2022 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- March 23-26, 2022
- McAuley Aquatic Center, Georgia Tech, Atlanta, Georgia (Eastern Daylight Time)
- Prelims 10AM /Finals 6PM
- Short Course Yards (25 yards)
- Live Results
- Official Psych Sheets
- Virtual Championship Program
- SwimSwam Pick Em’s Contest
- Qualified relay teams
- Live stream link
Arizona State freshman Leon Marchand delivered in his first individual NCAA final, storming to the fastest time ever in the 200 yard IM with an eye-popping time of 1:37.69.
That breaks the previous U.S. Open Record of 1:38.13, set by Caeleb Dressel at the 2018 SEC Championships.
Marchand competed in this event for France at the Olympics last summer, placing 18th in prelims with a 1:58.30. We’re never quite sure how long it’ll take outstanding international swimmers to adapt to swimming yards, but Marchand has found immediate success under ASU head coach Bob Bowman.
At Pac-12s, Marchand became the fastest freshman ever with a 1:39.65. This morning, Marchand improved on that time in prelims by getting dipping under 1:39, clocking a 1:38.83 to become the #4 performer ever.
Tonight, Marchand split the first three legs almost exactly the same as this morning, but he had plenty in the tank, dropping a 23.54 freestyle leg, which allowed him to to become the first man to ever break 1:38 in the event.
Here’s a look at how Marchand’s split compared to the last two record-setting swims. Note that Nolan’s swim, from the 2015 NCAAs, no longer ranks in the top ten performances ever.
Comparative Splits:
| David Nolan | Caeleb Dressel | Leon Marchand | |
| 2015 NCAAs | 2018 SECs | 2022 NCAAs | |
| Fly | 21.67 | 21.03 | 21.42 |
| Back | 24.32 | 25.01 | 24.32 |
| Breast | 29.21 | 28.37 | 28.41 |
| Free | 24.18 | 23.72 | 23.54 |
| Total Time | 1:39.38 | 1:38.13 | 1:37.69 |
This was an incredibly fast event overall, as five men went under 1:40 in the A-final, plus one more in the B-final. Cal’s Destin Lasco went 1:38 both in prelims and finals, and now he and Marchand are the only two men to have ever gone under 1:39 more than one.
All-Time Top Performances 200 IM
| Rank | Time | Swimmer | Meet |
| 1 | 1:37.69 | Leon Marchand | 2022 NCAA DI |
| 2 | 1:38.13 | Caeleb Dressel | 2018 SEC Champs |
| 3 | 1:38.14 | Andrew Seliskar | 2019 NCAA DI |
| 4 | 1:38.21 | Destin Lasco | 2022 NCAA DI |
| 5 | 1:38.71 | Destin Lasco | 2022 NCAA DI |
| 6 | 1:38.83 | Leon Marchand | 2022 NCAA DI |
| 7 | 1:38.95 | Shaine Casas | 2020 Art Adamson Invitational |
| 8 | 1:39.22 | Luca Urlando | 2022 NCAA DI |
| 9 | 1:39.26 | Shaine Casas | 2021 SEC Champs |
| 10 | 1:39.35 | Andreas Vazaios | 2019 NCAA DI |
Marchand still has two more individual events this week: the 400 IM, where he’s seeded 1st with a 3:34.45, only a second shy of Chase Kalisz’s all-time mark, and the 200 breast, where’s he’s seeded 4th
I thought 1:37 was possible for him maybe next year, this young man will re write the record books before he’s done with college swimming.
Re Lasco, still think it’s measuring the foot touch on the back to breast turn.
From video, looks like he’s pretty even with Carson Foster in the lane beside him, but the splits have him half a second behind.
49.2, 53.3, 59.5, 49.5 = 3:31.5
TRUE
I first saw Leon Marchand in the ASU Intersquad meet last fall. I believed after seeing him then he was going to be something special! Remember the 200IM is not considered his strongest event which is the 400IM! Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Extra hot take, he’s @ or under 3:30 in the 4 IM
That is hot. I’m saying 3:32.6
Hot take That 4 IM record is getting obliterated. If he went 3:34 when he went 1:39, I’m guessing because he went 1:37, he’s going 3:30
First take. Holy cow. As a Freshmen. Who’s never swam SCY yards. Hello to a new standard with plenty of room for improvement.
Second take. The records we see today might’ve been much different if most internationals swam NCAA. Yannick Agnel likely would’ve had a KILLER 500 free, as would’ve Thorpedo. They would’ve had even better walls and come on, thorpe would’ve had a 4:00-4:02 in him. Hacketts 1650, with improved walls, probably under 14:00. and on the womens side, ESPECIALLY sprint free? Would’ve been crazy.
Last take, this meet is bonkers and I’m here for it, as Lochte’s favorite song by lil wayne says “the sky is the limit”
Missing biedermann as well, lots of only ifs but really American is the only country to do scy which I don’t know if it’s good or bad
Hey swimswam, want to change your mind about what is going on at ASU. Never betting on any sun devil to win an event. Leon just did as a freshman and the fastest ever. Thanks for sharing the love. Go devils.
AJ13 – In our previews, we picked Marchand to win this event and the 400 IM…
“thorpe would’ve had a 4:00-4:02 in him” I’m skeptical. Suited 4:06 maybe. That was a long time ago.
I genuinely think dressel could throw down a 1:26/7 200 freestyle back in 2018. Out in 41.xx, back in 45.xx
Tom Dolan was 4:08 in the 80s. The 500 is still slow given the suits of now alone.
4:08 in 1995. But close enough. I get your point.