Summer McIntosh Swims Eighth-Fastest Time Ever in 400 IM at Longhorn Elite Invite; Regan Smith Breaks 56 in 100 Fly
No single swimmer has dominated an event in recent years like Summer McIntosh has in the women’s 400 individual medley. McIntosh is the Olympic champion and three-time world champion in the event, with a world record of 4:23.65 sitting almost three seconds ahead of any other swimmer in history. In a Friday evening race at her training base in Austin, Texas, McIntosh fired off a stellar 400 IM performance quicker than any other active swimmer has ever recorded.
At the Longhorn Elite Invite, McIntosh swam a time of 4:27.31, which ranks as the eighth-quickest effort ever recorded. McIntosh has six of the seven quicker times, with Katinka Hosszu the only other swimmer to achieve a faster time. The next-best active swimmer is Kaylee McKeown, who owns a best time of 4:28.22. In a noncompetitive midseason meet, where no one else swam under 5:00, McIntosh swam an incredible six seconds faster than the silver-medal-winning time from last year’s World Championships.
The other top performance Friday came from Regan Smith, another member of Bob Bowman’s pro group based at the University of Texas. Smith won the women’s 100 butterfly in 55.94. That made her the second swimmer to swim sub-56 this season, with only world-record holder Gretchen Walsh faster. Smith surpassed her previous season-best of 56.18 and was close to her best time of 55.62, which ranks No. 5 all-time. Smith has never raced the event at an international competition, but this time is quicker than the bronze-medal mark from last year’s World Championships.
On the men’s side, medley dynamo Leon Marchand cruised to the top time in his signature event. Marchand won the 400 IM in 4:12.13, more than three seconds ahead of the field. Rex Maurer, who set an American record in the 400-yard IM at the NCAA Championships in March, took second in 4:15.58, with fellow Longhorn Cooper Lucas third (4:17.29).
Shaine Casas won a tight duel with training partner Hubert Kos in the men’s 100 fly, touching in 50.98 to Kos’ 51.31. The 100 fly is a relatively new event for Kos, the world’s dominant 200 backstroker who also won World Championships bronze in the 200 IM last year, but he nearly swam the fastest time ever in the 100-yard fly at the NCAA Championships, falling by only five hundredths to Josh Liendo.
Anna Elendt, last year’s surprise world champion in the women’s 100 breaststroke, dominated her signature event in 1:07.30, well ahead of the 1:10.21 of Piper Enge. The men’s equivalent event went to Campbell McKean in 1:00.37, convincingly ahead of training partners Jack Kelly (1:01.00) and Nate Germonprez (1:01.31).
Erin Gemmell put up a strong performance in the women’s 200 freestyle, taking the win in 1:56.34. Gemmell’s time is the third-best among American women this year behind Anna Moesch and Anna Peplowski. Veteran Simone Manuel came in second in 1:56.79, with Nikolett Padar third in 1:58.41.
The men’s 200 free saw several of the key contenders for the U.S. 800 free relay facing off. Carson Foster claimed the win over Chris Guiliano by three hundredths, 1:47.34 to 1:47.37. Luke Hobson, the top swimmer in the country the past three years and last year’s World Championships silver medalist, took third in 1:48.90.
Wins in the 50 backstroke went to Emma Kern (29.05) and Joe Hayburn (25.04).