Cal Men on Breaking 6:00 Barrier in 800 Free Relay: “(Dave Durden) Spoke that into existence” | SwimSwam

By Coleman Hodges on SwimSwam

2025 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships

• March 26-29, 2025
• Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center, Federal Way, Washington
• Short Course Yards (25 yards)
• SwimSwam Pick’Em Contest
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Psych Sheet
• Day 1 Heat Sheets
• Day 1 Live Recap

The first night of competition in Federal Way ended with a massive record, seeing the Cal men not only break their own NCAA record in the 800 free relay but do so by over 2 seconds to become the first squad to dip under the 6:00 barrier. The Bears revealed that they had had this goal for quite some time now. Just before tonight’s finals session, head coach Dave Durden made it clear that he had faith that his team would be able to dip under the massive barrier.

Read the full story on SwimSwam: Cal Men on Breaking 6:00 Barrier in 800 Free Relay: “(Dave Durden) Spoke that into existence”