2023 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- March 22-25, 2023
- Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center | Minneapolis, MN
- SCY (25 yards)
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Leon Marchand went 1:36.34 in the 200 IM… That’s it. That’s the tweet.
The Arizona State sophomore sent the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center into a frenzy as he annihilated the NCAA and U.S. Open Record in the 200 IM on Thursday night, touching in a time of 1:36.34.
Marchand’s time knocks 1.35 seconds off his previous record of 1:37.69, set at last year’s NCAA Championships.
Splits:
- 21.09
- 44.07 (22.98)
- 1:11.73 (27.66)
- 1:36.34 (24.61)
Tonight, he will go 3:28 high in the 400 IM. He swam prelims in second gear, in finals, he will be on overdrive.
OK. To use Coleman’s word, Leon murdered Destin Lasco on that 2 IM. Which is absolutely insane, because Destin Lasco set the American Record with his swim. I mean, go back and watch Dressel’s American Record from 2018 SECs…and just visualize an imaginary Marchand swimming nearly 2 seconds faster than Dressel in that race. Insanity. Are we going to see a 1:53 LCM 2IM in Paris? A 1:52??? Can’t wait!!!
What would be really impressive is next year he does the 500, 200fr, and either 200bk or 1650 on day 3 just to get 3 more challenging events under his belt. Would be really interesting to see what he could do in the 1650 – could possibly go under 14.
What in the world suggests he could go sub 14.
It seems Leon has perfected breathing underwater. Breathing in the chlorine has raised his midichlorian count to the point he can use the force to part the water as he swims.
My masters team today raced 100 IM. A few of us finished under 1:11.73, meaning we wouldn’t have gotten lapped!
Great job Coleman! Here’s my question. Could Leon make the A final in every event? We know the obvious, both IMs, both breaststrokes, certainly the 2fly, more than likely the 100 fly with his opening split on the 1st 100 of the 200 IM, certainly the 200 free and 500 free, he outsplit the backstrokers (Lasco, Foster, and Hugo) in the back of the IM. So what would Leon make the A final in and which events could he win?
I think he would win or have a chance of winning every event except the 50/100 free. Haven’t seen enough to indicate that he could throw down a crazy time in the mile but I think he’d have a chance given his inhuman endurance.
He had the second fastest 100 Free split on the relay, so he could probably at least make the A final there. Not sure about the 50 though, since he’d be eating the wake of a bunch of giants.
I still remember having to pick my jaw off the floor after seeing David Nolan’s first 1:39 in 2015. That feels like another sport at this point
For the record Coleman, I was worried you were gonna fall off the table during the race.