Editorial coverage sponsored by SpeedoUSA
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, March 30. THE Sizzling Siberian Vlad Morozov of Southern California destroyed the field en route to the fastest time ever in the men's 100-yard free at the NCAA Division I Men's Championships.
Morozov crushed the sprint the entire way, splitting a ridiculous 19.14 at the halfway mark. That time would have finished third in the individual 50-yard freestyle event earlier this week behind Morozov's winning 18.63 and Auburn's Marcelo Chierighini's 18.99 from Thursday night.
Morozov then came back in 21.62 to close out the fastest 100-yard free time ever with an astonishing time of 40.76. That swim obliterated the previous NCAA and U.S. Open record of 40.92 set by Cesar Cielo of Auburn back in 2008 (19.60, 40.92).
Also, it would be the fastest swim by an American if Morozov, who has grown up in the United States, represented the Stars and Stripes internationally. Nathan Adrian owns the American record with a 41.08 from 2009. Incidentally, Adrian dished out the podium hardware during the podium ceremony.
The win gave USC its third national title in the event, joining Paul Wolf (1939) and Joe Bottom (19.74) as Trojan victors.
Auburn's Chierighini finished second yet again with a 41.51 to move to seventh all time in the event. He previously stood eighth with a 41.60 from last month at the Southeastern Conference Championships.
Louisville's Joao De Lucca, the 200-yard freestyle winner, took third in 42.27. Texas' Dax Hill (42.40), Alabama's BJ Hornikel (42.46), Stanford's Aaron Wayne (42.52), California's Seth Stubblefield (42.91) and Michigan's Bruno Ortiz (42.95) wrapped up the rest of the championship finishers. USC's Dimitri Colupaev earned the B final win in 42.80.
Michigan cracked 400 points with 405 to lead the team race, while California improved its second-place tally to 329.5 points. Texas (248), USC (244) and Arizona (241.5) stood third through fifth.
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