NC State’s 800 free relay team wins national title, demolishes NCAA record

NC State’s men’s swimming team wasted no time getting to work at the NCAA championships, winning the opening event on Wednesday. The Wolfpack’s 800 free relay squad, which includes Olympic gold medalist Ryan Held, smashed the NCAA record in this event by 1.5 seconds on the way to the victory.

Held led off for the Pack in this event and clocked a very impressive 1:31:37, but wasn’t even the fastest guy on his own relay team. Soren Dahl, who swam for Denmark in the Olympics, anchored the squad with a 1:30:67 swim. That is the third-fastest relay split in history.

Speed has been a staple of this program under Braden Holloway, and you’ll continue to see than on display throughout the week. The Wolfpack edged defending national team champions Texas in this event, also breaking what had been Texas’ NCAA record in the 800 free relay.

The Wolfpack now have won relay national titles in back-to-back years—last year they won the 400 free relay. More fireworks to come, I’d imagine.