USA Today via Reuters
Jun 19, 2021; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Nathan Adrian prepares to swim in Mens 50m Freestyle prelims during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Swimming competition at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 19, 2021; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Nathan Adrian prepares to swim in Mens 50m Freestyle prelims during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Swimming competition at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
The final event of the NCAA Men’s swimming championship saw a historic moment unfold. The 400m freestyle relay turned into one of the most nail-biting events when the states of Florida and California shot for the gold. What started out as a swim to win turned into an event full of records being broken.
Media personality Kyle Sockwell took to Twitter to share the results. Florida won by a hair-thin margin against California. And with the win, they managed to break every single NCAA relay record since 2018! Let’s take a look at what transpired at the event.
NCAA Men’s relay in swimming witnessed history
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The competition was tough. All teams started off strong and only had seconds worth of difference between their paces. The California Golden Bears were promising this year, given their title last year. However, things took a turn at the very end, when the Florida Gators showed off their prowess.
USA Today via Reuters
Jun 16, 2021; Omaha, Nebraska, USA; Drew Loy (center,black/orange cap) dives off the starting block in the MenÕs 100m Freestyle prelims during the U.S. Olympic Team Trials Swimming competition at CHI Health Center Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Gators’ Maguire McDuff touched the wall almost at the same time as Destin Lasco from the Bears. But a minuscule difference of 0.1 seconds helped him and his team win. While both the Florida Gators and California Golden Bears broke the NCAA relay records, the former scored the gold.
The last record was put forth by North Carolina State in 2018, who clocked in at 2:44.31. And now, both the states of California and Florida beat that record. With the Gators clocking in at 2:44.07 and the Bears coming in at 2:44.08, both teams provided an intense competition for the viewers. In the end, Florida celebrated multiple victories, with teammate Josh Liendo also scoring the title in 100 freestyle.
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WHAT A WAY TO END THAT MEET!!!
Florida breaks the NCAA Record in the 400 Freestyle Relay with a 2:44.07 meaning EVERY SINGLE NCAA RELAY RECORD was broken at this meet 🥶
🥇 Florida – 2:44.07
🥈 California – 2:44.08
🥉 Arizona State – 2:45.12 pic.twitter.com/ggXtBxKlTQ— Kyle Sockwell (@kylesockwell) March 26, 2023
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Throughout the championship, McDuff was the star of the show. The relay was led by Liendo, followed by Adam Chaney, and Julian Smith covering the third leg. Besides Florida and California, the Arizona state won the bronze and clocked in at 2:45.12, while their star player, Leon Marchand, gave his individual best at 40.55 in the second leg. Now with multiple wins under their belt, the Florida swim team can celebrate with ease, knowing that they created history.
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