Dressel Leads off in 17.81 to Become First Man Under 18

2018 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, March 21 – Saturday, March 24
• Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center – Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Prelims 10 AM / Finals 6 PM (Central Time)
• Defending champion: Texas (3x) (results)
• Psych Sheet
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Day 2 finals at the 2018 Men’s NCAA Championships kicked off with the 200 free relay. Florida’s Caeleb Dressel, who cracked the American Record in the 50 free this morning, stepped up for the Gators with an incredible split tonight. Dressel lead off for the Gators in 17.81, blowing away the individual 50 free American Record and NCAA Record as he became the first man to ever break 18 seconds from a flat start.

This morning, Dressel set the American Record with an 18.11 in prelims. He has another shot to crack his own record tonight in the 50 free finals. Florida went on to win the 200 free relay in 1:14.39. The fastest rolling-start split is a 17.71 done by Dressel in 2017. He was just a tenths shy of that from a flat start tonight. USC’s Vlad Morozov is the only other man to have broken 18 from a relay start with his 17.86 from the 2013 NCAA meet.

Sub-18 50 Free Relay Splits:

1. 17.71- Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2017
2. (T-2) 17.86- Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2017
3. (T-2) 17.86- Vlad Morozov (USC), 2013
4. 17.90- Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2017
5. 17.92- Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018
6. 17.96- Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018
7. 17.99- Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2017

Dressel still owns the 10 fastest times ever in the 50 free.

ALL-TIME TOP PERFORMANCES: MEN’S 50 FREE