2024 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hello everyone and welcome to the second night of finals at the 2024 Men’s Division I NCAA Championships. After an exciting first night that saw four NCAA records broken in just two events, today’s prelims session kept the anticipation building. We are witnessing a meet filled with incredible performances, where even exceptional times like a 4:13.10 in the 500 free, a 1:42.08 in the 200 IM, and a 19.04 in the 50 free don’t guarantee a second swim.
The Order of Events for tonight’s finals are as follows:
– 500 freestyle (top seed: Jake Magahey, Georgia — 4:09.36)
– 200 IM (top seed: Destin Lasco, Cal — 1:39.34)
– 50 freestyle (top seed: Josh Liendo, Florida — 18.33)
– 1-meter diving (top seed: Quentin Henninger, Indiana — 386.85 points)
– 200 freestyle relay (top seed: Florida — 1:14.36)
Let’s dive into the highlights from today’s prelims!
In the 500 freestyle, defending champion Luke Hobson and Jack Hoagland set the tone early in heat 3. Hobson touched the wall at 4:10.28, but his record didn’t last long as Jake Magahey dived in two heats later and recorded a blistering time of 4:09.36. This proves that the race for the title is not just between Hobson and Leon Marchand, as Magahey claimed the top seed heading into the final with Marchand touching in at 4:09.54.
Moving on to the 200 IM, Destin Lasco made a statement by breaking the pool record with a time of 1:39.34. He is the only one to go under 1:40 this morning and enters the final over a second ahead of his closest competitor, Hubert Kos. Lasco and Kos are set to engage in three highly anticipated battles throughout the week, and Lasco seems to have the upper hand with his strong performance this morning.
The 50 freestyle championship final promises to be an intense battle. It took an exceptional time of 18.76 to secure a spot in the ‘A’ final, and Josh Liendo claimed the top seed with an impressive 18.33, just shy of his personal best. Chris Guiliano secured the second seed with a personal best of 18.43. The defending champion and fastest man in the field, Jordan Crooks, sits in fourth place after a time of 18.49 in prelims. The outside lane 1 will be taken by Jonny Kulow, who caught attention with a lightning-fast 17.94 split in yesterday’s 200 medley relay.
To close this session, we’ll witness the highly anticipated 200 freestyle relay. Florida holds the top seed and is expected to bring in Macguire McDuff, who was left off their SEC relay. McDuff’s decision to scratch the individual 50 free this morning suggests that Florida is strategically planning to utilize him in all five relays. Cal is also a team to watch out for, with two ‘A’ finalists in the 50 free: Jack Alexy and Bjorn Seeliger. Additionally, Cal will likely have Lasco and Liam Bell, who recently recorded the fastest 50 breast split in history. Other teams, such as NC State, ASU, and Tennessee, have also showcased their potential in the sub-1:15 range this season. Keep an eye on the Wolfpack, who already own the American record with their 1:14.44 time set in February’s ACCs.
Tonight’s finals are expected to be thrilling, as swimmers compete for national titles and strive to break records. The 500 freestyle, in particular, presents an opportunity for Leon Marchand to defend his NCAA record set last year. However, with strong contenders like Magahey and Hobson in the mix, anything can happen.
As we look ahead to the future of swimming, these championships provide a glimpse into the potential trends and emerging talent in the sport. The dominance of young swimmers like Magahey and Lasco suggests a shift in the landscape, with fresh faces set to challenge the established veterans. The ongoing battle between Lasco and Kos shapes up to be one of the most exciting storylines, with each swimmer seeking their first NCAA title.
The fast times and competitive atmosphere of these championships can also inspire and motivate sw