NCAA Men’s Championships: Florida Sprints to NCAA Mark in Freestyle Relay With Record That Has ‘So Much History on it’

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The second night of the 2023 NCAA Division I Men’s Championships concluded with the 200 freestyle relay.

After an extremely fast final in the 50 freestyle, the event brought some speed from a plethora of teams.

Florida, the defending champion, was able to pull of a stunning repeat – and in NCAA record fashion, winning in 1:13.35.

Josh Liendo led off with an 18.22, followed by Adam Chaney (18.37), Eric Friese (18:64) and Macguire McDuff (18.12).

“In practice, we always talked about the record. We joked about it, but at the same time, we were serious,” Liendo said. “We went to go get it.”

The previous NCAA record was set by Auburn in 2009 (1:14.08), during the time of tech suits. It was the last men’s race that still had a tech-suit-era record.

“I don’t think that it was because it was the last tech suit record, it just has been around since 2009. How long that record has been around has so much history on it,” Chaney said.

The Gators repeated as champs with Friese and Chaney on both relays.

“It means so much. I have been thinking about this (record) since my freshman year. For Adam and I, it is really special, and we have been dreaming about this for three years,” Friese said.

It speaks to the growth of the Gators, especially in the sprint events, continuing in the tradition of Dressel, but winning sprint relays with six different swimmers in the past two years.

“If you are a good sprinter, come to Florida, as you can see. This was Eric’s last swim ever and we did it for him,” Chaney said. “But we will hopefully be able to rotate more swimmers in and get even faster.”

Liendo said part of the Florida allure is the ability to balance fun with focus.

“It is the best training environment. We train hard, but have fun,” Liendo said. “There is a balance. The coaches keep us in check. But we are serious when we need to be serious.”

Like right before a 200 free relay final.

“We really know when to focus,” Chaney said. “I have never seen us more focused than before this relay. We wanted to break the record and (it was ours to lose as defending champions). That was the most pressure we ever had.”

McDuff was happy to be a part of the relay and anchor the record.

“I put a ton of pressure on myself. I wanted to perform. I didn’t have a great swim this morning, so I knew had more to give,” McDuff said.

Cal took second with Bjorn Seeliger, Jack Alexy, Liam Bell and Destin Lasco getting to the wall in 1:13.82, also beating the previous NCAA mark set.

NC State took third with Noah Henderson, Nyls Korstanje, Luke Miller and David Curtiss (1:14.44).

Tennessee was fourth behind Jordan Crooks, Guilherme Santos, Scott Scanlon and Aleksey Tarasenko (1:14.68).

In the second heat, an 18.63 split from Youssef Ramadan gave Virginia Tech an early lead, and the Hokies hung on to win the heat in 1:15.67, nine hundredths behind Texas’s time in the first heat.

The Longhorns won the first heat in 1:15.58, putting 500 free winner Luke Hobson on the anchor leg.

Event 7  Men 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 1:14.08  3/28/2009 Auburn
                          J Andkjaer, G Louw, K Norys, M Targett
         Meet: M 1:14.08  3/28/2009 Auburn
                          J Andkjaer, G Louw, K Norys, M Targett
     American: A 1:14.47  2/16/2022 Virginia
                          M Brownstead, M King, C Boyle, A Lamb
   U. S. Open: O 1:14.08  3/28/2009 Auburn
                          J Andkjaer, G Louw, K Norys, M Targett
         Pool: P 1:14.39  3/22/2018 University of Florida
                          Dressel, Switkowski, Martinez-Scarpe, Szaranek
    School                                 Seed     Finals Points 
==================================================================================
  1 Florida                             1:14.19    1:13.35N  40  
     1) Liendo, Josh FR               2) r:0.19 Chaney, Adam JR       
     3) r:+0.00 Friese, Eric SR       4) r:0.04 McDuff, Macguire SO   
     r:+0.60  8.85        18.22 (18.22)
           26.79 (8.57)       36.59 (18.37)
           45.00 (8.41)       55.23 (18.64)
         1:03.72 (8.49)     1:13.35 (18.12)
  2 California                          1:15.40    1:13.82N  34  
     1) Seeliger, Bjorn JR            2) r:0.23 Alexy, Jack SO        
     3) r:0.25 Bell, Liam SR          4) r:0.15 Lasco, Destin JR      
     r:+0.66  8.74        18.59 (18.59)
           27.02 (8.43)       36.71 (18.12)
           45.44 (8.73)       55.30 (18.59)
         1:04.00 (8.70)     1:13.82 (18.52)
  3 NC State                            1:15.10    1:14.44   32  
     1) Henderson, Noah SR            2) r:0.20 Korstanje, Nyls SR    
     3) r:0.21 Miller, Luke JR        4) r:0.34 Curtiss, David SO     
     r:+0.61  9.01        18.88 (18.88)
           27.38 (8.50)       37.18 (18.30)
           45.90 (8.72)       55.77 (18.59)
         1:04.73 (8.96)     1:14.44 (18.67)
  4 Tennessee                           1:15.32    1:14.68   30  
     1) Crooks, Jordan SO             2) r:0.23 Santos, Guilherme FR  
     3) r:0.11 Scanlon, Scott SR      4) r:0.15 Tarasenko, Aleksey 5Y 
     r:+0.60  8.81        18.44 (18.44)
           27.06 (8.62)       36.88 (18.44)
           45.67 (8.79)       55.64 (18.76)
         1:04.59 (8.95)     1:14.68 (19.04)
  5 ASU                                 1:15.30    1:15.06   28  
     1) Dolan, Jack SR                2) r:0.14 Kulow, Jonny FR       
     3) r:0.09 McCusker, Max 5Y       4) r:0.23 House, Grant 5Y       
     r:+0.69  9.30        19.18 (19.18)
           27.69 (8.51)       37.49 (18.31)
           46.23 (8.74)       56.27 (18.78)
         1:05.00 (8.73)     1:15.06 (18.79)
  6 Virginia                            1:15.89    1:15.26   26  
     1) Brownstead, Matt JR           2) r:0.17 Lamb, August SR       
     3) r:0.17 Boyle, Connor SO       4) r:0.14 Aikins, Jack SO       
     r:+0.59  8.97        18.97 (18.97)
           27.72 (8.75)       37.62 (18.65)
           46.42 (8.80)       56.49 (18.87)
         1:05.23 (8.74)     1:15.26 (18.77)
  7 Texas                               1:16.88    1:15.58   24  
     1) Larson, Peter SR              2) r:0.32 Krueger, Danny 5Y     
     3) r:0.08 Corbeau, Caspar SR     4) r:0.12 Hobson, Luke SO       
     r:+0.61  9.23        19.33 (19.33)
           28.35 (9.02)       38.45 (19.12)
           46.97 (8.52)       56.93 (18.48)
         1:05.68 (8.75)     1:15.58 (18.65)
  8 VT                                  1:16.15    1:15.67   22  
     1) Ramadan, Youssef JR           2) r:0.16 Coll Marti, Carles JR 
     3) r:0.16 Dominguez CalonLuis SO 4) r:0.20 Hayon, Will FR        
     r:+0.57  9.05        18.68 (18.68)
           27.48 (8.80)       37.59 (18.91)
           46.49 (8.90)       56.63 (19.04)
         1:05.59 (8.96)     1:15.67 (19.04)
  9 Indiana                             1:16.29    1:15.83   18  
     1) Mathias, Van 5Y               2) r:0.12 Wight, Gavin JR       
     3) r:0.26 Brooks, Finn SO        4) r:0.22 Miroslaw, Rafael SO   
     r:+0.67  9.13        18.96 (18.96)
           27.94 (8.98)       37.94 (18.98)
           46.82 (8.88)       56.91 (18.97)
         1:05.75 (8.84)     1:15.83 (18.92)
 10 Auburn                              1:15.94    1:15.85   14  
     1) Makinen, Kalle FR             2) r:0.18 Tirheimer, Logan JR   
     3) r:0.07 Stoffle, Nate SO       4) r:0.05 Deliyiannis, Mialis 5Y
     r:+0.72  9.34        19.30 (19.30)
           28.04 (8.74)       38.03 (18.73)
           46.83 (8.80)       57.00 (18.97)
         1:05.74 (8.74)     1:15.85 (18.85)
 11 Louisville                          1:15.90    1:15.95   12  
     1) Elaraby, Abdelrahman SR       2) r:0.10 Eastman, Michael 5Y   
     3) r:0.07 Lowe, Dalton JR        4) r:0.07 Dubinin, Vlad SR      
     r:+0.60  9.10        19.22 (19.22)
           27.99 (8.77)       38.17 (18.95)
           46.88 (8.71)       56.96 (18.79)
         1:05.79 (8.83)     1:15.95 (18.99)
 12 Arizona                             1:15.97    1:16.08   10  
     1) Ercegovic, Marin 5Y           2) r:0.18 Palmer, Tommy FR      
     3) r:0.07 Miller, Seth JR        4) r:0.04 Perham, Ryan JR       
     r:+0.71  9.45        19.35 (19.35)
           28.32 (8.97)       38.30 (18.95)
           47.14 (8.84)       57.51 (19.21)
         1:06.19 (8.68)     1:16.08 (18.57)
 13 Michigan                            1:16.60    1:16.31    8  
     1) Szabados, Bence JR            2) r:0.00 Peel, Cam SR          
     3) r:0.26 Cohen Groumi, Gal SO   4) r:0.16 Acin, Nikola 5Y       
     r:+0.63  9.23        19.24 (19.24)
           27.79 (8.55)       38.05 (18.81)
           47.03 (8.98)       57.20 (19.15)
         1:06.24 (9.04)     1:16.31 (19.11)
 14 Stanford                            1:16.24    1:16.44    6  
     1) Minakov, Andrei JR            2) r:0.28 Maurer, Luke JR       
     3) r:0.25 Gu, Rafael FR          4) r:0.25 Affeld, Jonny JR      
     r:+0.62  9.15        19.16 (19.16)
           28.30 (9.14)       38.27 (19.11)
           47.24 (8.97)       57.27 (19.00)
         1:06.27 (9.00)     1:16.44 (19.17)
 15 Missouri                            1:16.39    1:16.53    4  
     1) Dahlgren, Jack 5Y             2) r:0.05 Hammer, Kevin SR      
     3) r:0.08 Bochenski, Grant SO    4) r:0.22 Storms, Eric 5Y       
     r:+0.58  9.47        19.41 (19.41)
           28.20 (8.79)       38.41 (19.00)
           47.30 (8.89)       57.36 (18.95)
         1:06.26 (8.90)     1:16.53 (19.17)
 16 Ohio St                             1:16.39    1:16.66    2  
     1) Gaziev, Ruslan JR             2) r:0.18 Baltes, Daniel SO     
     3) r:0.23 McDonald, Mario JR     4) r:0.07 Ward, James SR        
     r:+0.65  9.14        19.16 (19.16)
           28.12 (8.96)       38.43 (19.27)
           47.30 (8.87)       57.49 (19.06)
         1:06.43 (8.94)     1:16.66 (19.17)
 17 TAMU                                1:16.64    1:16.70  
     1) Bratanov, Koko SR             2) r:0.11 Foote, Connor FR      
     3) r:0.12 Nelson, Baylor FR      4) r:0.27 Gogulski, Ethan SR    
     r:+0.67  9.55        19.53 (19.53)
           28.50 (8.97)       38.57 (19.04)
           47.67 (9.10)       57.86 (19.29)
         1:06.71 (8.85)     1:16.70 (18.84)
 18 Georgia                             1:17.10    1:16.80  
     1) Downing, Dillon SR            2) r:0.00 Branzell, Reese SO    
     3) r:0.32 Hils, Zach SR          4) r:0.21 Dunham, Bradley SR    
     r:+0.61  9.17        19.17 (19.17)
           28.06 (8.89)       37.96 (18.79)
           47.08 (9.12)       57.37 (19.41)
         1:06.56 (9.19)     1:16.80 (19.43)
 19 Wisconsin                           1:16.79    1:16.85  
     1) Benson, Andrew JR             2) r:0.24 Wiegand, Ben SO       
     3) r:0.17 Torepe-Ormsby, aiko FR 4) r:0.27 Newmark, Jake JR      
     r:+0.59  9.38        19.75 (19.75)
           28.66 (8.91)       38.78 (19.03)
           47.55 (8.77)       57.58 (18.80)
         1:06.74 (9.16)     1:16.85 (19.27)
 20 UNLV                                1:16.62    1:17.30  
     1) Huey, Bryson SO               2) r:0.15 Ratiu, George JR      
     3) r:0.11 Butler, Steven SR      4) r:0.17 Hemmens, Reece 5Y     
     r:+0.53  9.35        19.53 (19.53)
           28.65 (9.12)       38.89 (19.36)
           48.11 (9.22)       58.34 (19.45)
         1:07.23 (8.89)     1:17.30 (18.96)
 21 Harvard                             1:16.54    1:17.36  
     1) Holmquist, Marcus JR          2) r:0.06 Linnihan, Ryan SR     
     3) r:0.04 Gures, Umitcan SR      4) r:0.04 Simpson, Jared SR     
     r:+0.62  9.31        19.62 (19.62)
           28.48 (8.86)       38.86 (19.24)
           47.89 (9.03)       58.22 (19.36)
         1:07.07 (8.85)     1:17.36 (19.14)
 22 Notre Dame                          1:16.89    1:17.44  
     1) Guiliano, Chris SO            2) r:0.03 Wilburn, Cason SR     
     3) r:0.14 Scannell, Thacher SR   4) r:0.13 Janton, Tommy FR      
     r:+0.62  9.03        19.02 (19.02)
           27.80 (8.78)       38.32 (19.30)
           47.46 (9.14)       58.08 (19.76)
         1:07.13 (9.05)     1:17.44 (19.36)
 -- Alabama                             1:17.26         DQ  
     1) Korstanje, Tim FR             2) r:0.04 Menke, Matt SR        
     3) r:-0.08 Maas, Derek SR        4) r:0.20 Hawke, Charlie SO     
     r:+0.56  9.32        19.69 (19.69)
           28.46 (8.77)       38.75 (19.06)
           47.34 (8.59)       57.73 (18.98)
         1:06.62 (8.89)          DQ (19.04)
 
                      Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 7                       
 
  1. California                        184   2. Texas                             165
  3. Arizona St                        154   4. NC State                        151.5
  5. Florida                           145   6. Indiana                            99
  7. Tennessee                          87   8. Stanford                           74
  9. Auburn                             57  10. Louisville                         55
 11. Virginia                           53  12. Virginia Tech                      52
 13. Texas A&M                          44  14. Georgia                            36
 15. Ohio St                          31.5  16. Alabama                            26
 17. Lsu                                22  18. Wisconsin                          19
 19. Notre Dame                         17  20. UNC                                15
 21. Southern California                14  22. Michigan                           12
 23. Arizona                            10  23. Missouri                           10
 25. Miami                               9  26. Princeton                           4
 27. Georgia Tech                        3  28. Pittsburgh                          1

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