Jack Alexy Destroys World Record in 100 Freestyle at U.S. Short Course Trials
Four weeks after Russia’s Egor Kornev equaled the world record in the short-course version of the 100-meter freestyle during World Cup competition, the global standard in the event was dropped on Friday night at the FMC Natatorium in Westmont, Illinois. The breaking arrived courtesy of Jack Alexy, the Cal standout who has been a linchpin for USA Swimming in international competition for several years.
On the third night of the U.S. World Short Course Championships Trials, Alexy blasted a performance of 44.64 over four laps, a mark that cut .20 off the previous world record. The prior standard of 44.84 was held jointly by Australian Kyle Chalmers and Kornev, but Alexy took the standard to new territory, and positioned himself as the man to beat when the World Champs are held in Beijing at the beginning of December.
“That felt pretty good. The goal was to qualify for the 50 and 100 individually. I was pretty confident I could get that done after this morning,” Alexy said. “I tried to ride the adrenaline of the crowd. Any time I have the opportunity to race against a U.S. field like that at a selection meet, it is more nerve-wracking, which is a good thing. It is a good thing to have that pressure because that is what we will be facing.
“I am hoping to go even faster in Beijing.”
The potential for a world record surfaced during the morning prelims, as Alexy and Chris Guiliano registered U.S. Open marks. Guiliano fired the first shot, clocking 45.17. Alexy responded with a performance of 45.09, which was just .04 off his American record from the 2024 World Championships in Budapest. However, Alexy had much more to deliver during the night session.
In the final, Alexy went out in 21.25 and covered the back half in 23.39 to prevail by more than a half-second, with Guiliano placing second in 45.22. Third place went to veteran Caeleb Dressel in 45.65. Matt King placed fourth in 46.03 to earn himself a relay spot for Worlds, with fifth and sixth-place finishers Gabriel Jett (46.18) and Destin Lasco (46.20) also emerging as options after qualifying for the U.S. team earlier in the 200 backstroke.
Alexy is the reigning world champion in the short-course 100 freestyle and is coming off a strong summer in which he claimed gold in the 100 freestyle at the Pan Pacific Championships. Now, he has an individual world record to his credit, one that blew away the previous standards.
Dressel swam over to Alexy and told him to get up on the lane line, something Alexy has really never done.
“That was cool. He is someone I looked up to since I went to the Bolles swim camp. He told me to get up on the lane line and I thought that was pretty cool. I have always seen people get on lane lines and celebrate like that. I think being the fastest to do that race warrants reaction like that,” Alexy said. “I just think now about getting my best time and being the best version of myself.”
