Josh Liendo only needed a 45.28 to make the A-Final in the 100 fly at the SEC Championships. He went…considerably faster than that. Archive photo via Jack Spitser/Spitser Photography
From the ‘you didn’t need to do all that,’ but ‘I’m glad you did’ files, Florida senior Josh Liendo swam the fastest-ever prelims time, and 6th-fastest performance in any race, in the heats of the 100 fly on Thursday morning.
He touched in 43.26, which gave him more than two seconds to spare to qualify for the A-Final. It also made a statement ahead of Luca Urlando from Georgia, who swam the heat before and is the 2nd seed in 44.72. Urlando and Liendo are among the chief contenders for NCAA Swimmer of the Year and for this 100 fly NCAA title come March…