Alabama’s Robert Howard: “Coach Saban Was in My Ear” on Finish of 200 Medley Relay (VIDEO INTERVIEW)

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The Alabama 200 medley relay team of Zane Waddell, Laurent Bams, Knox Auerbach and Robert Howard took the win in the 200 medley relay Friday night, leading wire-to-wire before Howard anchored in 18.22 to hold off hard charges from Cal’s Ryan Hoffer and NC State’s Justin Ress.

After the race, the quartet explained how Alabama managed to take the relay title with an entirely different team than won the 200 medley relay at NCAAs three years ago in Atlanta, what the title meant to them and how the Crimson Tide have developed a significant tradition in the event. Howard joked that he was hearing Alabama football coach Nick Saban’s voice in his head willing him down the final stretch.

Full recap from 200 medley relay:

The Alabama Crimson Tide won the 200 medley relay on Friday night at the 2019 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas with a 1:22.26. The team of Zane Waddell (20.41), Laurent Bams (23.24), Knox Auerbach (20.39) and Robert Howard (18.22) won the title for the Crimson Tide.

It came down to four teams on the final leg as the Cal Golden Bears snuck into second place at 1:22.43 thanks to an 18.17 anchor from Ryan Hoffer. Cal finished in second with Daniel Carr (20.92), Reece Whitley (23.68), Pawel Sendyk (19.66) and Hoffer (18.17) as the Golden Bears finished in second ahead of NC State (1:22.47) and Texas (1:22.58).

Coleman Stewart (20.66), Daniel Graber (23.49), Nyls Korstanje (20.06) and Justin Ress (18.26) finished third for the Wolfpack.

Texas was in the lead at the 150 after a stunning 19.83 split from John Shebat on the fly leg.

The quickest splits outside the top three came from Texas’ Ryan Harty (20.86), USC’s Carsten Vissering (22.88), Florida State’s Kanoa Kaleoaloha (19.77) and Tennessee’s Kyle DeCoursey (18.46).

Louisville (1:23.23), Tennessee (1:23.56), Florida State (1:23.81) and Southern Cal (1:23.82) also swam in the A-Final.

Alabama now has two NCAA titles in the 200 medley relay joining the 2016 winning team.

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MK Mahoney

7 years ago

Once a Roll Rider always a Roll Tider

Stephen Paul

7 years ago

great interview love the charisma of those boys