2023 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- March 22-25, 2023
- Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center | Minneapolis, MN
- SCY (25 yards)
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- Day 4 Prelims Heat Sheet
- 1650 Free Heat Sheet
- Day 4 Prelims Live Recap
For the second day in a row, there was a swim-off to earn a spot in an A-final after a tie for 8th in prelims. Yesterday, it was the 200 free. Today, it as the 200 fly, where Michigan’s Gal Cohen Groumi and Tennessee freshman Martin Espernberger tied with times of 1:41.39. As noted below, Espenberger’s time broke a 32 year-old Tennessee record of 1:41.78 previously held by SwimSwam founder Mel Stewart.
Roughly an hour after the initial swims, the pair faced off head-to-head to determine who would end up in the A-final and who would be relegated to the B-final.
As you can see above, it was an incredibly close race, as the pair stayed essentially side-by-side the entire time. But ultimately, Cohen Groumi got Espernberger at the touch, winning 1:41.40 to 1:41.58. It’s notable that both of those times were pretty close to the initial times from prelims. A lot of times during swim-offs, you’ll see at least one swimmer either drop a lot of time (ala Tommy Janton yesterday in the 100 back swim-off) or add time.
With that swim, Cohen Groumi will make the 200 fly A-final for the first time in his NCAA career after finishing 15th last year. Both of Espernberger’s swims this morning were under his previous best of 1:41.91 from the SEC Championships, while Cohen Groumi was just a bit off of his lifetime best of 1:40.21 from the Big Ten Championships.
That was an epic swim off, in a brutal event! Way to go Gal! 👍👍
How is 1.2s “just a bit” off his PB?
This always baffles me, I see that a lot on this site…
If you dq in a swim off, do you still get to swim at night?
Excellent question. I would hope that logic would prevail, and you would automatically lose the swim off, without any further penalty.
Yes the swim off is just to see who is 8th and 9th.
“As you can see above, it was an incredibly close race….”
actually i cant see anything bc the video is on 240p max lul
Espernberger takes down the great Mel Stewart’s 200 fly record at Tennessee! Longest standing record on the books. Bright future for the Vols!
I lit a candle at the church of swim records…
Congrats to Espernberger!