2024 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The third finals session of the 2024 Males’s NCAA Championships will embody the 400 medley relay, the place most of the high contenders have a number of lineup choices.
Arizona State (high seed), Florida (2nd seed), and California (4th seed) are all among the many high contenders, however every have a number of lineup decisions. See an entire breakdown of these choices, beneath:
Prime Seed — Arizona State (2:58.49)
The Solar Devils clocked the quickest time within the nation this 12 months eventually month’s Pac-12 Championships, the place they checked-in at 2:58.49, which is simply 0.17 outdoors the NCAA file. Their quartet there consisted of Hubert Kos (44.04), Leon Marchand (49.87), Ilya Kharun (43.84), and Jonny Kulow (40.74).
Whereas it appears probably that Marchand, Kharun, and Kulow will all characteristic once more tonight, the backstroke leg isn’t fairly clear. Throughout Friday’s prelims of the 100 backstroke, sophomore Owen McDonald (44.25) dropped 1.34 seconds to qualify fifth for the ultimate, whereas Kos notched an effort of 44.39. Kos’ greatest time is 43.75, which he recorded on the Pac-12’s in Federal Means final month. Whereas Kos’ greatest time is quicker, he was a bit off his greatest in yesterday’s 200 IM ultimate, whereas McDonald has been on hearth in Indianapolis.
It appears possible that they’ll keep on with their record-setting lineup from final month, however a choice looms nonetheless.
2nd Seed — Florida (3:00.32)
The Florida Gators, who popped a brand new NCAA file at this meet a 12 months in the past, have three of their relay legs on the roster once more this 12 months. Adam Chaney (backstroke), Josh Liendo (butterfly), and Macguire McDuff (freestyle) are these swimmers. Liendo and McDuff will virtually definitely seem on tonight’s squad, however the backstroke and breaststroke legs will likely be an fascinating choice.
For backstroke, Chaney and Jonny Marshall are the 2 potential choices. Marshall was the 2nd seed getting into the occasion this morning (44.12), as he claimed the SEC title final month with the quickest efficiency by a freshman ever. Nonetheless, Chaney out-touched him this morning, 44.24 to 44.52.
Chaney has been a staple for the Gators over the previous 4 years, and he all the time rises to the event for relays. Marshall does have the quicker greatest time although, albeit by 0.05.
Marshall represented Florida on this relay final month at SECs, the place he led-off in 45.13, after profitable the person occasion earlier within the session.
The breaststroke leg is one other query, as Julian Smith and Aleksas Savickas have each clocked sub-51 swims of their profession. Smith (50.94) was a bit quicker (51.35) than Savickas this morning, however has already contested three relays, which means he can swim this relay or tomorrow’s 400 free relay. Smith was pivotal to Florida’s record-breaking 400 free relay final 12 months, so it’s probably we see Savickas slot into the breaststroke leg on tonight’s relay.
4th Seed — California (3:01.55)
The Golden Bears lineup appears pretty simple, as their quickest on-paper lineup from this season is Destin Lasco, Liam Bell, Dare Rose, and Jack Alexy. Nonetheless, Alexy can solely compete in 4 relays at this meet as a result of he’s swimming in three particular person occasions, so he’ll must both skip this occasion or Saturday’s 400 free relay. It seems that he’s wanted way more for the free relay, however it will likely be fascinating to see the ultimate choice.
Within the probably absence of Alexy, Bjorn Seeliger (40.75) could be the subsequent possible possibility, as he owns a quicker greatest time than Alexy. Seeliger set his greatest time again on the 2022 NCAA Championships, whereas Alexy has been the quicker swimmer for Cal this season.
Alexy will swim in tonight’s 200 free ‘A’ ultimate whereas Seeliger will compete within the 100 again ‘B’ ultimate.
