Men’s NCAA Div I. Championships, Finals: Lochte Outduels Mellouli, Breaks Dolan’s NCAA Mark in the 400 Individual Medley

By Phillip Whitten

ATLANTA, Ga. March 24. FLORIDA'S Ryan Lochte set two American/NCAA records last night. Could he keep the string alive?

The 2004 NCAA champ, Lochte was taking dead aim at Tom Dolan’s NCAA mark of 3:38.18 set in 1995, and Michael Phelps’ American standard of 3:36.28 set earlier this month. Swimming next to Lochte was 2005 champ, Ous Mellouli, the pride of Tunisia swimming for USC.

Lochte took the race out hard, splitting 49.99 for the fly, well ahead of Dolan’s (51.39) and Phelps’ (50.50) pace. He opened up aa 1.5 second advantage on Dolan with his 53.03 backstroke split and appeared to have the race well in hand.

But Mellouli began creeping up on the breaststroke. The Trojan stalwart split 1:02.54 to Lochte’s 1:04.14, turning 0.44 seconds ahead of Dolan’s pace but behind Phelps’.

The final leg was a thrilling a battle between the two leaders, with Lochte splitting 50.99 to Mellouli’s 51.15.

At the wall, it was Lochte in an NCAA record 3:38.15 — .03 sec faster than Dolan – while Mellouli touched in 3:39.47, making him the fourth fastest performer all-time.

Learn more about Tom Dolan

Event 8 Men 400 Yard IM
=========================================================================
NCAA: N 3:38.18 1995 Tom Dolan, Michigan
American: A 3:36.26 2006 Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
US Open: O 3:36.26 2006 Michael Phelps, Club Wolverine
GTAC Pool: P 3:44.76 3/24/2006 Ous Mellouli, SOUTHERN CAL.
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
=========================================================================
=== Championship ===

1 Lochte, Ryan SR Florida 3:46.13 3:38.15N 20
22.97 49.99 (27.02)
1:16.46 (26.47) 1:43.02 (26.56)
2:14.52 (31.50) 2:47.16 (32.64)
3:13.19 (26.03) 3:38.15 (24.96)
2 Mellouli, Ous SR Southern Cal. 3:44.76 3:39.47P 17
23.73 50.69 (26.96)
1:18.40 (27.71) 1:45.78 (27.38)
2:17.06 (31.28) 2:48.32 (31.26)
3:14.51 (26.19) 3:39.47 (24.96)
3 Shanteau, Eric SR Auburn 3:46.39 3:44.27P 16
24.52 52.26 (27.74)
1:21.21 (28.95) 1:49.48 (28.27)
2:20.64 (31.16) 2:52.62 (31.98)
3:19.37 (26.75) 3:44.27 (24.90)
4 Rouault, Sebastien SO Georgia 3:46.40 3:44.63P 15
24.18 51.77 (27.59)
1:20.51 (28.74) 1:48.51 (28.00)
2:20.93 (32.42) 2:53.89 (32.96)
3:20.21 (26.32) 3:44.63 (24.42)
5 Ally, Bradley FR Florida 3:47.59 3:45.67 14
23.65 50.80 (27.15)
1:19.54 (28.74) 1:47.29 (27.75)
2:18.97 (31.68) 2:51.49 (32.52)
3:19.02 (27.53) 3:45.67 (26.65)
6 Vanderkaay, Alex SO Michigan 3:46.84 3:45.93 13
24.02 51.28 (27.26)
1:20.86 (29.58) 1:49.16 (28.30)
2:21.71 (32.55) 2:54.62 (32.91)
3:21.14 (26.52) 3:45.93 (24.79)
7 Nevo, Gal FR Arizona State 3:46.96 3:48.35 12
24.65 53.01 (28.36)
1:22.99 (29.98) 1:51.87 (28.88)
2:23.46 (31.59) 2:55.43 (31.97)
3:22.44 (27.01) 3:48.35 (25.91)
8 Stephens, Mark SR Stanford 3:47.70 3:51.64 11
24.32 53.01 (28.69)
1:22.36 (29.35) 1:51.44 (29.08)
2:23.71 (32.27) 2:56.88 (33.17)
3:24.47 (27.59) 3:51.64 (27.17)

=== Consolation ===

9 Mitchell, Adam SR Minnesota 3:49.86 3:47.71 9
24.60 52.87 (28.27)
1:22.51 (29.64) 1:51.14 (28.63)
2:23.69 (32.55) 2:55.89 (32.20)
3:22.58 (26.69) 3:47.71 (25.13)
10 Knaute, Chris JR Air Force 3:48.98 3:49.03 7
24.54 52.07 (27.53)
1:22.02 (29.95) 1:51.10 (29.08)
2:24.60 (33.50) 2:58.06 (33.46)
3:23.95 (25.89) 3:49.03 (25.08)
11 Hartley, Brian SR Florida 3:49.44 3:49.16 6
24.69 52.80 (28.11)
1:21.78 (28.98) 1:50.23 (28.45)
2:24.30 (34.07) 2:58.30 (34.00)
3:24.56 (26.26) 3:49.16 (24.60)
12 Nead, Kevin SO Florida 3:50.04 3:49.68 5
24.97 53.18 (28.21)
1:22.65 (29.47) 1:51.18 (28.53)
2:24.20 (33.02) 2:57.28 (33.08)
3:23.80 (26.52) 3:49.68 (25.88)
13 Mellors, Pat SO Virginia 3:48.11 3:50.20 4
24.15 52.02 (27.87)
1:21.58 (29.56) 1:50.00 (28.42)
2:22.90 (32.90) 2:56.13 (33.23)
3:23.57 (27.44) 3:50.20 (26.63)
14 Oriwol, Tobias SR Stanford 3:48.36 3:50.49 3
24.72 52.95 (28.23)
1:22.46 (29.51) 1:51.21 (28.75)
2:23.92 (32.71) 2:57.43 (33.51)
3:24.91 (27.48) 3:50.49 (25.58)
15 Gloeckner, Julius FR Louisiana State 3:49.38 3:50.53 2
24.65 53.07 (28.42)
1:23.52 (30.45) 1:52.59 (29.07)
2:25.15 (32.56) 2:58.38 (33.23)
3:25.20 (26.82) 3:50.53 (25.33)
16 Newman, Keenan SO Stanford 3:50.42 3:53.81 1
24.96 53.92 (28.96)
1:24.13 (30.21) 1:54.22 (30.09)
2:27.13 (32.91) 2:59.82 (32.69)
3:27.23 (27.41) 3:53.81 (26.58)

=== Preliminaries ===

17 Molina, Miguel SR Cal. Berkeley 3:50.62
18 Zoldak, Krzysztof SO Pacific 3:50.99
19 Nuess, CJ SO Arizona State 3:51.56
20 Hasbani, Meir JR Princeton 3:51.58
20 King, Nathan JR Ohio State 3:51.58
22 Johnson, Mark JR Auburn 3:51.70
23 Vayo, Louis SO Cal. Berkeley 3:51.95
24 Rathgeber, Geoff SO Harvard 3:51.96
25 Calado, Gus JR Virginia Polytec 3:52.97
26 Maire, Romain SO Purdue 3:53.11
27 Morgan, Sam SR Georgia Tech 3:53.71
28 Crippen, Fran SR Virginia 3:53.84
29 Clark, Ian JR Southern Method. 3:55.29
— Murry, Steven FR Indiana DQ

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