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Matej Dusa of Queens Downs NCAA Division II 50 Free Record with 18.88

2022 NCAA Division II Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships

Men’s 50 Freestyle – Finals

Podium:

  1. Matej Dusa, Queens – 18.88
  2. Karol Ostrowski, Drury – 19.18
  3. Skyler Cook-Weeks, Queens – 19.42
  4. Alex Bowen, Drury – 19.51
  5. Abe Townley, St. Cloud State – 19.60
  6. Tim Stollings, Findlay – 19.64
  7. Luka Cvetko, Wayne State – 19.69
  8. Kyle Micallef, Florida Southern – 19.73

Queens sophomore Matej Dusa, who hails from Bratislava, Slovakia, left his mark on the NCAA on Wednesday night, breaking the Division II and meet records in the 50 free with 18.88.

Dusa came into the meet having swum the top Division II time of the 2021-22 season, 19.06 – his leadoff split on the Queens 200 free relay at the Bluegrass Mountain Conference Championships. It was a lifetime best, and it was .06 faster than what defending champion Karol Ostrowski of Drury went to win the event at the 2021 NCAA Division II Championships. Dusa finished third in that race with 19.42 (although he had been 19.35 in prelims).

This year, Dusa turned the tables on Ostrowski. Swimming in lane 5 after finishing second to the Drury sophomore in prelims, Dusa put up the two fastest 25s in the final to crack the 19-second barrier for the first time.

Dusa was out in 9.19 and home in 9.69 to finish .30 ahead of Ostrowski (19.18). It was his second half that was particularly impressive. Dusa came off the wall only a tick ahead of Drury’s Alex Bowen, but seemed to find a turbo charger midway through the second 25 to accelerate to the wall.

Dusa swam his second sub-19 of the night leading off the Queens relay in 18.92. (Ostrowski’s record came from his leadoff split on last year’s relay.)

Comparative splits:

  • Dusa (2022): 9.19 / 9.69 = 18.88
  • Ostrowski (2021): 9.09 / 9.83 = 18.92

Dusa is seeded second to Ostrowski in the 100 free, which will take place on Saturday. He is also entered in the 100 fly, where he is seeded 13th.

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JimSwim22
2 years ago

I remember the old days when the D2 & D3 champions could go swim D1s. Had a wrestling buddy who was D2 and scored at D1s.

Last edited 2 years ago by JimSwim22
necho
2 years ago

a sophomore, huh?

🏊🏼‍♂️
2 years ago

Would have gotten him 3rd in D1 last year…

Necho
2 years ago

“sophomore”

🏊🏼‍♂️
Reply to  Necho
2 years ago

I mean, he’s only 21

Drewbrewsbeer
2 years ago

That’s fast!

swimuser
2 years ago

It’s unfortunate that this isn’t geing talked about more. These are some fast times that should be having more attention and discussion, and some athletes swimming here would be major contributors to every D1 team.

I get the age thing, D2 top is full of internationals, some who come past the usual D1 freshman age. Still, there’s Olympians swimming & fast swimming should be noted more in my opinion.

Dan
Reply to  swimuser
2 years ago

I think that the age factor is one of the main reasons that some of these fast international swimmers are swimming D2 instead of D1

PVK
Reply to  Dan
2 years ago

Are older-than-usual freshman discouraged from swimming for top D1 programs? Is this an official rule?

swimmerinlane9
Reply to  PVK
2 years ago

there is an age limit in d1 which i believe is 24.

Ragnar
Reply to  swimmerinlane9
2 years ago

Any idea why? As in why have an age limit? If you get into a school don’t see what age has to do with completing as long as you’ve never been pro

DMSWIM
Reply to  swimmerinlane9
2 years ago

J.R. Smith is competing in D1 golf at 36. Is the age limit by sport? https://www.nba.com/news/j-r-smith-makes-tournament-debut-as-college-golfer

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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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