Joao De Lucca Defends 200 Free Championship For Louisville

De Lucca,J.

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AUSTIN, Texas, March 28. LOUISVILLE’s Joao De Lucca was a bit more conservative this year in the men’s 200-yard free, but he did enough to defend his title at the NCAA Division I Men’s Championships.

De Lucca raced his way to a 1:31.96 for the win tonight, off his winning time of 1:31.51 from a year ago, but enough to win his second straight title. USC’s Cristian Quintero, who won the 500 free on night one, took second in 1:32.28 to move to 13th all time in the event. Michigan’s Michael Wynalda rounded out the top three in 1:32.58.

“I don’t know, it’s different. I think the first one I never realized how it would feel to be a national champion,” De Lucca said. “I wasn’t here to defend anything. I’m always attacking, I just feel unstoppable. I’m returning something back to the university that has done a lot for me. I remember when I first came to Louisville I had no idea what Louisville was. It was something new for me and way different from where I’m from. They supported me and they did so much for me. I’m very happy to be able to give something back to them. This school means a lot to me.”

Georgia’s Matias Koski (1:32.66), Notre Dame’s Frank Dyer (1:33.43), Texas’ Clay Youngquist (1:33.66) and Florida’s Mitch D’Arrigo (1:33.97) also competed in the championship finale.

USC’s Dimitri Colupaev paid badly for his strong first half, where he went out in 43.74, as he faded to eighth overall with a 1:34.73.

Stanford’s Tom Kremer raced to the B final win in 1:33.32, while California’s Will Hamilton joined him in the 1:33s with a second-place time of 1:33.75.

Ohio State’s Michael Disalle (1:34.21), California’s Trent Williams (1:34.38), Arizona’s Matt Barber (1:34.49), Wyoming’s Adam Kalms (1:34.64), USC’s Dylan Carter (1:35.06) and Michigan’s Connor Jaeger (1:335.48) comprised the rest of the consolation heat.

Splits
1 *Joao De Lucca SR Louisville 1:33.11 1:31.96 20
r:+0.70 21.15 44.10 (22.95)
1:07.54 (23.44) 1:31.96 (24.42)
2 *Cristian Quintero JR Southern Cal. 1:33.32 1:32.28 17
r:+0.70 21.50 44.58 (23.08)
1:08.47 (23.89) 1:32.28 (23.81)
3 Michael Wynalda SR Michigan 1:32.55 1:32.58 16
r:+0.79 21.48 44.55 (23.07)
1:08.27 (23.72) 1:32.58 (24.31)

Team Standings
1. Texas 249.5
2. Florida 236
3. California 233.5
4. Michigan 167
5. Georgia 161
6. Arizona 97.5
7. USC 87
8. Auburn 86
9. Florida State 85
10. Alabama 64.5

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