2026 SEC Championships
- Dates: Monday, February 16–Saturday, February 21
- Location: Allan Jones Intercollegiate Aquatic Center, Knoxville, TN
- Defending Champions: Texas (1x)
- Live Results
- Live Video: SEC Network+
- Psych Sheet (UPDATED)
- Schedule of Events
- Championship Central
- Teams: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt (women only), Arkansas (women only)
- Live Recaps
- Prelims: Day 2 | Day 3
- Finals: Day 1 Distance | Day 1 | Day 2
From the ‘you didn’t need to do all that,’ but ‘I’m glad you did’ files, Florida senior Josh Liendo swam the fastest-ever prelims time, and 6th-fastest performance in any race, in the heats of the 100 fly on Thursday morning.
He touched in 43.26, which gave him more than two seconds to spare to qualify for the A-Final. It also made a statement ahead of Luca Urlando from Georgia, who swam the heat before and is the 2nd seed in 44.72. Urlando and Liendo are among the chief contenders for NCAA Swimmer of the Year and for this 100 fly NCAA title come March.
Liendo now has four of the top six times in history and seven of the top ten.
All-Time Top 10 Performances, Men’s 100 SCY Fly
| Rank | Swimmer | Time | Team | Meet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caeleb Dressel | 42.80 | Florida | 2018 NCAA DI Championships |
| 2 | Josh Liendo | 43.06 | Florida | 2025 NCAA Division I Championships |
| 3 | Josh Liendo | 43.07 | Florida | 2024 NCAA Division I Championships |
| 4 | Youssef Ramadan | 43.15 | Virginia Tech | 2023 NCAA Division I Championships |
| 5 | Josh Liendo | 43.23 | Florida | 2025 SEC Championships |
| 6 | Josh Liendo | 43.26 | Florida | 2026 SEC Championships (Heats) |
| 7 | Josh Liendo | 43.30 | Florida | 2024 NCAA Division I Championships |
| 8 | Ilya Kharun | 43.38 | Arizona State | CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge #7 |
| 9 | Josh Liendo | 43.40 | Florida | 2023 NCAA Division I Championships |
| 10 | Josh Liendo | 43.42 | Florida | Georgia Fall Invitational |
| 11 | Ilya Kharun | 43.43 | Arizona State | 2025 NCAA Division I Championships |
Liendo likes going out fast in heats. Prior to this swim, he had the three fastest prelims swims ever – a 43.70 from last year’s SEC Championship meet, a 43.49 from last year’s NCAA Championship meet, and a 43.30 from 2024 NCAAs. He was also fast in prelims at 2023 NCAAs, 43.80.
Internationally in long course, he also goes fast in prelims, but is not the most aggressive heat swimmer (a title that probably goes to Kristof Milak of Hungary or Noe Ponti of Switzerland in this event). But he does still go fast.
In spite of that aggressiveness in the heats, he’s been very good at dropping time to finals, both collegiately and internationally, so it’s hard to question the process.
Dressel’s record was a both lot closer and a lot further ahead of time than I expected it to be. With how close Ramadan was to breaking 43, it seemed like it wouldn’t be long. But then Liendo, along with other possible candidates, have flirted with that barrier long enough to keep Dressel’s record secure for almost eight years… We’ll see if this changes.
I believe this is also the fastest back half for a 100 yard fly ever correct? I am fairly certain Caeleb’s fastest 2 came with a 22.8 back half 50.
I believe he came back 22.4-22.5 on that medley relay where he split 42-mid
America financing Canadian Olympians!!!!
Is University of Florida funded by the feds?
Sometimes you feel so good you can’t help it!
Man, I can remember a time when Andei Minakov going 43.7 twice in prelims and finals for the NCAA title was a huge deal…
It wasn’t that long ago the 100 yard fly record was 44 low.
Now a dozen 43s have popped up.
How crazy.
Braden, why are Caleb and Josh listed in the chart as unattached when their performances were either at NCAAs and SECs?
That’s also how they are listed in the USA Swimming database for those two swims
Because USA Swimming keeps the chart lol. I can update to be schools.