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Caeleb Dressel Re-Breaks His 15-16 200 Freestyle NAG Record

The Bolles Schools’ Caeleb Dressel has had a very fast season. He broke several 15-16 national age group records at the World Championship Trials in June in Indianapolis, setting the 200 freestyle record at 1:49.83.

Today, Dressel broke his national age group record in Irvine, California at the Junior National Championships. He won the B-final of the men’s 200 freestyle crushing his previous time with a 1:48.64. His time from finals would have won the event, but he swam a 1:51.69 in the morning prelim session, narrowly missing the championship final.

Dressel already had the top spot on USA Swimming’s Junior World Championship Selection List. Previously, he tied with Dynamo Swim Club’s Gunnar Bentz. Bentz, who also swam a 1:49.83 at the World Championship Trials in June. Today, Dressel moved ahead to claim the number one spot on the list, but Bentz was also able to improve his time to 1:49.57.

Because Dressel was not in the championship final heat, Gunnar Bentz is the new Junior National Champion in the men’s 200 freestyle. Bentz was followed by Blake Pieroni of Duneland Swim Club and Alexander Katz of the Sarasota YMCA Sharks.

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ZYNG43
11 years ago

Mickchickenn I hope you’re trolling

boknows34
Reply to  ZYNG43
11 years ago

He was making a tongue in cheek comment.

CB
11 years ago

Too true Steve, just watched his interview, and comes down to a bit of inexperience not being able to judge the pace while trying to stay rested as possible for finals.

PAC12BACKER
Reply to  CB
11 years ago

He simply grabbed a loaf from the bakery in the morning. Just the facts.

PAC12BACKER
11 years ago

Loafing in the morning and missing the A Final, when you are clearly one of the top two or three swimmers in the event is sometimes a sign of impending burn-out, sometimes a sign of missed strategy, and sometimes simply not feeling well. I doubt the latter since he recovered enough to break a meet record.

Not wanting to swim fast all the time at age 16 = disappointing.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  PAC12BACKER
11 years ago

Yo, everybody remember that time Jason Lezak swam too slow in the heats of the 100 at the ’04 Olympics? This kind of thing happens. Instead of just flinging sh*t at the wall (which is, ya know, what you’re doing) maybe let’s just try not to be too hard on the kid. Because, ya know, he’s a kid.

PAC12BACKER
Reply to  Steve Nolan
11 years ago

ok, we’ll see what happens. Hopefully no burn-out in a couple years.

fellowswimmer
Reply to  PAC12BACKER
3 years ago

I don’t think he burned out lmao.

MickChickenn
Reply to  PAC12BACKER
11 years ago

Oh yes. A 1:51 for a 16 year old is just terrible. He should be ashamed of himself. Top seed in B finals? What was he thinking? The entire rest of the field could have gone personal bests and dropped 6 seconds each! Where would Dressel have been then? Not even in a final! What a lazy, undisciplined swimmer.

PAC12BACKER
Reply to  MickChickenn
11 years ago

LOL. Funny. I like the cut of your jib!

don
11 years ago

Bobo is correct, a 50,100,200 trifecta is not going to happen.This is what Nathan Adrian had to say after his 50 at WC’s : ” The 50 was really, really fast this year. It’s really wild, it makes me wish I could time travel. I’ve been saying this all week, training has become so incredibly specific for every single event […] It’s become so specific, the more you can specify, the better you can become.”

aswimfan
Reply to  don
11 years ago

Specializing is not this year’s invention.
Even from the 1950s and before, top swimmers have always specialized.

However, the greatest swimmers throughout history are less affected by specialization although they are still less successful in their non-core events.

whoknows
Reply to  don
11 years ago

In athletics, you do not see a trifecta of 100-200-400 meters…. it only makes sense in swimming also

PAC12BACKER
Reply to  whoknows
11 years ago

The equivalency of the 50/100/200 in swimming is 200/400/800 in track.

whoknows
Reply to  PAC12BACKER
11 years ago

correct

Steve Nolan
Reply to  PAC12BACKER
11 years ago

50 in swimming is probably closer to the 100 in track, maybe even the 60. GO FAST ALL THE TIME. The other two, yeah.

PAC12BACKER
Reply to  Steve Nolan
11 years ago

Incorrect. 50M free WR at 20.9 is way different than Bolt’s 100M Track record of 9.58. 50 swim is much closer to the 200 track.

aswimfan
11 years ago

One of the reasons that created greatest swimmers such as Phelps, Thorpe, Lochte, Franklin, PVDH etc was their willingness and audacity to tackle events that are outside their core events, even in the chance that they may not win it.

DutchWomen
11 years ago

PVH was the last one to seriously challenge the 50/100/200 “Triple Crown” on the world stage. It would be fun to see someone do it again!!

bobo gigi
Reply to  DutchWomen
11 years ago

Impossible. I talk to win of course.

aswimfan
Reply to  bobo gigi
11 years ago

talking to win in all 50/100200 might be impossible, to medal in 50/100/200 is not impossible.

you can always medal in 50/200 and win in 100, no?

And why do object someone who want to medal?

You seem to always want these swimmers to win and does not expect them to win anything less than gold.

bobo gigi
Reply to  aswimfan
11 years ago

I think it’s better to win one gold medal rather than 2 silver medals and one bronze medal. Just my opinion.

aswimfan
Reply to  bobo gigi
11 years ago

I think it’s better to win 1 gold medal and 1 silver and 1 bronze rather than 1 gold medal and 0 silver and 0 bronze. My opinion too.

aswimfan
Reply to  bobo gigi
11 years ago

If Thorpe had only focused on 200 or 400, he would not have been regarded as arguably the greatest male freestyler.

SwimFanFinland
Reply to  bobo gigi
11 years ago

Sjöström was 4th in 50m, 2nd in 100m and 4th in 200m and she does fly too. Maybe it’s not totally beyond the realms of possibility? Cate was 2nd, 1st and ?.

F
11 years ago

Didn’t Ian Crocker have the NAG record with a 1:49.48? Caeleb didn’t have it until today.

bobo gigi
Reply to  F
11 years ago

Correct. Caeleb Dressel didn’t have this NAG record. Mr Crocker had it.

ERVINFORTHEWIN
11 years ago

One of the biggest talent out there ! Happy to hear such a time on 200 free !

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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