- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Joe Schooling (51.58) Emerges On Top From 100 Fly Showdown With Phelps & Conger
- Updated: June 4, 2016
The Longhorn Aquatics Elite Invite, which opened on Friday night, might be a little light on depth, but the meet is not short on big names clashing in entertaining battles. Take the 100 butterfly for example, where the greatest 100 flyer in history, Michael Phelps, squared off with the University of Texas’ star duo of Joseph Schooling and Jack Conger.
In a race that featured all three men delivering top-12 world rankings, Schooling came out on top at his home pool, going 51.58 for the seventh-fastest time in the world this year. His time was just quick enough to defeat Phelps, the three-time defending Olympic champion who went 51.65 and was just ahead of the 51.72 by Conger. Phelps’ time was good for No. 9 in the world and Conger moved to No. 12.
Singapore’s Schooling, who was the bronze medalist at last summer’s World Champs, got out ahead of his foes with an opening-length split of 24.19, Conger next in 24.42 and Phelps 24.55. Down the stretch, Schooling had to dig deep as Phelps tried to pull off one of his trademark comebacks. Phelps split 27.10 for his second lap, to the 27.39 of Schooling.
Schooling is guaranteed to be in Rio for the Olympic Games in August and there’s a good chance Phelps and Conger will be there, too. First, though, they must negotiate the gauntlet that is the United States Trials. Phelps and Conger will have to deal with Tom Shields and Tim Phillips, among others, in what is a stacked 100 fly field.
Michael Phelps – aiming for a fifth Olympic Games – photo by Peter Bick
The 100 fly wasn’t the only event to feature Phelps and Conger, as the men went at it in the first event of the night. In what was a reversal of the way he has done things for the majority of his career, Phelps was out front in the 100 freestyle and had to hang on over the final few strokes to beat out Conger, 49.49 to 49.50. Phelps split 23.98 for his first lap, trailing only the 23.89 of Matt Grevers. As Grevers faded on the final lap, Phelps split 25.51, with Conger closing the gap with a 25.23 finish.
Additional rest for both Phelps …
continue reading in source www.swimvortex.com
