2015 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Thursday, March 26 – Saturday, March 28
- University of Iowa, Iowa City
- Prelims 11AM/Finals 7PM (Central Time)
- Defending Champion: California – results
- Iowa Championship Central
- NCAA Championship Central
- Prelims Live feed: Hawkeye Sports
- Finals Live feed: ESPN3 (Friday & Saturday)
- Live results
- thursday finals heat sheet
200 IM
Call me crazy, but I believe tonight’s session could be historic for more than one reason. The biggest race of the night will be the individual 200 IM. With David Nolan, Ryan Murphy, and Will Licon racing head to head, tonight could be the first time in history that someone breaks the 1:40 barrier. Not only is there a chance for one swimmer to break 1:40, I believe all three of these swimmers could break 1:40.
David Nolan currently holds the American record with his time of 1:40.07. He broke that record two weeks ago at the Pac 12 Championships. With a full taper, 1:39 is not out of the questions, especially with Murphy and Licon by his side.
Will Licon is another monster. He broke out last year as one of the top swimmers in the NCAA, improving from barely qualifying for the meet to an A finalist in multiple events. This year he continued tearing through the Longhorn record book, knocking multiple Olympians off the wall. This morning he aggressively went after his race and was under American record pace through the 150. His last 50 should be much faster than it was this morning with a race. He had close to a two body length lead in his heat.
Murphy is a wildcard, but a talented wild card, at that. If he can go into the 100 with a lead and stay with the other breaststrokers, 1:39 is possible for him as well. He will need to be out at the 100 with Licon and Nolan, though. This morning Murphy was 46.98, which is about a tenth of second back from where Nolan was when he broke the record. His race will heavily rely on his first 100.
200 Freestyle Relay
There was a lot of controversy surrounding NC State’s 200 freestyle relay disqualification. There relay was overturned, however, which puts them back in the conversation to win the first NCAA title of the weekend. In addition to winning the first title of the weekend, it would also be the first time since 2006 that one of the traditional swimming powerhouse programs did not win a relay at the NCAA Championships. The last time a non-powerhouse program won a relay was Northwestern’s 400 meldey in 2007.
50 Freestyle
Caeleb Dressel is chasing Nathan Adrian’s American record and Kristian Gkolomeev is looking to win his second consecutive NCAA title after tying for the victory last year. Gkolomeev was well off his best time this morning during prelims, but he will still be the favorite to win tonight after putting up an 18.6 at the SEC Championships.
Dressel broke his 17-18 NAG Record during prelims with an 18.86 lead off and then managed to tie it again during his individual 50 freestyle. Many people are expecting a big drop from Dressel after watching his development through high school.
The men’s 200 IM will decide the best male swimmer in the college. Wow what a race it will be! Three champions.
It’s not completely crazy, but if the prediction relies on Murphy matching Licon and Nolan on breast as you said, then it’s unlikely. He’d have to take out out even that much faster to compensate for the breast, and with that level of speed on the first 100 I’m not sure he’d have enough to bring it home. But I would love it to happen!!