2017 NCAA DI Men's Swimming & Diving ChampionshipsMar 25, 2017 by Maclin Simpson
NCAA Day Four Prelims: Schooling Out, Door Open For Conger In 200 Butterfly
NCAA Day Four Prelims: Schooling Out, Door Open For Conger In 200 Butterfly
Full Recap from Saturday's prelims at the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming & Diving Championships, featuring Ryan Murphy in the 200 backstroke, Caeleb Dressel in the 100 freestyle, Will Licon in the 200 breaststroke, and Joseph Schooling and Jack Conge
That's a wrap for Saturday's prelims at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis. The last morning session of the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships featured plenty of action and surprises as well. The main surprise came out of the 200 butterfly heats when Joseph Schooling, NCAA record-holder and defending champion, failed to make the final altogether -- finishing 37th (fifth to last) in 1:45.47. With Schooling out, the door is now wide open for his Texas teammate Jack Conger to take the title tonight.
Other things to watch for tonight include a loaded final in the 1650, Ryan Murphy in the 200 backstroke, Caeleb Dressel in the 100 freestyle, Will Licon in the 200 breaststroke, and Texas looking for their fourth consecutive relay victory at this meet. At this point, the Longhorns have all but hoisted the trophy; however, there is still another jam-packed night of swimming left here in Indianapolis with a lot on the line for the team race within the top 10.
Meet Record: 1:35.73 (Ryan Murphy - California, 2016)
American Record: 1:35.73 (Ryan Murphy - California, 2016)
U.S. Open Record: 1:35.73 (Ryan Murphy - California, 2016)
The top seed this morning, Ryan Murphy of Cal, was in a dog fight with John Shebat of Texas in the final prelim heat. Shebat was out at the 100 in 47.81 to Murphy's 48.56, but Murphy turned it on over the final 50 yards -- splitting a 24.45 to Shebat's 25.35 and taking the top time with a 1:38.22. Patrick Mulcare had a solid morning swim to take the second seed in 1:38.56. Mulcare used a strong back half (24.61)(25.08) to win his heat. Shebat ended up claiming the third seed in 1:38.67. Grigory Tarasevich of Louisville cannot be discounted, though as the Cardinals senior sits in fourth with a 1:38.74.
1.) Ryan Murphy (California): 1:38.22
2.) Patrick Mulcare (Southern Cal): 1:38.56
3.) John Shebat (Texas): 1:38.67
4.) Grigory Tarasevich (Louisville): 1:38.74
5.) Jonathan Roberts (Texas): 1:39.05
6.) Anton Loncar (Denver): 1:39.29
7.) Carter Griffin (Mizzou): 1:39.46
8.) Connor Oslin (Alabama): 1:39.83
16.) Patrick Conaton (Stanford): 1:40.62
Meet Record: 40.46 (Caeleb Dressel - Florida, 2016)
American Record: 40.46 (Caeleb Dressel - Florida, 2016)
U.S. Open Record: 40.46 (Caeleb Dressel - Florida, 2016)
You know this is a fast meet when it takes a 41.96 just to make it into the championship final. To no surprise, Caeleb Dressel holds the top seed with a 41.00. Dressel looked beatable at the 50, turning with the field at 19.90, but the Gators junior turned on the jets on the back half, splitting 21.10 -- six-tenths faster than anyone else in the field -- to win his heat and take the top seed. His Olympic teammate Ryan Held of NC State took the second seed with a very strong 41.34 (19.61)(21.73). Michael Chadwick of Missouri sits in third with a 41.58 (19.84)(21.74). Beyond the top three, the field is very tight with fourth (41.73) through eighth (41.96) only separated by two tenths of a second. Dressel looked like he left a lot in the tank for tonight's final, so look for him to push his record of 40.46 and potentially scare the 40-second barrier...
1.) Caeleb Dressel (Florida): 41.00
2.) Ryan Held (NC State): 41.34
3.) Michael Chadwick (Mizzou): 41.58
4.) Dylan Carter (USC): 41.73
5.) Sam Perry (Stanford): 41.77
6.) Blake Pieroni (Indiana): 41.89
7.) Santo Condorelli (USC): 41.92
8.) Brett Ringgold (Texas): 41.96
16.) Shane Ryan (Penn State): 42.52
Meet Record: 1:48.12 (Will Licon - Texas, 2016)
American Record: 1:48.12 (Will Licon - Texas, 2016)
U.S. Open Record: 1:48.12 (Will Licon - Texas, 2016)
Will Licon just cruised to a smooth 1:49.80 200 breaststroke, taking the top seed by over two seconds. The Texas senior did not take a hard stroke the entire race, gliding after each effortless stroke. He spit the race very well -- out in 53.17 and back in 56.64. Claiming the second seed was Anton McKee of Alabama in 1:51.99, and right behind him in third was Mauro Castillo Luna with a 1:52.01. Make no mistake about it -- this will be a one-man race in lane four tonight. That is no slight on this field of breaststrokers, rather a testament to Licon's dominance.
1.) Will Licon (Texas): 1:49.80
2.) Anton McKee (Alabama): 1:51.99
3.) Mauro Castillo Luna (Texas A&M): 1:52.01
4.) Brandon Fiala (Virginia Tech): 1:52.52
5.) Marat Amaltdinov (Purdue): 1:52.79
6.) Nils Wich-Glasen (South Carolina): 1:53.04
7.) Carlos Claverie (Louisville): 1:53.45
8.) Trent Jackson (Notre Dame): 1:53.58
15.) Michael Duderstadt (Auburn): 1:54.13
15.) Alex Evdokimov (Cornell): 1:54.13
Meet Record: 1:37.97 (Joseph Schooling - Texas, 2016)
American Record: 1:38.06 (Jack Conger - Texas, 2016)
U.S. Open Record: 1:37.97 (Joseph Schooling - Texas, 2016)
No way around it, the biggest surprise out of the 200 butterfly heats is that Joseph Schooling missed the final altogether by finishing 37th with a 1:45.47. With that being said, his teammate and American record-holder Jack Conger took the top seed with a solid 1:39.88 -- the only man under the 1:40 barrier this morning. Conger looked strong going out at the 100 in 47.37, and it will be interesting to see what the Longhorns senior has in the tank for tonight. Zheng Quah, the star freshman pickup for Cal, is the second seed with a solid 1:40.44 and Gunnar Bentz of Georgia is the third seed right behind him in 1:40.61. Big event for the Bulldogs as they put three up in the championship final with Bentz, Chase Kalisz (fourth), and Pace Clark (sixth).
1.) Jack Conger (Texas): 1:39.88
2.) Zheng Quah (Cal): 1:40.44
3.) Gunnar Bentz (Georgia): 1:40.61
4.) Chase Kalisz (Georgia): 1:40.62
5.) Andreas Vazaios (NC State): 1:40.77
6.) Pace Clark (Georgia): 1:40.98
7.) Andrew Seliskar (Cal): 1:41.16
8.) Justin Wright (Arizona): 1:41.38
15.) Fynn Minuth (South Carolina): 1:42.10
15.) Tom Kremer (Stanford): 1:42.10
Meet Record: 2:46.56 (Auburn, 2007)
American Record: 2:47.02 (Texas, 2009)
U.S. Open Record: 2:46.03 (Auburn, 2009)
Texas looked vulnerable on the leadoff with Jeremy Nichols (43.31), but his three teammates -- Brett Ringgold (41.27), Tate Jackson (41.79), and Townley Haas (41.41) -- got the Longhorns right back in the picture and into the No. 1 spot heading into finals with a 2:47.78. Thanks to a 40.67 anchor leg from Caeleb Dressel, Florida secured the second seed, just 12-hundredths behind Texas, in 2:47.90. USC is sitting in third place with a 2:48.17, led by a strong leadoff from Santo Condorelli (42.22) and middle leg splits from Ralf Tribuntsov (41.71) and Dylan Carter (41.51). Depending on what Texas does with its lineup tonight, it should be the favorite.
1.) Texas: 2:47.78
2.) Florida: 2:47.90
3.) Southern Cal: 2:48.17
4.) Stanford: 2:49.26
5.) NC State: 2:49.34
6.) California: 2:49.58
7.) Indiana: 2:49.62
8.) Arizona State: 2:49.64
16.) Minnesota: 2:51.19
Other things to watch for tonight include a loaded final in the 1650, Ryan Murphy in the 200 backstroke, Caeleb Dressel in the 100 freestyle, Will Licon in the 200 breaststroke, and Texas looking for their fourth consecutive relay victory at this meet. At this point, the Longhorns have all but hoisted the trophy; however, there is still another jam-packed night of swimming left here in Indianapolis with a lot on the line for the team race within the top 10.
200 BACKSTROKE
NCAA Record: 1:35.73 (Ryan Murphy - California, 2016)Meet Record: 1:35.73 (Ryan Murphy - California, 2016)
American Record: 1:35.73 (Ryan Murphy - California, 2016)
U.S. Open Record: 1:35.73 (Ryan Murphy - California, 2016)
The top seed this morning, Ryan Murphy of Cal, was in a dog fight with John Shebat of Texas in the final prelim heat. Shebat was out at the 100 in 47.81 to Murphy's 48.56, but Murphy turned it on over the final 50 yards -- splitting a 24.45 to Shebat's 25.35 and taking the top time with a 1:38.22. Patrick Mulcare had a solid morning swim to take the second seed in 1:38.56. Mulcare used a strong back half (24.61)(25.08) to win his heat. Shebat ended up claiming the third seed in 1:38.67. Grigory Tarasevich of Louisville cannot be discounted, though as the Cardinals senior sits in fourth with a 1:38.74.
1.) Ryan Murphy (California): 1:38.22
2.) Patrick Mulcare (Southern Cal): 1:38.56
3.) John Shebat (Texas): 1:38.67
4.) Grigory Tarasevich (Louisville): 1:38.74
5.) Jonathan Roberts (Texas): 1:39.05
6.) Anton Loncar (Denver): 1:39.29
7.) Carter Griffin (Mizzou): 1:39.46
8.) Connor Oslin (Alabama): 1:39.83
16.) Patrick Conaton (Stanford): 1:40.62
100 FREESTYLE
NCAA Record: 40.46 (Caeleb Dressel - Florida, 2016)Meet Record: 40.46 (Caeleb Dressel - Florida, 2016)
American Record: 40.46 (Caeleb Dressel - Florida, 2016)
U.S. Open Record: 40.46 (Caeleb Dressel - Florida, 2016)
You know this is a fast meet when it takes a 41.96 just to make it into the championship final. To no surprise, Caeleb Dressel holds the top seed with a 41.00. Dressel looked beatable at the 50, turning with the field at 19.90, but the Gators junior turned on the jets on the back half, splitting 21.10 -- six-tenths faster than anyone else in the field -- to win his heat and take the top seed. His Olympic teammate Ryan Held of NC State took the second seed with a very strong 41.34 (19.61)(21.73). Michael Chadwick of Missouri sits in third with a 41.58 (19.84)(21.74). Beyond the top three, the field is very tight with fourth (41.73) through eighth (41.96) only separated by two tenths of a second. Dressel looked like he left a lot in the tank for tonight's final, so look for him to push his record of 40.46 and potentially scare the 40-second barrier...
1.) Caeleb Dressel (Florida): 41.00
2.) Ryan Held (NC State): 41.34
3.) Michael Chadwick (Mizzou): 41.58
4.) Dylan Carter (USC): 41.73
5.) Sam Perry (Stanford): 41.77
6.) Blake Pieroni (Indiana): 41.89
7.) Santo Condorelli (USC): 41.92
8.) Brett Ringgold (Texas): 41.96
16.) Shane Ryan (Penn State): 42.52
200 BREASTSTROKE
NCAA Record: 1:48.12 (Will Licon - Texas, 2016)Meet Record: 1:48.12 (Will Licon - Texas, 2016)
American Record: 1:48.12 (Will Licon - Texas, 2016)
U.S. Open Record: 1:48.12 (Will Licon - Texas, 2016)
Will Licon just cruised to a smooth 1:49.80 200 breaststroke, taking the top seed by over two seconds. The Texas senior did not take a hard stroke the entire race, gliding after each effortless stroke. He spit the race very well -- out in 53.17 and back in 56.64. Claiming the second seed was Anton McKee of Alabama in 1:51.99, and right behind him in third was Mauro Castillo Luna with a 1:52.01. Make no mistake about it -- this will be a one-man race in lane four tonight. That is no slight on this field of breaststrokers, rather a testament to Licon's dominance.
1.) Will Licon (Texas): 1:49.80
2.) Anton McKee (Alabama): 1:51.99
3.) Mauro Castillo Luna (Texas A&M): 1:52.01
4.) Brandon Fiala (Virginia Tech): 1:52.52
5.) Marat Amaltdinov (Purdue): 1:52.79
6.) Nils Wich-Glasen (South Carolina): 1:53.04
7.) Carlos Claverie (Louisville): 1:53.45
8.) Trent Jackson (Notre Dame): 1:53.58
15.) Michael Duderstadt (Auburn): 1:54.13
15.) Alex Evdokimov (Cornell): 1:54.13
200 BUTTERFLY
NCAA Record: 1:37.97 (Joseph Schooling - Texas, 2016)Meet Record: 1:37.97 (Joseph Schooling - Texas, 2016)
American Record: 1:38.06 (Jack Conger - Texas, 2016)
U.S. Open Record: 1:37.97 (Joseph Schooling - Texas, 2016)
No way around it, the biggest surprise out of the 200 butterfly heats is that Joseph Schooling missed the final altogether by finishing 37th with a 1:45.47. With that being said, his teammate and American record-holder Jack Conger took the top seed with a solid 1:39.88 -- the only man under the 1:40 barrier this morning. Conger looked strong going out at the 100 in 47.37, and it will be interesting to see what the Longhorns senior has in the tank for tonight. Zheng Quah, the star freshman pickup for Cal, is the second seed with a solid 1:40.44 and Gunnar Bentz of Georgia is the third seed right behind him in 1:40.61. Big event for the Bulldogs as they put three up in the championship final with Bentz, Chase Kalisz (fourth), and Pace Clark (sixth).
1.) Jack Conger (Texas): 1:39.88
2.) Zheng Quah (Cal): 1:40.44
3.) Gunnar Bentz (Georgia): 1:40.61
4.) Chase Kalisz (Georgia): 1:40.62
5.) Andreas Vazaios (NC State): 1:40.77
6.) Pace Clark (Georgia): 1:40.98
7.) Andrew Seliskar (Cal): 1:41.16
8.) Justin Wright (Arizona): 1:41.38
15.) Fynn Minuth (South Carolina): 1:42.10
15.) Tom Kremer (Stanford): 1:42.10
400 FREESTYLE RELAY
NCAA Record: 2:46.03 (Auburn, 2009)Meet Record: 2:46.56 (Auburn, 2007)
American Record: 2:47.02 (Texas, 2009)
U.S. Open Record: 2:46.03 (Auburn, 2009)
Texas looked vulnerable on the leadoff with Jeremy Nichols (43.31), but his three teammates -- Brett Ringgold (41.27), Tate Jackson (41.79), and Townley Haas (41.41) -- got the Longhorns right back in the picture and into the No. 1 spot heading into finals with a 2:47.78. Thanks to a 40.67 anchor leg from Caeleb Dressel, Florida secured the second seed, just 12-hundredths behind Texas, in 2:47.90. USC is sitting in third place with a 2:48.17, led by a strong leadoff from Santo Condorelli (42.22) and middle leg splits from Ralf Tribuntsov (41.71) and Dylan Carter (41.51). Depending on what Texas does with its lineup tonight, it should be the favorite.
1.) Texas: 2:47.78
2.) Florida: 2:47.90
3.) Southern Cal: 2:48.17
4.) Stanford: 2:49.26
5.) NC State: 2:49.34
6.) California: 2:49.58
7.) Indiana: 2:49.62
8.) Arizona State: 2:49.64
16.) Minnesota: 2:51.19