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Liam Bell set an NCAA and American record in the 100 breast on Friday evening.
MSWIM3/29/2024 8:12 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Eight Other Bears Earn All-American Status
INDIANAPOLIS – The California swimming & diving team won another national title on the third day of the NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships. Liam Bell was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke, setting multiple records – including the NCAA and American record with a 49.53. Friday night also saw nine other Golden Bears earn All-American honors at the IU Natatorium.
Bell’s day began in the prelims when he set the pool record with a time of 50.52. That evening, Bell became just the third person to swim under 50.00, finishing with a time of 49.53. Nearly a full second faster than his previous best and 0.16 seconds off the previous record of 49.69 set by Ian Finnerty of Indiana in 2018. Bell’s record time also set an American record, US Open record, NCAA record, meet record, and program record.
Later that evening, Bell swam the breaststroke leg of the Golden Bear’s 400 medley relay which placed second with a program record time of 2:58.30. Cal’s lineup of Destin Lasco, Bell, Dare Rose, and Bjorn Seeliger. Seeliger swam a strong freestyle leg, finishing with a split time of 40.30 which was the fastest freestyle split in the event.
Tyler Kopp began Cal’s strong day, earning Second Team All-America honors in the 400 individual medley with a time of 3:42.07. Kopp earned his first trip to the consolation final with a stellar prelim, he finished first in his heat with a personal best time of 3:40.90 – which is the eighth fastest time in program history.
Rose earned All-American honors in the 100 butterfly. He placed seventh with a time of 44.46.
Four Bears earned All-American honors in the 200 freestyle. Robin Hanson and Keaton Jones finished eighth and ninth respectively in the consolation final to earn second-team honors. Hanson finished with a time of 1:32.42, while Keaton finished with a time of 1:34.91 to earn his first All-American accolades.
In the A-Final, Jack Alexy set a program record with a time of 1:29.75 – just behind Luke Hobson of Texas who set the American and NCAA record with a time of 1:28.81. Gabriel Jett earned All-American honors for the second consecutive year, finishing seventh with a time of 1:31.16.
In the final individual event of the evening, Destin Lasco took fifth in the A-Final with a time of 44.22. Seeliger finished fifth in the consolation final with a time of 44.81.
Through 14 events Arizona State remains in first with 343 points. Cal is second with 286.5 points. Florida (273), Indiana (247), and NC State (206) round out the top five.
Day four of the NCAA Championships will begin with the prelims of the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly. The 200 back is scheduled to begin at 7 am PT.
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