2017 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 22 – Saturday, March 25
- IUPUI Natatorium – Indianapolis, IN
- Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
- Defending Champion: Texas (results)
- Championship Central
- Psych Sheet
- Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday Prelims & Finals, Friday/Saturday Prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
- Live Results
100 BREASTSTROKE
- NCAA: 50.04 3/28/2014 Kevin Cordes, Arizona
- American: 50.04 3/28/2014 Kevin Cordes, Arizona
- U. S. Open: 50.04 3/28/2014 Kevin Cordes, Arizona
- Championship: 50.04 3/28/2014 Kevin Cordes, Arizona
- 2016 NCAA Champion: Fabian Schwingenschlogl, Missouri
With eight swimmers in the field already under 52 this season, the 100 breaststroke is already shaping up to be a faster, tighter, and more exciting race than it was in 2016.
In large part, the heightened excitement comes from Texas and Big 12 record-holder Will Licon, who will be making his NCAA Championship debut in the event. After three seasons of choosing to take on the 400 IM on Saturday instead, to great success (winning the event in 2015 and scoring a silver medal behind soon-to-be-Olympian Josh Prenot in 2016), Licon will close out his college career with a schedule shake-up.
Just last month, Licon dropped a second and a half from his previous best SCY time in the 100 breast. He time trialed for 51.15 at Big 12 Championships, a time fast enough to boost him to the eighth-fastest swimmer in history in the event.
But, to take the title, Licon will have to hold off defending champion Fabian Schwingenschlogl, who became the first University of Missouri swimmer to win an NCAA title in program history last season with his 51.29. Schwingenschlogl has only gotten faster in the past year, putting up a 51.07 at the Mizzou Invite that ranks him as the fifth-fastest swimmer in history. With both at the top of their game this season and hungry for an NCAA title to close out their college careers, the pair of seniors will be the swimmers to watch.
However, after Licon and Schwingenschlogl, the field gets incredibly close. Last season, it took 51.53 to win the event. This time around, the top seven swimmers come in seeded underneath that time, with only two tenths of a second separating third from eighth seed. In fact, the field contains nine of the top twenty swimmers of all time.
Returning from last season’s A final will be Tennessee junior Peter Stevens, Louisville junior Carlos Claverie, South Carolina’s Nils Wich-Glasen, and Virginia Tech’s Brandon Fiala.
Stevens is the defending silver medalist in this event, but, this time around, he comes in seeded 25th. However, don’t count him out. He went 51.9 at SECs last month in prelims, but was disqualified for a dolphin kick motion at the finish. His lifetime best, however, is a 51.51 from last year’s NCAA prelims.
Virginia Tech’s Fiala, who finished fourth, also has a good chance at the top eight, after knocking out 51.50 in ACC prelims last month and holding consistent with 51.51 in finals. Claverie tied Fiala for fourth last season at NCAAs with 52.14, and this time around, his season-best is a 52.05 from ACCs. He will have to drop a chunk of time to make it onto podium this time around.
Meanwhile, South Carolina’s 2016 7th-place finisher Wich-Glasen has a slightly better shot at making it back into the championship final, after improving to 51.58 at SECs last month.
Auburn senior and 2016 B finalist Michael Duderstadt has also been 51.50 this season. He outswam both Wich-Glasen and Schwingenschlogl to take the SEC conference championship in this event last month.
But, it is last year’s B finalist sophomore Ian Finnerty of Indiana who comes in seeded ahead of all these veterans. Finnerty comes into NCAAs third with his 51.38 that won him the Big Ten conference title last month. Last time around in 2016, Finnerty came into NCAAs with a 51.75, only to swim 52.60 in prelims and 54.43 in finals.
Duke senior Peter Kropp should also been in the mix, coming in off a 51.46 personal best that won him second place at ACCs.
| PLACE | SWIMMER | TEAM | SEASON BEST | LIFETIME BEST |
| 1 | Will Licon | Texas | 51.15 (2) | 51.15 |
| 2 | Fabian Schwingenschlogl | Mizzou | 51.07 (1) | 51.07 |
| 3 | Carsten Vissering | USC | 51.45 (4) | 51.45 |
| 4 | Ian Finnerty | Indiana | 51.38 (3) | 51.38 |
| 5 | Peter Kropp | Duke | 51.46 (5) | 51.46 |
| 6 | Peter Stevens | Tennessee | 52.56 (25) | 51.51 |
| 7 | Brandon Fiala | Virginia Tech | 51.50 (7) | 51.50 |
| 8 | Michael Duderstadt | Auburn | 51.50 (6) | 51.50 |
Meanwhile Andrew Wilson will be on a couch somewhere chuckling and eating popcorn
I was heartbroken when Licon just missed out on Rio. I hope he get’s to go to World’s.
Will is backed by the power of the mormon church, none can stand against him.
Is he seriously a Mormon?
No
Watching Marcus Titus go 51.5 at a Masters meet two years ago has me jaded about 51’s in the 100 breaststroke.
andrew wilson
let that man swim exhibition
Yung temps
No mention of Vissering in the article, yet he’s picked for 3rd? I’d love to hear the thoughts there.
Fabian won it in 51.29, your statistic is incorrect
This is the only event someone can upset Licon. I love Schwingenschlogl’s breaststroke and it is designed for 100 y races. Will, on the other hand, has 200 y tempo and stroke, but he is capable of speeding up, dropping a low 50 and winning it. Eddie’s breaststroke teachings favor 200 y races – Eddie has not had a good 100 yard sprinter/winner in a long time. Will will change that this week.
Not the 200 IM? Seems like that race could be the tougher event for Licon to win.
Weird comment on Eddie’s breaststroke teachings favoring 200Y races. He coaches to the individual.
Brendan has not been that long ago has he? Lots of elite 100BR swimmers over his career…
Yep. Plus Hansen always did better against the competition in the 100 than the 200. Check the medal counts over the years at Olympics and Worlds.
When I said “lone time” I meant since Hansen. That has been long time ago.
Fair enough.
I accept ‘long time’ – vis-a-vis Hansen, but the times Licon are putting up in the 100 put him among the elite BR sprinters (credit Eddie) and he will only get faster I believe as he gets older. The 100BR LC or SC has definitely closed up among the international athletes.