NCAA Men’s Championships: As Leadoff Records Fall, Cal Surges to 800 Free Relay Record

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The first night of the 2024 Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships finished up with the 800 free relay.

After Florida scorched the NCAA record in the 200 medley relay, the records continued to fall.

In heat 2, Texas’ Luke Hobson split a 1:29.13, which broke the NCAA and American record that was previously set by Harvard’s Dean Farris by two hundredths of a second.

In heat 3, Arizona State’s Leon Marchand broke that mark with a 1:28.97.

But the records weren’t done falling.

It wasn’t Texas or Arizona State, but the Cal Bears that broke the NCAA record as a team to win the event in 6:02.26.

After Day 1, Cal and Florida are tied for the lead with 70 points apiece.

In heat 3, Cal’s Jack Alexy led a surge by the Bears to take the lead before the halfway point of the race at 4:30.42 after three legs. Robin Hanson anchored for the Bears while Julian Hill tried to catch up for the Sun Devils.

But Hanson closed the door and Cal won in 6:02.26, breaking the NCAA record in the event.

“It means a lot to me,” Hanson said. “It is a great start to the meet, and we wanted the momentum early. That is what is most important about the win. Last year, we won the team title, we won only one title and no relays, so this means a lot to start like this.

“Watching people swim fast hypes you up. It was a great motivator for sure. I knew the boys were going to give me a lead, which they did. When you are in there it is kind of a black out. You are just in your zone.”

Gabriel Jett led off in 1:30.32 for the Bears, followed by Destin Lasco (1:29.60), Alexy (1:30.50) and Hanson (1:31.84).

After Marchand’s 1:28.97, Hubert Kos (1:32.29), Patrick Sammon (1:31.91) and Hill (1:31.78) followed and ASU was second in 6:04.95.

Hobson’s first 100 was 42.11, well past the next competitor, Notre Dame’s Chris Guiliano (43.49) and his lead continued to grow.

The Longhorns built on Hobson’s lead as Alabama tried to catch up. But Camden Taylor shut the door with a strong anchor leg, and Texas won the second heat with a 6:05.33.

For Texas (6:05.33), after Hobson was Coby Carrozza (1:31.32), Nate Germonprez (1:32.05) and Taylor (1:32.83).

Virginia Tech surged into second in the heat with a 6:09.34, ahead of Alabama (6:10.72) and Michigan (6:11.55).

In the third heat, Arizona State’s Leon Marchand threw down a 1:28.97 to break Hobson’s NCAA record in the 200 free that stood for a matter of minutes.

Hobson still has the American record in the 200 free.

Florida’s Macguire McDuff, Julian Smith, Oskar Lindholm and Jake Mitchell finished fourth (6:08.88).

Event 2  Men 800 Yard Freestyle Relay
==================================================================================
         NCAA: N 6:03.42  3/22/2023 Texas
                          L Hobson, C Carrozza, P Larson, C Foster
         Meet: M 6:03.42  3/22/2023 Texas
                          L Hobson, C Carrozza, P Larson, C Foster
     American: A 6:03.42  3/22/2023 Texas
                          L Hobson, C Carrozza, P Larson, C Foster
   U. S. Open: O 6:03.42  3/22/2023 Texas
                          L Hobson, C Carrozza, P Larson, C Foster
         Pool: P 6:06.53  3/22/2017 NC State
                          R Held, A Vazaios, J Ress, S Dahl
    School                                 Seed     Finals Points 
==================================================================================
  1 California                          6:09.13    6:02.26N  40  
     1) Jett, Gabriel JR              2) r:0.20 Lasco, Destin SR      
     3) r:0.38 Alexy, Jack JR         4) r:0.20 Hanson, Robin JR      
    r:+0.63  20.76        43.65 (43.65)
      1:07.04 (1:07.04)   1:30.32 (1:30.32)
        1:51.02 (20.70)     2:13.85 (43.53)
      2:36.97 (1:06.65)   2:59.92 (1:29.60)
        3:19.86 (19.94)     3:42.18 (42.26)
      4:05.82 (1:05.90)   4:30.42 (1:30.50)
        4:51.08 (20.66)     5:14.06 (43.64)
      5:37.94 (1:07.52)   6:02.26 (1:31.84)
  2 ASU                                 6:06.14    6:04.95P  34  
     1) Marchand, Leon JR             2) r:0.37 Kos, Hubert SO        
     3) r:0.23 Sammon, Patrick JR     4) r:0.31 Hill, Julian 5Y       
    r:+0.61  20.36        42.59 (42.59)
      1:05.34 (1:05.34)   1:28.97 (1:28.97)
        1:48.78 (19.81)     2:12.25 (43.28)
      2:36.52 (1:07.55)   3:01.26 (1:32.29)
        3:21.78 (20.52)     3:44.92 (43.66)
      4:08.78 (1:07.52)   4:33.17 (1:31.91)
        4:53.82 (20.65)     5:16.78 (43.61)
      5:40.62 (1:07.45)   6:04.95 (1:31.78)
  3 Texas                               6:11.66    6:05.33P  32  
     1) Hobson, Luke JR               2) r:0.28 Carrozza, Coby SR     
     3) r:0.27 Germonprez, Nate FR    4) r:0.30 Taylor, Camden FR     
    r:+0.69  20.28        42.11 (42.11)
      1:04.97 (1:04.97)   1:29.13 (1:29.13)
        1:49.46 (20.33)     2:12.38 (43.25)
      2:36.15 (1:07.02)   3:00.45 (1:31.32)
        3:21.28 (20.83)     3:44.54 (44.09)
      4:08.37 (1:07.92)   4:32.50 (1:32.05)
        4:53.14 (20.64)     5:16.08 (43.58)
      5:40.34 (1:07.84)   6:05.33 (1:32.83)
  4 Florida                             6:06.36    6:08.00   30  
     1) McDuff, Macguire JR           2) r:0.20 Smith, Julian JR      
     3) r:0.27 Lindholm, Oskar JR     4) r:0.26 Mitchell, Jake SR     
    r:+0.63  20.54        43.30 (43.30)
      1:07.34 (1:07.34)   1:31.82 (1:31.82)
        1:52.36 (20.54)     2:16.06 (44.24)
      2:40.41 (1:08.59)   3:04.60 (1:32.78)
        3:25.82 (21.22)     3:49.41 (44.81)
      4:13.35 (1:08.75)   4:37.11 (1:32.51)
        4:58.02 (20.91)     5:21.18 (44.07)
      5:44.73 (1:07.62)   6:08.00 (1:30.89)
  5 Georgia                             6:06.79    6:08.13   28  
     1) Koski, Tomas FR               2) r:0.10 Magahey, Jake SR      
     3) r:0.21 Hils, Zach 5Y          4) r:0.16 Dunham, Bradley 5Y    
    r:+0.60  21.28        44.44 (44.44)
      1:08.51 (1:08.51)   1:32.95 (1:32.95)
        1:53.65 (20.70)     2:16.69 (43.74)
      2:40.46 (1:07.51)   3:04.52 (1:31.57)
        3:25.42 (20.90)     3:48.86 (44.34)
      4:12.76 (1:08.24)   4:36.85 (1:32.33)
        4:57.60 (20.75)     5:20.65 (43.80)
      5:44.21 (1:07.36)   6:08.13 (1:31.28)
  6 Indiana                             6:10.86    6:08.26   26  
     1) Miroslaw, Rafael JR           2) r:0.16 Frankel, Tomer SR     
     3) r:0.24 Van Westering, Kai SO  4) r:0.48 Burns, Brendan 5Y     
    r:+0.64  20.78        43.47 (43.47)
      1:06.56 (1:06.56)   1:30.76 (1:30.76)
        1:51.34 (20.58)     2:14.52 (43.76)
      2:38.47 (1:07.71)   3:02.95 (1:32.19)
        3:23.66 (20.71)     3:47.02 (44.07)
      4:11.12 (1:08.17)   4:36.26 (1:33.31)
        4:57.19 (20.93)     5:20.17 (43.91)
      5:43.88 (1:07.62)   6:08.26 (1:32.00)
  7 Louisville                          6:09.87    6:08.32   24  
     1) Sartori, Murilo JR            2) r:0.09 Brooks, Guy SO        
     3) r:0.23 Loktev, Denis JR       4) r:0.14 Saldo, Gustavo JR     
    r:+0.69  21.20        44.13 (44.13)
      1:07.75 (1:07.75)   1:31.68 (1:31.68)
        1:52.00 (20.32)     2:15.15 (43.47)
      2:38.89 (1:07.21)   3:03.01 (1:31.33)
        3:23.69 (20.68)     3:47.02 (44.01)
      4:11.09 (1:08.08)   4:35.20 (1:32.19)
        4:56.07 (20.87)     5:19.63 (44.43)
      5:43.92 (1:08.72)   6:08.32 (1:33.12)
  8 Stanford                            6:09.36    6:08.77   22  
     1) Polonsky, Ron JR              2) r:0.19 Minakov, Andrei JR    
     3) r:0.03 Maurer, Luke SR        4) r:0.49 McFadden, Henry FR    
    r:+0.66  21.16        44.44 (44.44)
      1:08.32 (1:08.32)   1:32.90 (1:32.90)
        1:53.52 (20.62)     2:16.83 (43.93)
      2:40.36 (1:07.46)   3:05.04 (1:32.14)
        3:25.89 (20.85)     3:49.33 (44.29)
      4:13.44 (1:08.40)   4:37.32 (1:32.28)
        4:58.62 (21.30)     5:21.93 (44.61)
      5:45.70 (1:08.38)   6:08.77 (1:31.45)
  9 NC State                            6:10.22    6:08.78   18  
     1) Stokowski, Kacper 5Y          2) r:0.27 Miller, Luke SR       
     3) r:0.09 Bustos, Arsenio JR     4) r:0.27 Diehl, Daniel FR      
    r:+0.62  20.98        44.72 (44.72)
      1:08.60 (1:08.60)   1:32.85 (1:32.85)
        1:53.55 (20.70)     2:16.94 (44.09)
      2:40.53 (1:07.68)   3:04.63 (1:31.78)
        3:25.57 (20.94)     3:49.16 (44.53)
      4:13.27 (1:08.64)   4:37.26 (1:32.63)
        4:58.39 (21.13)     5:21.70 (44.44)
      5:44.95 (1:07.69)   6:08.78 (1:31.52)
 10 VT                                  6:13.08    6:09.34   14  
     1) Dominguez Calonge, Luis JR    2) r:0.14 Whitfield, Brendan FR 
     3) r:0.06 Coll Marti, Carles SR  4) r:0.15 Molla Yanes, Mario JR 
    r:+0.64  21.20        44.00 (44.00)
      1:07.91 (1:07.91)   1:32.29 (1:32.29)
        1:52.99 (20.70)     2:16.34 (44.05)
      2:40.39 (1:08.10)   3:04.86 (1:32.57)
        3:25.53 (20.67)     3:49.08 (44.22)
      4:13.10 (1:08.24)   4:37.09 (1:32.23)
        4:57.69 (20.60)     5:20.59 (43.50)
      5:44.65 (1:07.56)   6:09.34 (1:32.25)
 11 Alabama                             6:11.27    6:10.72   12  
     1) Hawke, Charlie JR             2) r:0.29 Alves, Kaique JR      
     3) r:0.24 Hagar, Tommy FR        4) r:0.19 Alcantara, Leonardo FR
    r:+0.66  20.86        43.22 (43.22)
      1:06.44 (1:06.44)   1:30.55 (1:30.55)
        1:51.36 (20.81)     2:14.36 (43.81)
      2:37.92 (1:07.37)   3:01.84 (1:31.29)
        3:22.88 (21.04)     3:46.69 (44.85)
      4:11.49 (1:09.65)   4:36.76 (1:34.92)
        4:58.50 (21.74)     5:22.53 (45.77)
      5:46.66 (1:09.90)   6:10.72 (1:33.96)
 12 Michigan                            6:13.64    6:11.55   10  
     1) Cohen Groumi, Gal JR          2) r:0.30 Ben-Shitrit, Eitan SO 
     3) r:0.00 Kalafat, Ozan SO       4) r:0.18 Zucker, Logan SO      
    r:+0.55  21.07        44.18 (44.18)
      1:07.59 (1:07.59)   1:31.07 (1:31.07)
        1:52.20 (21.13)     2:14.92 (43.85)
      2:38.50 (1:07.43)   3:02.77 (1:31.70)
        3:24.04 (21.27)     3:47.86 (45.09)
      4:12.60 (1:09.83)   4:37.91 (1:35.14)
        4:59.06 (21.15)     5:22.81 (44.90)
      5:47.06 (1:09.15)   6:11.55 (1:33.64)
 13 Auburn                              6:11.03    6:12.16    8  
     1) Mathias, Mason JR             2) r:0.20 Schmidt, Danny SO     
     3) r:0.16 Husband, Ryan SR       4) r:0.17 Bonson, Michael SR    
    r:+0.66  21.53        44.85 (44.85)
      1:08.83 (1:08.83)   1:33.06 (1:33.06)
        1:54.23 (21.17)     2:17.60 (44.54)
      2:41.77 (1:08.71)   3:06.60 (1:33.54)
        3:27.42 (20.82)     3:50.72 (44.12)
      4:14.62 (1:08.02)   4:38.77 (1:32.17)
        4:59.73 (20.96)     5:23.40 (44.63)
      5:47.65 (1:08.88)   6:12.16 (1:33.39)
 14 OSU                                 6:12.39    6:12.81    6  
     1) Navikonis, Tomas SO           2) r:0.11 Metzler, Alex JR      
     3) r:0.43 Axon, Alex SO          4) r:0.14 Jankovics, Tristan SO 
    r:+0.67  21.60        44.96 (44.96)
      1:08.23 (1:08.23)   1:32.35 (1:32.35)
        1:53.90 (21.55)     2:17.89 (45.54)
      2:42.02 (1:09.67)   3:06.05 (1:33.70)
        3:27.59 (21.54)     3:51.40 (45.35)
      4:15.71 (1:09.66)   4:39.67 (1:33.62)
        5:00.87 (21.20)     5:24.71 (45.04)
      5:48.65 (1:08.98)   6:12.81 (1:33.14)
 15 SMU                                 6:15.90    6:14.35    4  
     1) Hoagland, Jack 5Y             2) r:0.53 Mykkanen, Chrispher 5Y
     3) r:0.17 Forrest, Jack SO       4) r:0.30 Feehery, Colin 5Y     
    r:+0.71  21.54        44.67 (44.67)
      1:08.53 (1:08.53)   1:32.47 (1:32.47)
        1:53.68 (21.21)     2:17.46 (44.99)
      2:41.59 (1:09.12)   3:06.39 (1:33.92)
        3:27.53 (21.14)     3:51.16 (44.77)
      4:15.62 (1:09.23)   4:39.91 (1:33.52)
        5:00.73 (20.82)     5:24.40 (44.49)
      5:49.08 (1:09.17)   6:14.35 (1:34.44)
 16 UNC                                 6:18.16    6:14.88    2  
     1) Hussey, Patrick SR            2) r:0.24 Dramm, Louis SO       
     3) r:0.21 Lunak, Seb FR          4) r:0.17 Van Deusen, Matthew JR
    r:+0.67  21.82        45.48 (45.48)
      1:09.67 (1:09.67)   1:32.87 (1:32.87)
        1:54.11 (21.24)     2:17.91 (45.04)
      2:41.99 (1:09.12)   3:06.07 (1:33.20)
        3:27.83 (21.76)     3:51.74 (45.67)
      4:16.03 (1:09.96)   4:40.27 (1:34.20)
        5:01.70 (21.43)     5:25.23 (44.96)
      5:49.79 (1:09.52)   6:14.88 (1:34.61)
 17 Notre Dame                          6:14.93    6:15.58  
     1) Guiliano, Chris JR            2) r:0.28 Janton, Tommy SO      
     3) r:0.11 Wilburn, Cason 5Y      4) r:0.00 Edge, Dillon SO       
    r:+0.59  20.61        43.49 (43.49)
      1:06.66 (1:06.66)   1:30.36 (1:30.36)
        1:51.27 (20.91)     2:15.22 (44.86)
      2:39.79 (1:09.43)   3:04.48 (1:34.12)
        3:24.92 (20.44)     3:48.96 (44.48)
      4:13.93 (1:09.45)   4:40.69 (1:36.21)
        5:01.91 (21.22)     5:25.56 (44.87)
      5:49.95 (1:09.26)   6:15.58 (1:34.89)
 18 LSU                                 6:17.53    6:16.35  
     1) Garon, Andrew SO              2) r:0.02 Lekic, Jovan FR       
     3) r:0.48 Percinic, Karlo FR     4) r:0.36 Curtis, Griffin JR    
    r:+0.65  21.83        45.79 (45.79)
      1:10.26 (1:10.26)   1:34.78 (1:34.78)
        1:55.48 (20.70)     2:19.32 (44.54)
      2:43.47 (1:08.69)   3:07.49 (1:32.71)
        3:29.14 (21.65)     3:53.13 (45.64)
      4:17.40 (1:09.91)   4:41.88 (1:34.39)
                            5:26.93 (45.05)
      5:51.52 (1:09.64)   6:16.35 (1:34.47)
 19 Wisconsin                           6:16.63    6:18.35  
     1) Morris, Chris JR              2) r:0.39 Mark Torok, Dominik SO
     3) r:0.19 Butera, Nico JR        4) r:0.35 Aslan, Yigit JR       
    r:+0.61  22.02        46.05 (46.05)
      1:10.04 (1:10.04)   1:34.02 (1:34.02)
        1:55.22 (21.20)     2:19.21 (45.19)
      2:43.87 (1:09.85)   3:08.82 (1:34.80)
        3:29.97 (21.15)     3:53.79 (44.97)
      4:18.20 (1:09.38)   4:43.66 (1:34.84)
        5:05.55 (21.89)     5:29.85 (46.19)
      5:54.18 (1:10.52)   6:18.35 (1:34.69)
 19 FSU                                 6:17.96    6:18.35  
     1) Varjasi, Peter 5Y             2) r:0.32 Quirie, David SR      
     3) r:0.29 Baravelli, Tommaso SR  4) r:0.15 Yanchev, Yordan SR    
    r:+0.65  22.05        45.97 (45.97)
      1:10.02 (1:10.02)   1:33.99 (1:33.99)
        1:55.22 (21.23)     2:19.29 (45.30)
      2:44.19 (1:10.20)   3:08.98 (1:34.99)
        3:30.75 (21.77)     3:54.96 (45.98)
      4:20.04 (1:11.06)   4:45.62 (1:36.64)
        5:06.75 (21.13)     5:30.08 (44.46)
      5:54.06 (1:08.44)   6:18.35 (1:32.73)
 21 GT                                  6:18.50    6:21.60  
     1) Unlu, Baturalp SR             2) r:0.20 Balduccini, Ricky FR  
     3) r:0.08 Sega, Vitor FR         4) r:0.17 Saka, Berke JR        
    r:+0.64  22.14        46.32 (46.32)
      1:10.29 (1:10.29)   1:34.45 (1:34.45)
        1:55.61 (21.16)     2:19.43 (44.98)
      2:44.04 (1:09.59)   3:09.20 (1:34.75)
        3:30.91 (21.71)     3:55.10 (45.90)
      4:19.90 (1:10.70)   4:45.44 (1:36.24)
        5:07.48 (22.04)     5:31.92 (46.48)
      5:56.44 (1:11.00)   6:21.60 (1:36.16)

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