Tyler Clary's NCAA record in the 400IM and NCAA Championships

The Big 10 Network recently aired a 2-hour highlights show for the Big 10 championships and I finally was able to see Tyler Clary's NCAA record-breaking swim in the 400IM. Well, sort of. It was the only race at the meet where an NCAA record was broken, yet the Big 10 Network elected to show only part of it...all of the fly, part of one lap of back and the last lap of free...about 150 yards of the 400 yard race.

I couldn't really see Tyler's walls and underwaters, because less than a full lap of back and free were shown. Nevertheless, I watched Tyler win the 200y back, and his turns/walls looked great, especially the last turn. He stayed under water for a long time and it looked like he had a lot left at the finish. I could tell he has really worked on that aspect of racing.

Tyler wasn't shaved or completely tapered (just a little rested). I can't wait to watch him swim fully rested at the NCAA's.

The NCAA Div. 1 Men's meet takes place on March 26-28. Swimming World Magazine is going to show the NCAA events at its website. Here is the address for video of the men's meet: http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/specialevents/MensNCAA2009/

Tyler's individual events are 200IM, 400IM and 200 back, which works out nicely because he has one event per day. 200IM is on Thursday, 400IM is on Friday and 200 back is on Saturday.

Now the best part...Swimming World interviewed Tyler on March 12. The video can be found by clicking on Tyler's picture at http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/20679.asp (Can I say now how much I hate the Swimming World website? It has good content, but is not user friendly.)

Tyler's goal at the NCAA's is to break the American record in the 400y IM, held by none other than Michael Phelps. It is 3:36.26, which is almost 2 seconds faster than Tyler's 3:38.03 NCAA record. He just might be able to do it. Given how much Tyler seemed to have left at the end of his 200 back win at the Big 10 championships (1:39.59), Ryan's NCAA record in that event (1:37.68) may be in jeopardy as well.