BY Big Ten Network

In a span of 45 minutes Thursday night, the Auburn junior and Brazilian national team star swam the two fastest 50-yard freestyle races ever. His time isn't considered a world record because it is not in the metric length of international competitions, including this summer's Olympics in which Cielo will be participating.

Cielo led off Auburn's 200 free relay with a time 18.47 seconds, then came back a short while later to win the 50 free title race in 18.52.

Cielo's performance in the relay put Auburn into the lead, and the Tigers, who came into the final as the third-seeded team despite five consecutive national championships, stayed in front from start to finish to take the title in 1:15.66. Top-seeded Arizona had to settle for second at 1:16.55.

In the 50, Cielo's only race was against the clock. He finished in 18.52, the eighth time in his career he has broken 19 seconds. It was his third consecutive NCAA crown in the event.

Cielo was scheduled to swim later in the evening in the 400 freestyle relay.

Georgia senior Sebastian Rouault capped a last-to-first trek by winning the 500 freestyle. Rouault, a native of France, surged in front of Texas' Michael Klueh by the 300-yard mark, led by nearly a body-length with 50 yards left and fended off a final surge by Klueh. Rouault won in 4:09.48. Klueh was next in 4:10.00.

In 2007, Rouault wound up last among the eight finalists in 4:23.12. He credited being more focused on the NCAAs this year for dropping nearly 14 seconds off his time.

"Last year, I had to go to the worlds two weeks later," he said. "So I decided to taper more for the worlds. Now, I'm swimming a lot better this year with my teammates, and we pushed each other a lot more."

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