I guess technically he broke a rule by crossing lanes before the end of the heat.
But was that the spirt of the rule?
The rule(s) at play from the NCAA rulebook: - Rule 2, Section 5, Article 1a: "Any competitor who interferes with another swimmer during a race shall be disqualified from that race, subject to the discretion of the referee..." - Rule 2, Section 5, Article 1b: "A swimmer who changes lanes during a heat shall be disqualified."
But was that the spirt of the rule?
The rule(s) at play from the NCAA rulebook: - Rule 2, Section 5, Article 1a: "Any competitor who interferes with another swimmer during a race shall be disqualified from that race, subject to the discretion of the referee..." - Rule 2, Section 5, Article 1b: "A swimmer who changes lanes during a heat shall be disqualified."