Swimming: Schooling turns tables on Dressel

A happy Joseph Schooling of Singapore after winning the SEA Games 100 metres butterfly final at the National Aquatic Centre in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 23, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS

SINGAPORE - Joseph Schooling exacted some vengeance on World Championships conqueror Caeleb Dressel on Friday, beating the American in the 100-yard butterfly at a triangular swim meet involving their respective universities.

The Singaporean, representing the University of Texas, touched home first in 46.57 seconds, reported swimming website Swim Swam.

The University of Indiana's Vini Lanza was a hair's breadth behind in second (46.68sec) while Dressel, who swims for the University of Florida, finished third in 47.17sec.

This National Collegiate Athletic Association season (2017/18) could also see Singapore's first Olympic champion swimming the breaststroke leg for Texas in the 200-yard medley relay, as former team-mate and breaststroke specialist Will Licon has graduated.

The initial signs are fairly promising: The 22-year-old clocked the second-fastest breaststroke split of the medley relay field (24.64 seconds) at the tri-meet on Friday, behind Indiana's Ian Finnerty (24.38sec).

Schooling later finished ninth in the individual 100m breast in 57.81sec, posting the second-fastest time for Texas.

The multiple SEA Games gold medallist is not new to racing the breaststroke in relays, however, having done the same when in high school as part of the Bolles relay team.

Schooling, who has also won two World Championships bronze medals in the 100m fly, has on several occasions stated his desire to expand his repertoire and race in different strokes instead of focusing only the fly.

Last month, he set a new personal best (46.29sec) in the 100-yard backstroke final at the Texas Men Orange vs White intrasquad meet, 0.99sec quicker than his previous best.

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