2016 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 23 – Saturday, March 26
- McAuley Aquatic Center – Atlanta, GA
- Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
- Defending Champion: Texas (results)
- Championship Central
- Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday prelins & finals, Friday/Saturday prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
- Live results
Joseph Schooling of the Texas Longhorns set the third individual NCAA record of the 2016 NCAA Championships, exploding off the blocks and carrying impressive speed off the final wall to clock a 44.01, under the previous standard of 44.18 from Stanford’s Austin Staab.
The sophomore Singapore national established an early lead with a 20.46 opening 50, clearing Staab’s 20.56, which marked the fastest opening 50 in history. Despite appearing to tighten up slightly over the final 10-12 yards (runner-up Caeleb Dressel appeared to close the gap just a bit), Schooling got his hands on the fall nearly two tenths under the record.
As if an NCAA record wasn’t impressive enough, Staab’s 44.18 was swam in a full-body Speedo LZR in the super-suit era of 2008-2009.
A comparison of the splits:
Staab, 2009 NCAA’s (College Station): 9.59, 20.56 [10.97], 32.27 [11.71], 44.18 [11.71])
Schooling, 2016 NCAA’s (Atlanta): 20.46, 44.01 [23.55]
Due to Schooling’s international representation, Staab still holds the American record.
Finally that suited record is broken.
Unbelievably strong in the water, but after watching how he finished the second 100 of his 200 free leg in the relay compared to Conger, and the second 50 in the fly tonight compared to Conger, I think Jack might get him in the 200 fly.
I’m rooting for the both of them to finish in the top 2, but I really don’t think the 200 fly is a foregone conclusion just yet. Switkowski went a 1.54 LCM to get the bronze in Kazan so you’d think he would make an impact in this race as well. Conger has gone 1.54 too. Seliskar too has gone quicker than Schooling in LCM. And don’t discount Bosch too.
No matter what I think we’re going to have quite a fight on our hands tomorrow.
Let’s keep in mind, though, that Schooling is amazingly quick in SCY, and that is what this meet is about. We shall see today!