2022 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- March 23-26, 2022
- McAuley Aquatic Center, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia (Eastern Daylight Time)
- Prelims 10AM /Finals 6PM
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Live Results
- Official Psych Sheets
- Virtual Championship Program
- SwimSwam Pick Em’s Contest
- Qualified relay teams
- Live stream link
During the 200 freestyle relay last night at the 2022 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships, announcers noted that Texas swimmer Daniel Krueger appeared to have a bad start on the second leg of the relay. After his start, the announcers noted that Krueger seemed to overstep the front end of the block, which can be seen on the NCAA’s video of the race.
Daniel Krueger 200 Freestyle Relay Exchange Screenshot
Krueger opted to put one foot over the wedge on his start, stepping over it to the front of the block, clearing the wedge in the process. After reaching the front of the block with the foot that was previously behind the wedge, Krueger keeps one foot planted on the wedge as he begins his take-off.
This is not as risky as the two footed stepover that has become more common in recent years, with American Kieran Smith being one of the first to debut this start style. Texas was the original school to debut the one foot wedge start back at NCAAs in 2014.
According to official results, Krueger split 18.77 with a .32 reaction time. Considering he was a 19.20 in the prelims of the individual 50 freestyle event, it appears as though his start did not negatively impact his overall split. However, the relay as a whole suffered due to the swimmer’s reaction times. The Texas 200 freestyle relay had a combined reaction time of 1.48 seconds, significantly slower than first place finishers Florida (.84) and runners-up Cal (1.02). In fact, the Texas relay had the slowest combined reaction time in the top 8 finishers, and the second-slowest in the entire field. Had Texas’ relay had the combined reaction time of the Florida relay, they would have finished with a time of 1:13.77, winning the race by almost a half second.
Originally reported by Michael Hamann
200 free relay
- NCAA Record: 1:14.08 (Auburn- 2009)
- NCAA Meet Record: 1:14.08 (Auburn-2009)
- American Record: 1:14.47 (Virginia-2022)
- US Open Record: 1:14.08 (Auburn-2009)
- Pool Record: 1:14.47 (Virginia-2022)
Top 8 finishers:
- Florida: 1:14.11
- Cal: 1:14.36
- Texas: 1:14.41
- NC State: 1;14.69
- Virginia: 1:14.70
- Arizona State: 1:14.85
- Ohio State: 1:15.30
- Indiana: 1:15.47
The Florida Gators, internationally renowned for their distance program, has now won both 200 yard relays at this meet by swimming a 1:14.11 in the 200 free relay. Adam Chaney led off in 18.85 and was followed by Eric Friese (18.39), Will Davis (18.28) and Kieran Smith (18.59). Their swim is also now the second fastest in history, just .03 off the legendary Auburn supersuited record 1:14.08 from 2009.
Cal and Texas battled for second, with the Bears eventually coming out on top. Cal was led by Bjoern Seeliger‘s sizzling 18.27 leadoff leg and held off the remainder of the field to finish runner-up. Texas was led by anchor Cameron Auchinachie, who redeemed his individual DQ with an 18.14 split.
Heat three went to the Harvard Crimson, who dropped a 1:15.88. That included an 18.49 split from Dean Farris and an 18.78 anchor from Umit Gures.
He should go ask Friese for tips. That guy — 3 relay starts and all under 0.10. Bama — both men and women have had sensational relay exchanges.
I’m old enough that those wedges weren’t around when I was swimming so I admit I don’t know much about them. Why can’t they just make them removable and take them off for relays?
Not sure why you were down voted, but it is a reasonable question. If the backstroke wedges can be removed before the race, it could be reasonsable to remove the wedges too.
The ones we have do come off if you wish. It would have to be for everyone though and done before the leadoff swimmer.
Every wedge I’ve ever used can be removed after the first swimmer goes. However, it would be much more stressful to have less than 19 seconds to do so!
I’m old enough to remember when the blocks were flat.
I’m like the most uncoordinated Un athletic swammer ever and the wedge and step over significantly improved my starts. So you want to learn how to do them probably just a fluke for Kruger. I bet he’s gonna do a fifth year
More of an equipment question. For blocks that have removable wedges, it’s not uncommon to see relay swimmers opt to remove it after the leadoff starts. However, the Omega blocks (not sure the technical term exactly) – what Tech is equipped with and what many major/most international meets utilize – have wedges that can’t be removed, only slid to set at different positions. (Another comment mentioned time to take it off in a 2FR relay, which is an important consideration as well.)
If properly executed, the step over start with the wedge provides significantly more speed off of the block than without it. Obviously when you start to take more risks with your start then there is the chance of a mishap as we see here in this race but unless, FINA/the NCAA ban it for whatever reason it is more useful than hurtful and swimmers than can’t figure it out or don’t use it are sort of foolish if they have access to the wedges every day at their facility.
Texas debuted it way before 2014…