Reported by Lauren Neidigh.
2017 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 22 – Saturday, March 25
- IUPUI Natatorium – Indianapolis, IN
- Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
- Defending Champion: Texas (results)
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheet
- Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday Prelims & Finals, Friday/Saturday Prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
- Event Previews
- Live Results
- Saturday Finals Heat Sheet
The Texas Longhorns are your 2016-17 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving champions, marking their 3rd-straight team title. Texas earned a collective 542 points, beating runner-up Cal (349) by 193 points. That’s the 5th largest margin of victory ever behind Stanford’s margins of victory in 1992 and 1998 (276, 204.5) and Auburn’s margins of victory (196.5, 256.5) in 2003 and 2004.
Texas won 11 events throughout the meet, tying their record-high 11 wins in a single NCAA meet, which they set at the 2001 Men’s NCAA Championships.
The seniors played a big role for the Longhorns, as 3 of them were individual event winners: Jack Conger, Will Licon, and Clark Smith. Conger won his first NCAA title in his final individual race, setting a new American Record of 1:37.35 in the 200 fly. Smith set new American Records with his victories in the 500 free (4:08.42) and 1650 free (14:22.41). Licon went out in style, claiming his 3rd-straight 200 breast title in a new American Record of 1:47.91. He also won the 100 breast (50.68) and was co-champion in the 200 IM (1:40.67).
Sophomore Townley Haas repeated as NCAA champion in the 200 free, swimming the 2nd fastest time ever in 1:30.65. The Longhorns also defended titles in the 200 free relay and 400 medley relay. Their additional wins included the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. They dismantled the NCAA Records in the 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay, and 400 free relay. They also set a new American Record with a runner-up finish in the 800 free relay.
Contributing runner-up finishes with some of the fastest times in history were Joseph Schooling, who clocked a blistering 43.75 in the 100 fly to take 2nd, and John Shebat, who was the runner-up in both backstrokes in 44.35/1:37.24.
Disappointing that I have to watch a video in order to read quotes. While I understand some may want to hear the quotes from the swimmers’ mouths, you might consider transcribing these quotes of interest for those of us unable to view the video for whatever reason (workplace, on the bus, slow internet connection, etc). Thanks.
Put it on my tab
Oslin training video:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWER4DiotF_Gx_1sRRfDO6Y44VuUplzON
Curious – the last few years in both the men’s and women’s NCAA championships have been incredible to watch, largely because of records dropping and seeing crazy fast swims. And not just fast swims from a few big names, but the overall meet has progressed significantly.
Do you all think these speed improvements are mostly clean? These time drops almost feel like the supersuit years though. Is this just swimmers learning how to better use walls and underwaters? Something else?
Well, there was the run up to the Olympics, which is always a big motivator for two years. There’s been an infusion of some innovative, young coaches on men’s and women’s sides, and the willingness of more senior ones (Eddie being a prime example) to adopt some of what they’ve offered (using drag sox this year, for example). There’s been a greater influx of international swimmers, which has made many more teams competitive and added depth to the talent pool. There have been some technical innovations in races (Ryan Hofer’s underwater 100, Dressel’s no-breath last 25 of the 100 fly) that more people are toying with. The women are not afraid to be super strong through resistance training, and I… Read more »
There’s no way that cheating is widespread, absolutely no way that cheating accounts for the speed and depth of NCAA swimming.
On a personal level, I swam in a few elite programs in the 80s and continue to compete as a masters swimmer, and I’ve never seen anyone or directly known about anyone taking PEDs. Obviously, it happens, but it is not endemic to the American system. At least, not in my experience.
You must be a youngish master’s swimmers. You’d be surprised the excuses to get testosterone supplementation are for older guys. I know a guy who was prescribed it for refractory anemia, and uses so much of it, he has to have therapeutic phlebotomies to reduce his red blood cell count.
Until we start testing in USMS, we’ll never know the extent. But if you extrapolate from track and cycling masters, you may be surprised how many of the elites cheat. You can get a doc to prescribe testosterone for just about any “low T” complaint these days.
Inside sources at Texas allege widespread doping via panda express
I think the sport of swimming is elevating. As swimmers become faster more swimmers get faster. One swimmer reaches a milestone then more swimmers believe they can do it, or better that swim and it just keeps going and is becoming a battle of who can train the hardest and who can tough it out and endure the most pain to get the fastest swim. Yes. Mostly clean.
All Race Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWER4DiotF_Gx_1sRRfDO6Y44VuUplzON
Link broken?!