Division III Rowan University senior Kevin Gillooly swam a 19.52 in the 50 freestyle prelims session on Friday morning at the Metropolitan Collegiate Championships.
Gillooly was the top seed headed into finals after swimming a 19.52 in the morning. He swam to a 19.55 in finals to win the conference title. Gillooly’s season best prior to the meet was a 19.88 which he swam at midseason in December. That time was also a lifetime best.
His time also places him at #1 for NCAA Division III this year. He surpassed Nicholas Goudie of Emory who swam a 19.84 at the Denison Invitational in December 2021. Gillooly’s previous season best was #2.
Gillooly’s new best time also places him at #5 for NCAA Division III swimmers of all-time.
NCAA Division III All-Time 50 freestyle
- Ollie Smith (Emory), 19.37
- Zach Turk (Kenyon), 19.38
- Roger Gu (Tufts), 19.49
- Wyatt Ubellacker (MIT), 19.51
- Kevin Gillooly (Rowan), 19.52
Gillooly’s time did not break the Metropolitan conference record as the record stands at 19.40 which Ben Michaelson of Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) set in 2003. SCSU is a member of the NCAA Division II.
Although Gillooly did not break the conference record, he did break the school record of 19.82 held by Jesse Novak since March 2015.
Gillooly has improved almost every year in his time at Rowan. See his progression from his senior year of high school to his senior year of college below:
- High School Senior: 21.14
- Freshman: 20.55
- Sophomore: 20.14
- Junior: 20.19
- Junior: N/A
- Senior: 19.52
Gillooly will look to win the event at the Division III NCAA Championships next month. He was fifth in the event at the most recent Division III NCAA Championships in 2019. The 2020 and 2021 Championships were canceled due to COVID-19.
Great guy.
the 19.52 was unshaved and untapered. D3 looking real serious this year
Unrelated: Jamie Lovette from Williams swam the fastest ever D3 200 freestyle this morning in prelims: 1:35.9. Very excited for finals. Also Luke Rodarte of Cal Lutheran last night at SCIACs became #4 in the 100 breast (52.9)
Ben Michaelson’s Metro records may be around another 20 years. Still remember seeing him swim a 45 something in the 100 Fly at Met’s in 2000