{"id":141852,"date":"2015-07-08T14:00:38","date_gmt":"2015-07-08T21:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=141852"},"modified":"2015-07-08T07:16:39","modified_gmt":"2015-07-08T14:16:39","slug":"100-im-at-mens-ncaas-who-would-win-the-championship-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/100-im-at-mens-ncaas-who-would-win-the-championship-final\/","title":{"rendered":"100 IM at Men’s NCAAs: Who Would Win the Championship Final?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Patrick Murphy, Swimming World Intern<\/em><\/p>\n

After hearing the news that the NCAA approved the 100 IM as an event for dual meets and conference meets, I thought it would be cool to retrospectively look back at 2015 Men\u2019s NCAAs. What would have happened if the 100 IM were an event at NCAAs? Who would have contended for a title?<\/p>\n

When I think about the 100 IM, I think about versatile swimmers. The race values underwater kicking; where explosive underwaters can make or break a swimmer in a 25.\u00a0Speed is also important, considering the 100 IM is the most pure sprint event in existence.\u00a0 Obviously, proficiency in all four strokes is crucial. In addition to underwaters, speed, and stroke versatility, the most important aspect of the 100 IM is finishing ability.<\/p>\n

Who has the knack for getting his hand on the wall? Who doesn\u2019t lose close races? That racer mentality is essential for the ideal 100 IMer. So what does it take to be an elite 100 IMer? It serves as an event for the fastest swimmers in the NCAA, the swimmers who can split 18\/41 on the 200 and 400 freetyle relays, but also dominate underwaters and swim multiple strokes at an elite level.\u00a0Based on the\u00a0criteria, there are quite a few names that come to mind when determining who would be the top 100 IMers.<\/p>\n

Note: I am not taking event order or a swimmer\u2019s three championship events into consideration. This is simply a look at the eight swimmers in the NCAA who have the makings of an elite 100 IMer.<\/p>\n

Here are my 2015 NCAA 100 IM Championship Finalists:<\/h2>\n

Lane 1: Will Hamilton<\/strong>, Senior, University of California<\/h3>\n
\"Photo<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

Strengths: No weak stroke, Butterfly<\/em><\/p>\n

Weakness: Speed<\/em><\/p>\n

This may seem like a stretch, but Will<\/strong> Hamilton<\/strong> won the King of the Pool in the fall, including an impressive 100 IM at the end. He can swim all the strokes, and although he does not have the game-changing speed of some of these competitors, he is a tough racer who has some pretty good underwaters as well.<\/p>\n

Lane 2: Will Licon, Sophomore, University of Texas<\/h3>\n
\"william-licon-Texas-\"<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

Strengths: No weak stroke, Breaststroke, Finishing ability, Butterfly, Getting hand on wall<\/em><\/p>\n

Weaknesses: Speed, Underwaters<\/em><\/p>\n

Will<\/strong> Licon<\/strong> went 1:40.0 in the 200. He also split 21.6 in the fly leg of the 200 IM and 50.9 in the 100 breast on the medley relay, so he has more speed than most think. In the end, speed and underwaters are more important than actual swimming ability in this event, and that hurts Licon.<\/p>\n

Lane 3: Caeleb Dressel, Freshman, University of Florida<\/h3>\n
\"caeleb-dressel-florida-\"<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

Strengths: Speed, Speed, Speed, No weak stroke<\/em><\/p>\n

Weaknesses: Inconsistent, Underwaters???<\/em><\/p>\n

He\u2019s an 18.6 flat start 50 freestyler who does not have a weak stroke. That sounds like someone with 100 IM potential. While Caeleb<\/strong> Dressel<\/strong> has dominant underwaters compared to other sprint freestylers, does he still have that advantage against some of the best butterflyers and backstrokers in the world? That might determine if he can win this event. Another concern is his inconsistency across his events at NCAAs, but he has the speed to compete with anyone in a 100 IM.<\/p>\n

Lane 4: David Nolan, Senior, Stanford University<\/h3>\n
\"david-nolan-stanford-\"<\/a>

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick<\/p><\/div>\n

Strengths: No weak stroke, Underwaters, Speed, Finishing ability,\u00a0<\/em>Backstroke, Freestyle<\/i><\/p>\n

Weakness: Getting hand on wall<\/em><\/p>\n

David<\/strong> Nolan<\/strong> was the first person to break 1:40 in the 200 IM and he spent four years almost singlehandedly keeping Stanford\u2019s relays competitive. He is a perennial 18 low\/41 low split guy. Oh yeah, and in his \u201cweakest stroke,\u201d he split a 51.2 in his breaststroke leg on the medley relay. The only knock on Nolan is that, although he traditionally finishes races well, he has a history of losing some races when he was the clear favorite. Most likely, he wins this race with no problem.<\/p>\n