The 2025 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships are taking place from March 26-29, 2025, at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, Washington. As the competition heats up, fans are ready for an exhilarating final prelims session.

This year’s championship marks a significant turning point in NCAA history, being the first held since conference realignments and the last opportunity for athletes who received an extra year of eligibility due to circumstances unfolding from the pandemic.

Highlights from the Prelims

The prelims kick off with the excitement of the 200 backstroke. Top-seeded Hubert Kos is on a mission to secure his third gold of the week, having dazzled in the 200 IM and 100 back events. Fresh competition comes from veterans Destin Lasco and Jonny Marshall, who are both primed for victories after narrowly missing out earlier in the meet. Another contender is Owen McDonald, now racing for Indiana after transferring from ASU, who eyes redemption after finishing third last year.

Next, the 100 freestyle promises high stakes and fierce competition. Jordan Crooks of Tennessee and Florida’s Josh Liendo have dominated this event in previous years and enter with the top two seeding times at 40.26 and 40.45, respectively. Not to be counted out, Cal’s Jack Alexy aims for a surprise upset while ASU’s Jonny Kulow also aims to bolster the Sun Devils' team performance as they chase a top-five finish.

The 200 breaststroke features an exciting showdown between Ivy League rivals Matthew Fallon from Penn, the top seed, and Jack Kelly of Brown, the third seed. Expect a tight race as last year's bronze medalist, Carles Coll Marti, along with Indiana’s Josh Matheny and Jassen Yep, attempt to shake up the standings.

The last individual event of the morning, the 200 fly, sees Georgia's Luca Urlando returning to action as the top seed, having missed the championships for two years. He previously set the NCAA record earlier this season, clocking in at 1:37.17.

Diving Updates: A Final Day Face-off

On the diving front, the platform event wraps up the championships. Indiana boasts three strong competitors, led by defending champion Carson Tyler, but he faces stiff challenges from reigning Big Ten champion Jordan Rzepka of Purdue and several talented divers from Cal and Texas. All eyes will be on Tyler, who is labored with the pressure of carrying his team's diving legacy forward.

Breaking Records and Team Battles

As the competition unfolds, athletes are leaving it all in the pool. Remarkably, Jordan Crooks stunned the audience with a new NCAA record of 39.83 in the 100 freestyle prelims — a monumental feat that shatters the previous record held by Caeleb Dressel. Crooks exploded off the blocks and maintained blistering speed throughout the race, confirming his status as one of the fastest swimmers globally.

The shifting dynamics of the championships underscore the team rivalries. Indiana is looking to solidify its strength in the diving events, while Texas and Cal both vie fiercely for the top team rankings. With so many stellar performances, it’s clear that this year’s championships will go down in history for both their athletic excellence and dramatic narratives.

In a summary of the Day 4 prelims, we await the finals to see who will rise to the occasion as champions, while the team battles heat up in what has been an unforgettable swim meet! Be sure to catch all the action live as the pressure mounts and the athletes gear up for their final showdowns!