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Watch: Michigan’s Gal Cohen Groumi Wins 200 Fly Swim-Off to Secure A-Final Spot

2023 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

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.

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RTR
1 year ago

That was an epic swim off, in a brutal event! Way to go Gal! 👍👍

Bud
1 year ago

How is 1.2s “just a bit” off his PB?
This always baffles me, I see that a lot on this site…

Foreign Embassy
1 year ago

If you dq in a swim off, do you still get to swim at night?

Neal Douglas Hobson
Reply to  Foreign Embassy
1 year ago

Excellent question. I would hope that logic would prevail, and you would automatically lose the swim off, without any further penalty.

ArtVanDeLegh10
Reply to  Neal Douglas Hobson
1 year ago

Yes the swim off is just to see who is 8th and 9th.

maheny
1 year ago

“As you can see above, it was an incredibly close race….”
actually i cant see anything bc the video is on 240p max lul

VFL
1 year ago

Espernberger takes down the great Mel Stewart’s 200 fly record at Tennessee! Longest standing record on the books. Bright future for the Vols!

Gold Medal Mel Stewart
Reply to  VFL
1 year ago

I lit a candle at the church of swim records…
Congrats to Espernberger!

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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