Michigan might just be too strong. Despite a trio of 17-18th places
finishes, and a struggling Ryan Feeley, the Wolverines did put seven
swimmers into the big final. That was one more than California,
which put six into the big final and three into consolations. Both
squads return nine individual swims on the night with each carrying
the top seed in one event.
Evening projections point towards Michigan carrying a 40-45 point lead heading into the diving and 800 Freestyle Relay. Arizona are expected to move into third. The Wildcats were led by Kevin Cordes' American Record in the 100 breaststroke, and should pass Auburn, USC, Texas and Florida.
The fourth and final trophy is going to go down to the wire. USC and Texas both went three up and one down, but the Trojans, with the top two seeds in the 200 freestyle have few opportunities to move up. Auburn, meanwhile, carries the top seed into the 200 Medley Relay and could be on the outside looking in as the meet heads into the 200 of strokes.
| Just over a third of all swims were faster than their qualifying time and slightly fewer than a third of swims were lifetime bests. The best of the best separated themselves from the pack, however. No longer does just matching your seed time assure you of a good swim. Sixty percent of all finalists and sixty percent of all consolation finalists bettered their seed time while just 15% of non-qualifiers did so. Georgia had its best morning swim of the meet when Chase Kalisz led all qualifiers in the 400 IM. The Freshman will take lane four tonight across from Wisconsin's Michael Weiss. Florida's trophy hopes took a big hit when Sebastiaen Rousseau was DQ'ed for rolling out of position during the back to breast turn. Tom Shields and Giles smith lined up in lanes four an five this morning, just as they did in last year's final. That's where they will find themselves tonight. Smith took the race out the only way he knows how - fast, but the defending champion caught him at the 50 before pulling away on the final lap. Southern Cal takes the top two seeds into the final of the 200 Freestyle. Top seed Cristian Quintero held onto the spot and will be joined in the middle lanes by teammate Dimitri Colupaev. Tonight, however the race could take an interesting turn as Louisville's Joao DeLucca and Texas' Dax Hill will have outside lanes next to Michael Wynalda and Connor Jaeger. Of the top eight finalists, Wynalda and Jaeger were slowest through the 100 meaning DeLucca and Hill could benefit from some open water. While the relay splits have highlighted the meet thus far, Kevin Cordes broke the first 'official' record of the meet. Cordes overcame a quick start and a slight slip on the third wall to go under the American record he set last November. Last night's other star, Vlad Morozov qualified second, just ahead of Michigan's Richard Funk. Cody Miller snuck into the final spot. The Indiana Hoosier is considered by many to have the best (or the most illegal) underwater kicks of the field, but he was deliberate in the morning, and still made it through to tonight. |
Miguel Oritz led all qualifiers in the 100 backstroker. The Michigan Senior shattered his previous best with a 45.48 to better Mitch Friedemann's lead off split from last night. Those two are anything but sure snots, however, not with Kyle Owens, David Nolan, and Tom Shields also in the big heat. Indiana, which has been getting better and better each session put a pair of backstrokers- Eric Ress and James Wells into the top eight while Cal's Jacob Pebley also qualified..
