Conger snags school record in double-dual wins over Arizona and SMU

Saturday, January 31

Austin, Texas

10 a.m.

University of Texas

241

126

Arizona

Jack Conger set a school record in the 200-yard butterfly and became the NCAA's fourth-fastest swimmer ever in the event.

Conger snags school record in double-dual wins over Arizona and SMU

01.31.2015 | Men's Swimming and Diving

All-America sophomore Jack Conger breaks teammate Joseph Schooling’s UT mark in one of the fastest 200-yard butterfly swims ever.

Day 2 Results

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas All-America sophomore Jack Conger set a school record and became the NCAA's fourth-fastest swimmer ever in the 200-yard butterfly as the Longhorns finished off double-dual wins over No. 14 Arizona and SMU Saturday at UT's Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

Conger (Rockville, Md.) won the event Saturday in 1 minute, 40.34 seconds and eclipsed the school mark of 1:41.00 set by UT freshman Joseph Schooling last month at the Texas Invitational. The 1:40.34 ranks Conger No. 1 in college swimming this season and ranks him as the fourth-fastest swimmer in NCAA history. Conger's effort goes down as the fifth-fastest 200 butterfly performance in NCAA history.

"I wouldn't say this was expected or planned, but it's what I've been thinking about," Conger said. "Last night I warmed down a lot so I could prepare for this race. The last few days leading up to the meet we were really narrowed in on one or two events to focus on, and the 200 fly was that for me. It's not necessarily an off event, but it's something besides backstroke, which is nice to do to get my mind off of something I enjoy and love doing so much. It was really nice."

"It was totally surprising to all of us," UT head coach Eddie Reese said. "He got out there real strong and his last three 50's (50-yard splits) were 25.9 (seconds), 25.9, 26 flat. You just don't see that in butterfly."

Senior Tripp Cooper produced a strong mid-season swim in the same race and took second in 1:45.02. Sophomore Will Licon added a sixth-place mark of 1:49.51.

Texas cruised to easy overall team victories over Arizona and SMU in the two-day double-dual meet. The top-ranked Longhorns defeated the 11^th-ranked Wildcats by a 241-126 margin and took down SMU by a 287-83 count.

Texas opened the meet's second day with a convincing win in the 200-yard medley relay, where freshman Brett Ringgold, juniors John Murray and Matt Ellis and Conger were victorious in 1 minute, 28.02 seconds.

Texas chalked up a one-two-three finish in the 500 freestyle and picked up NCAA provisional-qualifying cuts from senior Jake Ritter and junior Sam Lewis. Ritter took the win in 4:24.22 while Lewis followed closely behind in 4:24.70. Senior Clay Youngquist took third in 4:28.40.

Senior Kip Darmody led a one-two Longhorns showing atop the 100 backstroke in 47.86 while Ringgold added a second-place mark of 47.94. All-America sophomore Mark Anderson was the lone Longhorn in Saturday's platform event, where he placed second with 390.30 points.

Texas finished off the team victory when Ringgold, junior Aaron Gustafson, senior Keith Murphy and Darmody claimed the 400 freestyle relay in 2:56.10.

Texas concludes its regular season next Friday (Feb. 6) when it hosts TCU on Senior Day.

ADDITIONAL POST-MEET COMMENTS
Texas sophomore Jack Conger
On his 200 butterfly performance: The only reason I knew it was going to be a big-time swim was because I had people at each end cheering for me and cheering loud. So, I thought I was doing really, really well or I was dying and somebody was catching me. But, I saw that I wasn't dying and nobody was catching me, so I knew something special was going to happen. I wanted to be under the 1:40 barrier, but I PR'd (recorded a personal record). I finished big for this point in the season…being broken down with heavy training and still lifting and doing dryland workouts. I can't be mad.

Texas head coach Eddie Reese
On the meet as a whole: Everyone tried hard, and some of them put on (racing) suits. I have a clue to where everybody is in their training, and I will work very hard to get it right.

NCAA Div. I All-Time Performers: 200 Butterfly