Josh Liendo Becomes The 2nd Fastest 100 Freestyler In History With 40.28

by Ben Dornan 11

March 25th, 2023 College, National, News, Records, SEC

2023 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Josh Liendo saved his biggest swim for last at the 2023 NCAA Championships, powering his way to victory in the 100 freestyle with a 40.28. That time makes Liendo the second-fastest man in NCAA history behind record-holder Caeleb Dressel. Liendo surpassed the former #2 man in history Bjorn Seeliger who posted a 40.75 last year.

Men’s 100 Yard Freestyle – All-time Rankings

  1. Caeleb Dressel – 39.90 (2018)
  2. Caeleb Dressel – 40.00 (2017)
  3. Josh Liendo – 40.28 (2023)
  4. Caeleb Dressel – 40.46 (2016)
  5. Caeleb Dressel – 40.48 (2017)
  6. Caeleb Dressel – 40.68 (2018)
  7. Bjorn Seeliger – 40.75 (2022)
  8. Vlad Morozov – 40.76 (2013)
  9. Dean Farris – 40.80 (2019)
  10. Bowe Becker – 40.83 (2019)

Caeleb Dressel is the most dominant man in the history of this event, having swum the five fastest times between 2016 and 2018. He is the only man to have ever broken 40 seconds in the event, which he did at NCAAs in 2018.

With his swim at the 2023 NCAA Championships though, Josh Liendo becomes just the second man in history to swim under 40.50 seconds and is now closer than anyone to Dressel’s 39.90. Liendo is in his freshman year at the University of Florida and came into the meet with a best time of 41.22 from the SEC Championships in February.

Liendo won the 100 freestyle at his debut NCAAs by more than 0.50 seconds, touching ahead of Jack Alexy‘s 40.92 and Bjorn Seelgier’s 40.93. That Cal duo took silver and bronze, both posting swims just outside of the top 10 performances in history. Alexy’s time in the final was actually a bit slower than his prelims time of 40.88 and Seeliger trailed his PB of 40.75 from 2022. Ruslan Gaziev came in fourth place for Ohio State with a 40.98, becoming the 12th man to crack 41 seconds.

Jordan Crooks and 2022 NCAA Champion Brooks Curry tied for 5th place with a 41.03, followed by Van Mathias in 7th with a 41.39 and Youseff Ramadan with a 41.61 for 8th.

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BC snuff
1 year ago

First Canadian male NCAA champion since who? Adam Sioui?

Boknows34
1 year ago

I think Liendo was the 12th man to break 41 with Gaziev the 13th.

Scuncan Dott v2
1 year ago

Gaziev was also sub 41, Canada have a pretty exciting 4×100 Free relay for fukuoka and Paris with Liendo, Gaziev, Kisil, Acevedo, with Knox being in the mix too.

Canadian swim nerd
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
1 year ago

Kisil barely swims recently. He isn’t even on psych sheets for Canadian Trials next week

Hendy
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
1 year ago

Agreed! I’d think Acevedo & Knox will end up being the other 2 to fill out that relay team.

CanSwimFan
Reply to  Scuncan Dott v2
1 year ago

Santo should have stuck with Canada.

Scuncan Dott v2
Reply to  CanSwimFan
1 year ago

I mean he is an Olympic silver medalist because he swims for Italy

SwimmerFan99
1 year ago

Dressel’s ‘infamous’ 39.90??

Also, you’ve listed Liendo’s swim at #6 when it is actually #3 all-time. It is outright listed below three slower times on the top ten shown.

Here Comes Lezak
Reply to  SwimmerFan99
1 year ago

Yeah it’s really just “famous”

Also would love to see a reality where Dressel didn’t pull his groin the evening session before

Congrats to Liendo on an unreal swim! Well deserving of the title.

Emily Se-Bom Lee
Reply to  SwimmerFan99
1 year ago

the only infamous thing about that race is rowdy’s commentary

Bryan
1 year ago

Maybe check the meaning of “infamous”