. It was like a different swimmer showed up.

Rhonda Horton Miller

8 years ago

Reply to Kristie Wisniewski

True of most Olympians. It was fun @ Southern Zone Sectionals watching Elizabeth Beisel barely squeak into prelims & absolutely kill it at finals. It was like a different swimmer showed up.

Andrew Ranzieri

8 years ago

Reply to Kristie Wisniewski

You know it

Kristie Wisniewski

8 years ago

Reply to Kristie Wisniewski

Yeah they are professionals and no how to pace themselves perfectly. Unknowns have to give 100% every swim. If I was someone who beat Phelps any race I would come up with something witty to say just for a laugh.