It was déjà vu on day two of the 2015 Pac-12 Men’s Swimming Championships as all four events saw repeat champions en route to STANFORD taking the overall lead. The Cardinal moved into first with 288 points, largely thanks to Dave Nolan’s American-record performance in the 200 individual medley.
CALIFORNIA remained second in the team standings with 248.5 points, edging out USC which is in third with 242.5 points. ARIZONA is fourth after two full days of action, while UTAH stands at fifth and ARIZONA STATE is sixth.
The night kicked off with a repeat champion in the 500 free as USC’s Cristian Quintero won his third-consecutive title in the event. With a meet-record time of 4:11.25, which is also the second-best time nationally this year, Quintero narrowly beat out fellow Trojan Reed Malone who swam a 4:11.30, which also bested the previous Pac-12 meet record. Rounding out the podium was Utah’s Bence Kiraly, who touched at 4:14.67 for an NCAA B-cut time.
Dave Nolan lit up Weyerhauser in the next final with an electric performance in the 200 IM. The four-time 200 IM Pac-12 champion capped his career in the event by setting a new American record, swimming a 1:40.07 for the historic finish. The senior, a 17-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion, picked up his 10th Pac-12 title all-time. California took second and third on the legs of Josh Prenot (1:41.79) and Ryan Murphy (1:42.94).
The repeats continued as Arizona’s Brad Tandy took home his second-consecutive title in the 50 free. The senior touched at 18.95 seconds for first place and the third-fastest time in the nation so far this year. USC’s Santo Condorelli placed second in the event with a 19.29 and California’s Seth Stubblefield placed third at 19.32.
Diving events from last week’s 2015 Pac-12 Women’s Swimming and Men’s and Women’s Diving Championships were allocated after the 50 free, and Stanford took a commanding lead as Kristian Ipsen’s first-place score of 459.25 contributed 20 points. Arizona’s Rafael Quintero was second with 444.60, and Utah’s Jacob Crayne was third with 383.75.
Cal took home its second-straight title in the 200 free relay to wrap up the evening. The team of Fabio Gimondi, Tyler Messerschmidt, Ryan Murphy and Seth Stubblefield combined for a time of 1:16.57 for the first-place finish. USC’s A-relay took second place in the event, followed by Stanford at third.
The 2015 Pac-12 Men’s Swimming Championships continue tomorrow, Friday, Mar. 6, at Weyerhauser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash., with prelims at 11 a.m. PT and finals beginning at 6 p.m. PT. The 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 400 medley relay will take place tomorrow.
Arizona
As day two concluded at the men’s swimming Pac-12 Championships, Arizona got another Pac-12 title at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. In addition to the title, the Wildcats added more NCAA cuts. After day two, Arizona remains fourth with 174. Stanford is currently first with 288, Cal is second (248.5) and USC is third (242.5).
In the first event of the day, Chris Wieser took second in the B final of the 500 free with a time of 4:19.57. In fifth place in the B final, Nick Thorne finished with 4:20.04. In the C final, Nick Hogsed took first in 4:22.35. All three swimmers earned NCAA “B” cuts. Ty Fowler placed third in the C final with 4:25.20 while Justin Wright took 30th in the prelims (4:38.86).
In the 200 IM, Michael Meyer finished first in the B final (1:44.74) earning a “B” cut. Thane Mausdlien took fifth in the B final with a time of 1:45.83 while Rasmus Skjaerpe placed eighth with 1:47.54, both earning “B” cuts. In the C final, Austin Van Overdam won (1:46.72) followed by teammate Gage Crosby (1:48.14) to add two more “B” cuts. Jason Alentado finished sixth in the C final with 1:49.82 while Austin Ringquist raced as an exhibition in 1:49.60.
Brad Tandy earned a Pac-12 title in the 50 free finishing in 18.95, defending his title and also getting another NCAA “A” cut. In the B final, Brian Stevens took second with a time of 19.83 while Renny Richmond placed eighth with 20.09, both receiving “B” cuts. J.P. Beach finished first in the C final in 19.99 receiving a “B” cut. Kevin Cordes took sixth in the C final (20.87) followed by teammate Andrew Sovero (20.92).
In the final event of the day, the 200 free relay, the team of Stevens, Tandy, Beach and Richmond placed fourth with a time of 1:17.69, earning an “A” cut. Maudslien, Alan Winder, Thorne and Van Overdam raced as an exhibition in 1:21.11.
The scores from the Pac-12 Diving Championships were added to Arizona’s final total of the day. Rafael Quintero took second in the 1-meter with 444.60. Dominic Ricotta placed sixth (298.55) while Carter Craft finished 14th (283.20).
California
Cal captured the 200 free relay title at the Pac-12 meet for the second year in a row, clocking a time of 1:16.57 behind the swims of senior Fabio Gimondi, junior Tyler Messerschmidt, sophomore Ryan Murphy and senior Seth Stubblefield Thursday night at the Pac-12 Men’s Swimming Championships in Federal Way, Wash. The Golden Bears, winners of the conference team title the past two years, sits just behind Stanford, 288-248.5 after seven events.
It is the second relay title for Cal at the 2015 Pac-12 championships. On Wednesday, Bears Murphy, senior Chuck Katis, freshman Justin Lynch and Messerschmidt won the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:24.16.
Other highlights for Cal Thursday night included junior Josh Prenot placing second in the 200 IM with a time of 1:41.79, while Murphy was third in the 200 IM with a mark of 1:42.94.
Another top performance for the Bears was in the 50 free where Stubblefield was third (19.32), Gimondi was fifth (19.52) and Messerschmidt was eighth (19.64).
Another even finalist was junior Trent Williams, who was eighth in the 500 free (4:23.35), and sophomore Long Gutierrez was the B Final champion in the 500 free with a time of 4:19.56.
Last week in Pac-12 diving competition, Cal freshman Finn Scribbick was eighth in the one-meter board with a score of 280.60 after scoring 305.55 in the prelims.
On Friday, the Bears will be competing in the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 400 medley relay. Prenot is the two-time defending Pac-12 champion in the 400 IM and Murphy is the defending Pac-12 and NCAA champion in the 100 back, Additionally, Cal is the defending NCAA champion in the 400 medley relay, returning Murphy, Katis and Stubblefield from last year’s title-winning squad.
USC
Senior Cristian Quintero won his third consecutive conference title in the 500y free while sophomores Reed Malone (500y free) and Santo Condorelli (50y free) posted a pair of second-place finishes to lead the No. 11 USC Swimming and Diving team on the second night of the 2015 Men's Pac-12 Swimming Championships in Federal Way, Wash., on Thursday (March 5).
USC, seeking its first conference title since 1979, is third after the second day with 242.5 points. Stanford leads with 288 points and is followed by Cal (248.5), USC, Arizona (174), Utah (126) and Arizona State (111).
The 500y free quickly turned into a two-man battle between Quintero and Malone. Malone, who also took second in the race to Quintero last year, held the lead after 200, 300 and 350 yards. But Quintero took over at the 400-yard mark, led by 0.34 with 50 to go and held off a charging Malone, winning 4:11.25 to 4:11.30.
Quintero's win in the 500y free is USC's 28th and the 11th since 2001. Quintero's time was 1.23 seconds off his school record while Malone set a personal best. Freshman Pawel Furtek also swam in the final, taking sixth in 4:17.91.
Condorelli finished second in the 50y free with a 19.29, 0.34 behind Arizona winner Brad Tandy's 18.95, while sophomore Dylan Carter tied for fifth with a 19.52. Condorelli earned the top seed in the 'A' final after a 19.27 in prelims that made him the second-fastest Trojan all-time in the event. Carter, Troy's third-fastest ever in the race who was sixth last year, was 0.01 off his best in the final.
Junior Morten Klarskov turned in a pair of best times in the 200y IM today, first in prelims (1:45.30) and then in a sixth-place effort in the 'A' final (1:44.84). Sophomores Michael Domagala (1:45.35) and Steven Stumph (1:45.91) finished 12th and 14th, respectively, after their 'B' final swims.
USC closed out the night's racing with a close second in the 200y free relay as Condorelli, Carter, freshman Ralf Tribuntsov and Quintero swam a 1:16:88, just off Cal's winning time of 1:16.57.
"It was another strong evening," USC Coach Dave Salo said. "The Cristian and Reed battle was a classic and all eyes were on which one would take the championship title. All of our guys came back tonight and swam better than the prelims with most lifetime best times.
"It is going to be a great battle for the team championship between Stanford, Cal and USC. Tomorrow is going to be an important day if we are going to challenge to win the team title.
"Our relay can be a lot better at NCAAs with more work on the starts. Our goal here is to make the NCAA Championships as well as score points so we are getting both done."
Points from the 1-meter springboard from last week's Pac-12 Men's Diving Championships are included in today's scores. Junior Collin Pollard placed fourth while freshman Dashiell Enos was ninth, senior Jordan Gear was 13th and junior Deon Reid was 16th.
Stanford
Biomechanical engineering major David Nolan broke the school, league, NCAA, U.S. Open and American records in the 200-yard individual medley Thursday during the Pac-12 Conference Championships.
The senior went 1:40.07 (21.96, 24.95, 29.05, 24.11) for the golden standard, sneaking under American record holder Ryan Lochte’s 1:40.08 achieved in 2007 at the Winter Nationals. Nolan’s performance bettered that of former NCAA record holder Bradley Ally (1:40.49) of Florida set in 2009.
Nolan, who won the event at the 2013 NCAA Championships, held Stanford’s record at 1:41.21. He matriculated at Stanford with the national high school record in the 200 IM (1:41.39).
“What an incredible effort today,” said Ted Knapp, Stanford’s Goldman Family Director of Men’s Swimming. “With David Nolan leading the way with his record-breaking swim in the 200 IM, and then three freshmen -- (Liam) Egan, (Curtis) Ogren and (Sam) Perry -- swimming their way onto the NCAA squad in three different events showed great versatility.
“Danny Thomson and Tom Kremer made the NCAA team with their swims this morning. And in diving, we accomplished most of what we wanted.”
With 288 points, the Cardinal jumped from third to first through seven events. Cal (248.5) is second and USC (242.5) stands in third. The scores include last week’s diving results. In fact, Ipsen was named Pac-12 Diver of the Year for the third time after sweeping all three events.
The meet resumes Friday with live results available at GoStanford.com.
Nolan was one of five Cardinal student-athletes who advanced to the finals of the 200 IM at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
Curtis Ogren (1:44.08) took fourth, Tom Kremer (1:44.48) was fifth, Gray Umbach (1:45.49) snatched seventh and Max Williamson (1:45.88) secured eighth.
Danny Thomson (4:14.98) and Liam Egan (4:16.65) took the middle two spots in the 500-yard freestyle, and were joined in the finals by seventh-place Drew Cosgarea (4:18.34).
Sam Perry, Stanford’s only performer in the 50-yard freestyle, went 19.49 for fourth.
Nolan had enough in the tank to help the Cardinal take third in the 200-yard freestyle relay with an NCAA A-cut 1:17.52 and third-place finish. Nolan teamed with Perry, Connor Black and Thomas Stephens.
Utah
The Utah men’s swimming team sits in fifth place with 126 points following day two of action at the 2015 Pac-12 Championships at Weyerhaeuser King Country Aquatic Center.
After two day of competition, Stanford takes the lead with 288 points with UCLA in second (248.5) and USC in third (242.5). Arizona is in fourth with 174 points. ASU currently is in sixth (111).
Bence Kiraly took the podium as he touched in third in the 500 free with a 4:14.67, a NCAA B standard-time and Utah’s fastest mark all-time. He also broke his previous school record of 4:17.40 which he set at the Texas Invitational in 2014. In the “C” finals for the event, Brandon Shreeve touched in fourth (20th overall) with a time of 4:25.60. Andy Cunningham took sixth (22nd overall) with a time of 4:27.72, with Peter Kotson in seventh (23rd overall) touching in 4:35.12 and Matthew Bolinger following in eighth (24th overall) with a time of 4:40.46.
Evan Indahl touched in fifth (21st overall) in the “C” finals for the 200 IM with a time of 1:49.76, while Nolan Rogers took eighth (24th overall) with a time of 1:50.28.
Nick Soedel recorded an NCAA B standard-time of 19:54 in the 50 free. He took seventh in the event while Alex Fernandes touched in third-place (19th overall) in the “C” finals with a time of 20.31.
Taking sixth in the 200 free relay was team of Kiraly, Fernandes, Keanu Interone and David Fraser who touched in with a time of 1:22.69.
“We had a successful night two here at the Pac-12 Championships finishing in fifth place again this evening with some really highlighted performances,” said Utah head coach Joe Dykstra. “Bence Kiraly set a new school record to finish third in the 500 freestyle just missing the NCAA automatic cut but obviously safely into the championships. It really was a tremendous swim seeing as he isn't shaved or fully rested for this meet. Nick Soedel finished in the top eight in the 50 free as well.”
In a 200 back time trial, Kristian Kron recorded the second fastest time in school history by securing a NCAA B standard-time of 1:42.77. Brandon Deckard touched in 1:48.11.
“We had a good time trial today with Kristian Kron with the second fastest time in school history and just off his own school record in 1:42.7 in the 200 backstroke. That looks good going into Saturday in that event. We had a couple of nice 500’s as well; Brandon Shreeve dropped to a 4:25 in the C final. We are excited to get into the stroke events tomorrow.”
