Ian Finnerty: “Freshman year I actually broke 3 of my ribs” (Video)

^{Reported by Jared Anderson.}

100 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS

• NCAA record: Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018, 50.03
• American record: Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018, 50.03
• U.S. Open record: Caeleb Dressel (Florida), 2018, 50.03
• 2017 NCAA Champion: Will Licon (Texas), 50.68

Top 8 Finishers:

1. Ian Finnerty, Indiana – 49.69
2. Connor Hoppe, Cal – 51.16
3. Carsten Vissering, USC – 51.28
4. Alex Evdokimov, Cornell – 51.32
5. Levi Brock, Indiana – 51.38
6. Conner McHugh, Minnesota – 51.48
7. Evgenii Somov, Louisville, 52.07
8. Mauro Castillo, Texas A&M – 52.11

Indiana’s Ian Finnerty might have the best second-25 in swimming. He powered away from the field over that lap and carried his speed through to the first sub-50 in breaststroking history at 49.69.

That’s big points for IU, which also got 5th-place points from Levi Brock (51.38). Cal’s Connor Hoppe hung onto second place in 51.16, with USC’s Carsten Vissering fourth (51.38).

Hometown favorite Conner McHugh was 51.48, followed by Louisville’s Evgenii Somov and A&M’s Mauro Castillo. All 8 of the finalists went faster than prelims in a spirited championship final battle.

Peter Stevens went out like a rocket in the B final and barely held on for the win in 52.11. Cal’s Carson Sand closed hard and nearly stole the win, but ended up moving up from 16th to 10th in 52.32. That’s a +6 in points for Cal, which really needs to build a point lead before the backstroke and diving.

Cal currently leads by just half a point over Indiana in what has been the tightest team battle we can ever remember at the NCAA Championships. Texas has fallen to 31 back, but should make up at least that much on Cal in the diving final tonight. Indiana has diver of its own and might be looking like the title favorites after a great first three days.