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Caeleb Dressel Won’t Swim 100 Fly on Friday at SEC Championships

Braden Keith
by Braden Keith 50

February 15th, 2018 College, News, SEC

2018 SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Wednesday, February 14 – Sunday, February 18
  • Rec Center Natatorium, College Station, TX (Central Time Zone)
  • Prelims 10AM / Finals 6PM
  • Defending Champion: Florida (5x) (results)
  • Championship Central
  • Psych Sheet
  • Live results
  • Live Video (finals)

Swim fans got a jolt of excitement on Thursday when Florida senior Caeleb Dressel swam 1:38.13 in the 200 yard IM – the fastest time in the history of the event. More surprises await for Dressel, who is not entered in the 100 fly – an event in which he’s the defending World Champion, NCAA Champion, 2nd-fastest ever in long course meters, and fastest ever in short course yards.

Heat sheets are posted for Friday morning on Meet Mobile, and Dressel isn’t entered in any individual events on the day. That means that he won’t swim the 100 fly or the 200 free, the two events in which he was entered for the day on the pre-scratch heat sheets, and with no Friday relays, that means he’ll have the day off after his electric Thursday.

Moving forward, then, 1 of 2 things must be true: He’s swimming the 100 breaststroke, or he’s not swimming his maximum-allowed 7 events at the meet.

Dressel has swum 1 individual event, and is allowed 3 (he didn’t swim the 800 free relay on Wednesday, so he won’t swim 5 relays). After scratching the 50 free, 100 fly, or 200 free, that means that his only two individual entries remaining are in the 100 breaststroke, an event in which he’s shown flashes but hasn’t ever raced at a year-end championship meet, and the 100 free, where he’s the fastest-ever in 40.00. The 100 breast is raced on Saturday, and Dressel is the 8th seed in that race in 53.23. His lifetime best is a 51.88 from the 2015 Ohio State Invitational during his sophomore season.

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Lucas
6 years ago

honestly at this meet coach troy was probably like “hey Caleb, let’s see how many events you can nab american records in”.

Cmon
6 years ago

Sad that dressel isn’t swimming 200 at this meet

IM FAN
6 years ago

He split 28.37 on the 200 IM. For the record, the 100 and 200 breast champion last year split 27.96 using a race strategy of waiting until the breast to make his move.

I thought Nolans 200IM records was untouchable until December this year, and I am sure many thought the same. Cordes’ record looks untouchable as well, but dressels star, walls and pull outs are so good ( he goes a good bodylength further than anyone else off his pull out)

Bold prediction:
Dressel goes 49.78 split 23.41, 26.37 to become the first man under 50.

Caleb
Reply to  IM FAN
6 years ago

Honestly I don’t think Nolan’s record was all that untouchable… more like average. there have been several people within a second of it. 1:38.1 on the other hand… I’d say the toughest ones now are all Dressel’s. Besides him, no one’s going to break them in the next few years. After that, probably Murphy’s 100 back, or maybe the breastrokes. The softest record is the 1650. Then the 200. And 500, although that one is dropping already.

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Caleb
6 years ago

Generally agree, except Xu Jiayu went 51.86, only .01 off Ryan’s 100 BK LCM WR, which may be ripe for breaking.

E+Gamble
6 years ago

Please tell me that Joseph Schooling is not gonna just get easy wins in the 100 and 200 fly…No Conger in the 200 and no Dressel in the 100? Dressel does not have his A cut in fly. Could this be true? His 46:89 100 fly time is the 47th fastest in the country right now. What is going on?

Steve Nolan
Reply to  E+Gamble
6 years ago

idk gotta make the finals first.

Buona
Reply to  E+Gamble
6 years ago

Schooling is no doubt the fastest 100 fly in this season — 44.78. If Dressel is in for 100 fly
for NCAA, schooling will have a tough challenge. But i am sure he is ready to challenge Dressel. Chances of him winning the 200 fly is slightly higher. I also dont want to see him winning his pet event easily. I love to see challenges so Dressel better swim the 100 fly. Lol

Pvdh
Reply to  Buona
6 years ago

I honestly think Dressel would win by around half a second if not More.

AvidSwimFan
Reply to  Buona
6 years ago

As it should be. Tough and tight competitions bring out the best in the swimmers, and are the most entertaining. I personally, am so looking forward to the 100 fly race at NCAAs. Schooling is going to come firing, and so is Dressel. I’m a little biased towards a Dressel win but it’s going to be a dog fight and I’m so here for it!!!

j pine
Reply to  E+Gamble
6 years ago

Still has Zheng in the 200, don’t forget

Aquajosh
Reply to  E+Gamble
6 years ago

He opened a record-breaking 200 IM in 21.0. I really don’t think we have to worry about where his fly speed will come from.

CRB
Reply to  E+Gamble
6 years ago

Dressel didn’t focus on 100 fly this year, that’s why his time is so ‘slow’ compared to the rest of the country. He has a B cut, wich is enough because he already has an a cut in other events.

PVSFree
6 years ago

What is his season best time in 100 fly? Can he still swim it at NCAAs?

Buona
Reply to  PVSFree
6 years ago

If i am not wrong, is 46.89. This is B cut so i am thinking if he can qualify.

Aquajosh
Reply to  Buona
6 years ago

He doesn’t have to. If he has a B cut in the 100 fly and an A cut in anything else, he’s already in the meet and can swim any event he has a B time in.

wild Bill
6 years ago

Being careful not to over schedule him

Pvdh
Reply to  wild Bill
6 years ago

I’m not sure that’s possible

Lucas
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

that’s what we said b4 worlds…and look what he did

Ervin
6 years ago

Im telling you…prepping for 8 or 9 golds in Tokyo 50/100 free 100fly, 200im all 4 relays and i guess now the 100 breast (although Peaty will be hard to beat…Dressel keeps surprising us and doing the unthinkable)

Pvdh
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

50/100/200 free
100 fly
200im
4 relays
That gets you to 9

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

He’s still got two and a half years to get there.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

CRB
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

After seeing how dominant he was in Budapest last year, I think he can do the 50/100 easily. But of course, a lot can change until Tokyo.

theroboticrichardsimmons
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

He could win each of those 5 events in isolation but that would be a brutal schedule.

jd14
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

That’d be potentially 19 swims depending on if he makes it through prelims/semis/ and finals…

Ervin
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

200 free? Taking down Sun Yang is prolly easier than taking down Peaty

ALEXANDER POP-OFF
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

Will take a lot of work between now and Tokyo for US to win men’s 800 free relay. Not impossible though.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
6 years ago

I mean, if Dressel’s on it going a 1:40, that’d prolly help.

HE COULD DO IT; WHY NOT?!?!?

Rafael
Reply to  Steve Nolan
6 years ago

Possible but not a sure thing

Can´t see anyone beating him on 50 free now (Unless his Knees does not hold until there)
100 He seems years ahead of anyone else but I don´t know what Chalmers Girev and some of the other 18 years old could do, but now no one can touch Dressel.
100 fly he is the favorite but I am curious to see what Milak will hold for this year, and there is 15 year Old Minakov, it might be the most contested event on 2020.
200 free Sun Is not the man to beat but I would not be surprised if Kolesnikov becomes the first one to Break Agnel time.
200… Read more »

Coach Mike 1952
Reply to  Rafael
6 years ago

Not take anything away from Caeleb or the others, but glad to see Kolesnikov mentioned here, kid has such raw talent

Caleb
Reply to  ALEXANDER POP-OFF
6 years ago

I dunno… I’d say the U.S. is at least even money for 2020. They aren’t that far behind now, and even without Dressel there are a ton of good prospects who will be in their prime by 2020. Will be surprising if 1 or 2 don’t break through to be world-class.

Michael
Reply to  Braden Keith
6 years ago

Did we add mixed relays to the Olympic program? He could be put on all men’s relays (3) and both mixed relays (2) and pick up the 50/100 free 100 fly and 200 IM for 9 then

Go Gators
Reply to  Ervin
6 years ago

Don’t get me wrong. I love America and UF and Dressel, but I don’t see anyone beating Peaty in the 100 Breast. 57.1 is 1.3 seconds faster than anyone else in history…However, it is very likely he can win 50/100 free, 100 fly, with 200 seem like a possibility now.

Pvdh
6 years ago

This dude could hold 50/100/200 free, 100 fly, 200im, 100 breast records before he leaves

Teddy
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

And 200 fly.

theroboticrichardsimmons
Reply to  Pvdh
6 years ago

Aren’t we a bit premature in naming Caleb potentially one of the fastest breaststrokers ever? Dude has mad talent and unreal sprint chops but what evidence do we have that he can challenge the 100 br AR? That 200 IM was impressive but not surprising based on his historical body of work.

Although, as I write this, I looked up his best time, which is 51.88. He went 45.0 in fly at the same meet, so a 50.mid seems likely, so going sub 50.0 has a meaningful non-zero probability.

IM FAN
Reply to  theroboticrichardsimmons
6 years ago

He was very close to Will Licons breastroke split last year after going out over a second faster than Licon did, so yes, he is a very fast breaststroker.

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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