There are only a couple of noteworthy scratches on the final day of men’s NCAAs, both coming in the 100 free.
NC State, as they did on day 2, will scratch a potential point-scorer out of an individual race, likely to keep their relays as fresh as possible. David Williams, seeded 20th in the 100 free, is a scratch. He scratched the 200 free on day 2 along with freshman Ryan Held, and that seemed to work out well, with both men helping the Wolfpack take 2nd overall in the 800 free relay.
Williams would have needed a big swim to score in the individual 100, but will play a key role on NC State’s 400 free relay.
In a similar position is Michigan freshman Paul Powers, who drops out of the 100 free after coming in with the 26th seed.
The race between Caeleb Dressel, Kristian Gkolomeev and Simonas Bilis in the 100 Free will be electric tonight. I believe all 3 will lower their lifetime bests. As much as I’m pulling for Dressel to come out on top, I feel Gkolomeev has something to prove and will come on top at 41 low followed by Dressel at 41 mid and Bilis.
Pack on the rise! Moving up to 7th today and winning the relay at night.
All the Texas swimmers are in the early heats of the 1650 – The way Texas is swimming, will this be a year where the winner of the evening heat does not win the race?
It sounds good, but I don’t see it happening this year. Wilimovsky could challenge Jaeger’s AR tonight. I’d be very surprised if anyone catches him.