Video: Caeleb Dressel Posts 1:40.61 200 IM, Talks Training IM with Fellow Gators

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

University of Florida senior Caeleb Dressel did not waste any time making a statement in the opening round of college invitationals. The Olympic and World Champion broke two individual pool records and posted two nation-leading times on night one of the 2017 Purdue Invitational.

He started the night leading off a victorious Florida Gator 200 free relay in 18.66 – one step closer to his 18.20 from last year’s NCAAs. As seen in the video below uploaded by Martin Plummer, he then went on to win the 200 IM in 1:40.61:

Dressel’s 200 IM Splits:

Fly – 22.28

Back – 25.62

Breast – 29.15

Free – 23.56

Dressel spoke with Swimming World about his training and preparation for the event:

Despite training heavily in the IM group, Dressel said he was happy with his sprint speed. He did not have any specific expectations for the meet, and is confident in his performances. Regardless, he said that the purpose of winter invites is to learn and have a base to make decisions off of down the road.

“This year has been the most I’ve done it [training IM]. This year has also been the worst duel meets I’ve had in my life. I’ve just been under a lot and there’s nothing wrong with that. I don’t need to see speed right now but my 50 was pretty good so I was happy with that,” Dressel said.

He also described his pre-race routine for the 50 free versus the 200 IM and expressed his excitement for races such as this and the 100 breast this weekend. Dressel said that training with and racing his Gator teammates is what helped him perform at such a high level.

“They’re always on us at practice. And like I said, they whoop me. That’s not my comfort zone, this IM stuff. I’m a sprinter. It’s about getting out of that comfort zone and doing things you aren’t comfortable doing and going form there,” he said.

Dressel is entered in the 100 fly and 100 breast for the second day of the Purdue Invitational. He is entered with a 55.77 in the latter, but raced to a 51.35 in the men’s 400 medley relay tonight. Indiana’s Ian Finnerty was the only swimmer to out-split him with a 51.27.

Full results for the 2017 Purdue Invitational are available here.

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