2019 M. NCAA Champs Day 2: A Bit Easier to Make It Back Than Last Year

by Robert Gibbs 5

March 28th, 2019 College, News

2019 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

We like to talk in swimming how the sport just keeps getting faster and faster. While this is typically true — the NCAA record book has been completely rewritten over the past few years — we noticed a curious phenomenon at this morning’s prelims. The top end of each event still looks pretty amazing — Andrew Seliskar cranked out a 1:39.9 200 IM in prelims, and his teammates Ryan Hoffer and Pawel Sendyk scorched their 50s.

But we’re not quite seeing the same depth we’re used to, as the times to make it back into either the A-final or B-final were slower this than last year in seven out of ten possible finals. The last column shows where the 16th-place prelims swims from 2018 would have placed this morning.

8th, 2019 8th, 2018 16th, 2019 16th, 2018 Place 2019
200 Free Relay 1:16.48 1:16.46 1:17.88 1:17.46 13th
500 Free 4:13.72 4:12.87 4:14.47 4:14.98 19th
200 IM 1:42.26 1:42.13 1:43.05 1:42.97 15th
50 Free 19.05 19.04 19.20 19.20 16th
400 Medley Relay 3:04.78 3:04.05 3:06.29 3:06.58 18th

For the most part, the differences were’t huge. The 8th-place time in the 200 free relay was only 0.02s slower than last year, and the 8th-place time in the 50 free was only 0.01s slower than last year.

But there were a couple noticeable exceptions. The time required to make the top eight in the 500 was almost a second slower this year than last year. This isn’t all that shocking, as we noted in our 500 free preview that this event was looking a thin due to graduations and injuries. This year’s qualifying time would’ve placed 11th last year in prelims.

The 400 medley relay was the other event where we saw a big shift. Last year, it took a 3:04.05 to make the A-final, which left Texas, the eventual NCAA champions, on the outside looking in. This year, half of the teams that ended up making the A-final swam slower than 3:04.05, and it only took a 3:04.78 to make it in. That time would’ve finished 10th in last year’s prelims.

Interestingly, those two events were also the only two were the times to make the B-final were faster this year than last year, so it seems like part of what we’re seeing a little parity, where’s less of a spread across the two championship finals. This is particularly true in an event like the 400 medley relay, where we’re seeing teams not traditionally known as big powers, putting up times that easily would’ve made the A-final just a few years ago

Last little fun note, the time to make the B-final of the 200 free relay was exactly the same this year as last year, a 19.20.

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MugSeven
5 years ago

Lots of big name graduations last year, but it’s awesome to see the times still nearly as fast. It’s always an exciting meet to watch.

eagleswim
5 years ago

it’s actually pretty amazing to me that the times are so close from year to year

Jim
5 years ago

The harder and harder it gets to make the meet, the slower (in comparison to the time it takes to make the meet) the meet will get. It’s an unfortunate consequence of the qualification style. 99% of guys need a full taper and shave to make the meet these days.

Caged
Reply to  Jim
5 years ago

99% of guys have needed a full taper to get to the meet every year, it’s no different now. A rising tide lifts all boats.

Swammer
Reply to  Caged
5 years ago

Agreed

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