2018 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 21 – Saturday, March 24
- Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center – Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Defending champion: Texas (3x) (results)
- Psych Sheet
- Live results
- Championship Central
- Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday Finals, All Prelims on BTN2GO; Friday/Saturday Finals on WatchESPN
- Thursday prelims heat sheet
Swimmers are competing in day 2 prelims of the 2018 Men’s NCAA Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This morning’s action included the 50 free, which included American Record holder Caeleb Dressel of Florida and 3 more of the all-time top 10 fastest performers: NC State’s Ryan Held, Minnesota’s Bowen Becker, and Cal’s Ryan Hoffer. Dressel got after it in prelims, taking down his own record with a quick 18.11.
Tonight in finals, he has a chance to be the first man ever under 18 from a flat start. This morning’s swim came after a 17.96 relay split in the 200 free relay. Dressel will be joined in the final by Held (18.69), Becker (18.88), and Hoffer (19.04), so we’ll see 4 of the fastest men ever in the heat. Indiana’s Blake Pieroni, who rocked an American Record in the 200 free with his historic 1:29 last night, will join them after putting up an 18.93 for 4th.
ALL-TIME TOP PERFORMERS: MEN’S 50 YARD FREE
| Place | Swimmer | Time |
| 1 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.11 |
| 2 | Cesar Cielo | 18.47 |
| 3 | Matt Targett | 18.52 |
| 4 | Ryan Held | 18.58 |
| 5 | Vlad Morozov | 18.63 |
| 6 | Kristian Gkolomeev | 18.64 |
| 7 | Nathan Adrian | 18.66 |
| 8 | Bowen Becker | 18.69 |
| 9 | Ryan Hoffer | 18.71 |
| 10 | Adam Brown | 18.72 |
ALL-TIME TOP PERFORMANCES: MEN’S 50 YARD FREE
| Place | Swimmer | Time |
| 1 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.11 |
| 2 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.20 |
| 3 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.23 |
| 4 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.23 |
| 5 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.23 |
| 6 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.24 |
| 7 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.29 |
| 8 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.32 |
| 9 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.38 |
| 10 | Caeleb Dressel | 18.39 |
For a comment about something other than Dressel (not to minimize his greatness), who do people have getting second: Becker or Held? (I vote Becker)
Held. I think Becker peaked at Big 10s. We’ll see though!
The scariest thing about this swim is that he hasn’t even pulled out the Mizuno yet…
He had the short li’l jammer on, which always looks like he’s in a JFK Jr costume:
I knew I recognized his look from somewhere. Thanks Steve!
Dressels stroke looked a little smoother / more controlled / more efficient than in the past. I counted 8 / 11 strokes vs 8 / 12 strokes (by 25) from his 50 last year. Think that bodes really well for long course.
Dressel himself said he had taken an extra stroke last year. If you re watch it you can see he glided in smoother today than he did last year rather than taking the extra stroke and jabbing in
This analysis of Dressel’s start off the blocks is enlightening as it raises many details lost on competitive swimmers:
https://www.yourswimlog.com/caeleb-dressels-start/
18.00 in finals tonight?
Dang, that stat for the all-time performances is just dominance.
But who is that guy in 1-10 place?
I feel like an idiot critiquing anything Dressel does but he did seem a little long into his turn this morning. Room for improvement? Or am I just imagining it?
He very clearly had .12 left in the tank
That is how he does his turns, the dive-turn (just look at previous years swims).
I’m cursing myself for missing getting tickets
Can’t you buy tickets at the door for one day sessions
That’s what I saw online at least