Caeleb Dressel of the Bolles School Sharks won the 100m freestyle tonight, lowering his own 17-18 national age group record with a time of 48.78.
The current Florida Gator won the race over Texas standout Jack Conger who touched in for second at 49.05.
In prelims this morning Dressel was just one one-hundredth shy of his national mark, but in finals he managed to better it taking 0.21-seconds off his previous record of 48.97 to secure the victory.
Dressel was out in 23.33-seconds, turning third at the wall behind former 50m freestyle American record holder Cullen Jones and BJ Hornikel. On his way home Dressel put forth the second fastest last 50 split of the field with a 25.45 in order to hold off a charging Conger who was a 25.39 coming home.
The win marks Dressel’s second national championship victory in his career following the 50m freestyle win he had earlier in the meet. Just like tonight, he broke his own age group record in the 50m freestyle finals as well.
Clocking in with a 21.53, Dressel took a whopping 0.67 seconds off the 50m freestyle national age group record in just one day.
Heading into 2016 Dressel is one of the fastest Americans in the sprint freestyle events. After his performance tonight, he’s ranked as the second fastest American in the 100m freestyle this season behind Nathan Adrian.
In the 50m freestyle, Dressel is ranked second again behind Adrian.
And overall a disappointing race.
Considering all the great times we have seen in most of the other events, that race was slow.
I start to wonder if there’s not a curse about American sprint. 😆
A French curse?
It depends, Bobo, on how you want to define “sprint”. In the 50 free, they have 5 people inside 22 in 2015 only. Dressel just clocked a 21.5 that would be national record in several countries. There was a recurring subtext in this site that they don’t know anymore how to cultivate and teach speed in the US, but the 50 free is by definition all about speed.
Then again if you are looking specifically at the blue ribbon event and the relay, one must admit that when a 48.8 is the second fastest an American has swum this year in the 100 free, and this after the WC, it does not look good.
And yes, it is an incredible… Read more »
He did go 1:02 in the Breaststroke… so…
Should have been much faster at the half-race. In about 22.60/22.70. To try.
Maybe he was afraid of dying in the last 25.
He said after the race he felt tired after all races he has swum earlier in the meet.
Yes. Next time don’t swim the 100 breast and the 200 free before your best events!
Stay fresh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TxqMwbUJzA
That is some serious ink for an 18-year old.
Another year, another second+ drop. Ready for Rio!
Ummm. He was 48.9 two summers ago. 2 years… 2/10 drop.
😆
Hulk always very efficient! 😆