Cal senior Dare Rose delivered a stunning performance in the preliminary round of the 200 fly at the NCAA Championships, clocking in a career best time of 1:39.52. This impressive swim not only earned Rose the top seed for tonight's highly anticipated final but also clipped his previous personal best of 1:39.76, which he achieved earlier this season at the Minnesota Invite in November.

Joining Rose in the final will be his Cal teammate, Gabriel Jett, who secured the third spot with a season best time of 1:40.05. Jett, a junior, holds a career best of 1:39.27 that he achieved at the 2023 Pac-12 Championships. With these strong performances, the Cal duo of Rose and Jett will be prominently positioned in the middle of the pool alongside Arizona State freshman Ilya Kharun, who clocked a decent morning swim of 1:39.89, claiming second place in the prelims.

Kharun, who currently holds the fastest time in the country this season, recorded a remarkable career best time of 1:37.93 at the Arizona State vs Stanford dual meet in January. With not only the fastest time of the season but also the top career best by a considerable margin, Kharun is undoubtedly a favorite to watch in the final.

Not to be overlooked is NC State junior Aiden Hayes, the defending champion in this event. Hayes tied Jett for third place in the prelims, both posting a time of 1:40.05. Impressively, Hayes's swim represents a season best that surpasses his previous time by over a second. Last year, Hayes claimed victory in the event with a time of 1:38.79, proving that he shouldn't be counted out in tonight's exciting final.

The Wolfpack's strong presence in the event extends beyond Hayes, as fifth-year Noah Bowers secured a spot in the 'A' final by placing fifth overall with a time of 1:40.14. Bowers was slightly faster at the ACC Championships last month, recording a time of 1:39.65. Their performances in the 200 fly contribute to NC State's strong team standing and aspirations to move up in the overall rankings.

Indiana's Brendan Burns, who was crowned the 100 back champion on the previous night, successfully secured a place in both the 200 back and 200 fly 'A' finals. With a newfound career best of 1:40.40, Burns claimed the eighth spot in the prelims by a mere 0.01 seconds, narrowly surpassing Stanford standout Andrei Minakov's time of 1:40.41. Burns, who emerged victorious in the 2022 NCAAs with a time of 1:38.71, will aim to replicate his success in the outside lane where he won the 100 back last night, marking his final individual race for the Hoosiers.

Indiana's Tomer Frankel, a senior, also secured a place in the 'A' final, finishing seventh with a time of 1:40.38. Although this was just shy of the 1:39.80 he swam at Big Tens last month, Frankel's performance was pivotal in aiding Indiana's pursuit to surpass Florida and claim third place in the team scoring.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Wolverines showcased their strength in the 200 fly, advancing three swimmers to the final, the highest number among all teams. Junior Gal Groumi led the way, securing sixth place with a time of 1:40.20. Groumi, who claimed victory at Big Tens with a career best time of 1:39.60, showcases his potential to make a significant impact in the upcoming final.

Sophomore Tyler Ray also impressed for the Wolverines, achieving a personal best time of 1:40.44 and claiming the tenth spot in the prelims. Ray's previous best was 1:40.80, achieved when he placed fourth in the event at Big Tens. Additionally, freshman Colin Geer finished sixteenth with a time of 1:41.38, just off his personal best of 1:41.32, achieved at Big Tens where he finished fifth.

Currently in 14th place in team scoring, the Wolverines' three finalists in the 200 fly could potentially propel them higher in the overall rankings, as they trail 12th-place Auburn by a mere 3.5 points.

Tonight's final promises an exhilarating showdown, with top-seeded Dare Rose of Cal aiming to hold off tough competition from the likes of Ilya Kharun, Aiden Hayes, and Brendan Burns in their quest for victory in the 200 fly at the NCAA Championships.