MUNCIE, Ind.— Lukas Bradford got off the bus nearly two years ago at Jay County, and Central coach Steve Spradlin could sense a breakthrough for the then-sophomore. That year, Bradford had the third-best prelim time in the 200 IM, over two seconds off the fastest time.
Spradlin looked at Bradford and said, “You know you’re winning this, right?” Bradford replied, “Oh yeah.”
As the race was about to start, a photographer tried to position themselves near the winning lane, so he asked Spradlin who would win. “Lane 2,” Spradlin responded. The photographer was not convinced as the winner usually comes from lane four or five.