2022 NCAA Men’s Championships: Cal’s Bjorn Seeliger Scorches 18.45 in 50 Freestyle Prelims

Bjorn Seeliger. Photo Courtesy: Luke Jamroz Photography

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The 2022 NCAA Men’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championship continued with the prelims of the 50-yard freestyle from McAuley Aquatic Center on the campus of Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

We are far from the days of Caeleb Dressel dominating this event with eye-popping times.

However, the excitement of the race should be there with nine swimmers entering the prelims with swims in the 18s, led by Tennessee freshman Jordan Crooks, who entered as the top seed with an 18.53. NC State’s David Curtiss, Virginia’s Matt Brownstead, LSU’s Brooks Curry and Cal’s Bjorn Seeliger entered the day all within striking distance as well.

Seeliger went an 18.45 in heat five, the second-fastest swim in Cal history and took the top seed overall heading into finals.

In the sixth heat, Texas’ Drew Kibler went 18.60 from Lane 8 to win the heat, while teammate Cameron Auchinachie was 18.63.

Crooks went 18.60 in the final heat to hold off Florida’s Adam Chaney.

The NCAA Finalists

1. Bjorn Seeliger, Cal, 18.45
2. Drew Kibler, Texas, 18.60
2. Jordan Crooks, Tennessee, 18.60
4. Cameron Auchinachie, Texas, 18.63
5. Youssef Ramadan, Virginia Tech, 18.79
6. Matt Brownstead, Virginia, 18.85
6. Brooks Curry, LSU, 18.85
8. Nyls Korstanje, NC State, 18.94

NCAA DIVISION I TOP SEEDS COMING INTO MEET

500 Freestyle: Matthew Sates, Georgia, 4:09.06
200 IM: Leon Marchand, Arizona State, 1:39.65
50 Freestyle: Jordan Crooks, Tennessee, 18.53
400 IM: Leon Marchand, Arizona State, 3:34.45
100 Butterfly: Andrei Minakov, Stanford, 43.90
200 Freestyle: Grant House, Arizona State, 1;30.23
NCAA 100 Breaststroke: Max McHugh, Minnesota, 50.58
100 Backstroke: Brendan Burns, Indiana, 44.31
1650 Freestyle: Bobby Finke, Florida, 14:27.70
200 Backstroke: Destin Lasco, Cal, 1:38.81
100 Freestyle: Brooks Curry, LSU, 40.99
200 Breaststroke: Max McHugh, Minnesota, 1:49.45
200 Butterfly: Nick Albiero, Louisville, 1:37.92

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