ATLANTA - Singapore swim star Joseph Schooling broke the meet record as he won the 100-yard butterfly race at the NCAA Division 1 Men's Swimming and Diving Championships on Friday at the McAuley Aquatic Center in Atlanta.

The University of Texas sophomore student retained his gold in the event in 44.01sec, breaking the previous record of 44.18 set by Stanford's Austin Staab in 2009.

Florida's Caeleb Dressel was second in 44.40, while Schooling's team-mate Jack Conger was third in 44.87.

Schooling was pushed early by Dressel, his former team-mate at Bolles School. The world championships bronze medallist at the 100m fly led at the turn with 20.4sec to Dressel's 20.8, and held off a spirited challenge from Dressel to clinch gold.

Schooling will also be taking part in the 200 yard fly event on Saturday.