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Watch: NC State Erases Supersuit Era American Record in 400 Free Relay

Braden Keith
by Braden Keith 12

February 25th, 2018 News

2018 ACC MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • When: Wednesday, February 21st to Saturday, February 24th | Prelims 10:00am | Finals 6:00pm
  • Where: Greensboro Aquatics Center, Greensboro, NC (Eastern Time Zone)
  • Defending Champion: NC State Wolfpack
  • Psych Sheet: here
  • Live Results: here
  • Championship Central: here

Courtesy of LouisvilleSwimming YouTube account

The NC State Wolfpack quartet of Ryan HeldJustin Ress, Jacob Molcaek, and Coleman Stewart put the cherry on the top of their ACC championship sundae Saturday night by delivering an American Record in the 400 free relay to end the final night of competition at the 2018 ACC championships.  Their time of 2:45.69 took down the previous American Record of 2:47.02 that the Texas Longhorns set in 2009 during the so-called “supersuit” era.

As far as we can tell, that was the last remaining American Record from the days of those now-banned suits, with the next-oldest record being the 200 free relay mark set by Stanford in 2011.

First, a bearded Held led off with a 41.45, just a hair off of his time in the individual 100 free earlier tonight, and built a body length by the time he came out of his last turn.  Ress blasted an incredibly rare sub-41 split (40.87), then Molacek turned in a 41.71 that would’ve been the fastest time on any other team in the field.  Finally, Stewart, hitherto primarily known for his backstroke prowess, kicked almost to the 15m mark on each turn to deliver a 41.66 anchor leg.

That’s now the 2nd-fastest time ever in the event, ranking only behind the 2:45.39 the Texas Longhorns recorded at last year’s NCAA championship meet.  That relay’s time doesn’t count as an American Record, because it included Joe Schooling, who represents Singapore internationally. NC State is also the 2nd team ever to break 2:46, as the longstanding record that went down last March was a 2:46.03 that Auburn swam in 2009.

NC State will get another go at that NCAA and US Open record at next month’s NCAA championships.

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Oldswimfan
6 years ago

It’s definitely not The DeSorbo Effect….

So what do we call this?
Guntoro Train
Holloway Submarine
Taylor Milestone
Houchin Speedster

marklewis
6 years ago

NC State sprinters feel “the Need, the Need for Speed!”

Texas has Haas, Schooling and Ringgold returning to their relay. And Tate Jackson will be their 4th guy.

The 400 free relay will be a Race to Watch. There’s going to be a new record at the NCAAs. It’s the last event of the meet, but it going to be a Doozy.

Swimsquare
6 years ago

Not just no super suits, BUT WITH A BEARD ON RYAN, and not a full taper on either Held or Ress.

DCSWIM
6 years ago

Stuart’s UWs were GROSS

Swimmer
Reply to  DCSWIM
6 years ago

Dirty undies

completelyconquered
6 years ago

No referee standing at the 15m mark, smh.

Bigly
Reply to  completelyconquered
6 years ago

Wrong. White haired guy on the near side nearest the wall, and other one on the opposite side nearest the blocks.

completelyconquered
Reply to  Bigly
6 years ago

Okay, I didn’t see the guy on the near side of the pool. I was looking at the far side, figured they all be over there. DON’T HATE ME JESUS.

Big Lump
Reply to  completelyconquered
6 years ago

There is one on either side of the pool… what video are you watching?

Dudeman
Reply to  completelyconquered
6 years ago

You only see what you want to see, even if it’s wrong

Silent Observer
6 years ago

After the Held /Ress combo.. That race was over. wow!

Swimmer
Reply to  Silent Observer
6 years ago

It was over before it started.

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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