Watch Ian Finnerty Break Dressel’s 100BR Record, Become 1st Under 50.0

by Robert Gibbs 18

March 23rd, 2018 News

2018 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Ian Finnerty is having of the meet of his life, and his success this week is going a long way toward keeping the Indiana Hoosier in the team title hunt.  Tonight, he continued rolling, breaking the U.S. Open, NCAA, and American Records that Caeleb Dressel set last month.  Finnerty went out in a blistering 23.1 and continued rolling, touching in a 49.69 and winning by a Dresses-like second and a half.  Watch the race video below, courtesy of YouTube user Anthony Preda.

Originally 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 – 49.89
  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.

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Swimman123
5 years ago

He did 3 dolphin kicks off the blocks and 2 off each wall.

Coach Mike 1952
6 years ago

This potentially bodes well for the USA’s LC 400 MR too. Miller has been the weakest link lately, especially compared to Adam Peaty.

Emanuele
Reply to  Coach Mike 1952
6 years ago

ahahahahaha what? Cordes (not Miller, we aren’t in 2016) was the breastoker in the last relay and he was silver in the 100 breast in Budapest.
It’s not like the breast was the weakest link, Peaty is simply in another dimension.

And, another thing, SCY breast and LCM breast are two different sports: IA did 4/7/7/8 strokes, Peaty did 25 just in the second 50′.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Emanuele
6 years ago

OK, you are right. I just recall USA being behind GB each time – Rio & Budapest – as we all watched Peaty eating Cordes & Miller (& everyone else) alive as he tore up the pool. Cordes (58.89) was in Budapest, & Miller in Rio (59.03). However, this does not discount the fact that Ian F’s AR time “potentially” bodes well. Further, of COURSE LCM & SCY are different. We shall see.

Cmon
6 years ago

Does anyone have a link for all finals race videos? I know there was one in the comments but it got buried

USA USA USA
6 years ago

Has anybody ever broken a Caeleb Dressel AR before?

Person
Reply to  USA USA USA
6 years ago

Baeleb has broken his own records, but other than that… I don’t think any non Baelebs have until now.

Steve Nolan
6 years ago

Either that dude that shot the video has the most steady hands ever or he brought a stand. Either way, pretty awesome.

DresselFan69
6 years ago

Dressel will still beat him in Tokyo. Baeleb always, ALWAYS prevails.

Farris_Is_King
Reply to  DresselFan69
6 years ago

Better just hope THE DEANER never tries his hand at breast.

swimtexan
6 years ago

Imagine how fast he would be if he would get off the lane line!

Buckeyeboy
6 years ago

Coley. Effin. Stickels.

Becky
Reply to  Buckeyeboy
6 years ago

He does not train with him.

Observer
Reply to  Becky
6 years ago

You sure? Ask him

NormG
Reply to  Becky
6 years ago

Yes he does

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