Cal, Arizona State Live Up to Hype, Swim to Stunning Tie With Several Elite Swims (Race Videos)

Photo Courtesy: Jack Hallahan

Cal, Arizona State Live Up to Hype, Swim to Stunning Tie With Several Elite Swims (Race Videos)

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If there was any question whether the fast times put up by both Arizona State and Cal at separate dual meets could be replicated the following day in a head-to-head showdown, those questions were put to rest in the first event.

The opening 200 medley relay saw both teams throw down 1:21 performances – and built an already highly anticipated showdown between the two teams at the upcoming Pac-12 Championships and NCAA Championships.

And it lived up to the billing in the team scores as the men tied 150-150. The Cal women won 212-88.

“One of the best dual meets ever,” ASU coach Bob Bowman said.

The men’s meet was extremely close throughout. At the second break, not including diving, Arizona State led 104-103.

Many pool records were set, starting with the first event.

Cal won the 200 medley relay with Bjorn Seeliger (20.22), Liam Bell (23.17), Dare Rose (19.84) and Jack Alexy (18.44) getting to the wall in 1:21.67 – the fastest time in the NCAA this year.

Arizona State was just a tenth of a second behind as Kubert Kos (21.01), Leon Marchand (23.22), Ilya Kharun (19.29) and Jonny Kulow (18.25) finished in 1:27.77.

The Sun Devils closed with a win in the 200 free relay as Jack Dolan, Kharun, Cam Peel and Jonny Kulow touched in 1:15.07, the second-fastest time of the season to their own at midseason. Cal’s Alexy, Seeliger, Bell and Robin Hanson took second at 1:55.55, the second-fastest team of the season.

Cal’s Gabriel Jett won the 200 free in 1:31.78 – the second-fastest time in the NCAA this season behind Alabama’s Charlie Hawke (1:31.30).

Destin Lasco won the 100 backstroke in 44.80, 32 hundredths off of his best time of the year.

Seeliger won the 50 free in 18.92, the sixth-fastest time in the NCAA this year, going 1-2 with Alexy (18.97). In the 100 free it was flip-flopped – by a hundredth of a second as Alexy won in 41.40 just ahead of Seeliger (41.41).

Cal’s Joshua Thai won 1-meter diving with 337.65 points and 3-meter with 365.40 points.

Marchand opened his individual events with a 51.37 performance in the 100 breaststroke. It is tied for the second-fastest in the NCAA this season and was enough to top Cal’s Liam Bell (51.70).

Marchand then won the 200 breast in 1:51.80, the fifth fastest time of the season.

He concluded his individual events with a win in the 200 IM. His 1:38.93 time was second this season only to his own time on Friday against Stanford. Lasco was second in 1:41.72.

Kharun won the 200 butterfly in 1:39.92, a stellar swim but not quite to his 1:38.11 top time of the year set on Friday. Rose was second in 1:41.13. Kharun also won the 100 fly in 44.54, holding off Rose again (45.15).

Kos won the 200 backstroke in 1:39.07, edging Lasco (1:39.29) in yet another thrilling head-to-head race.

Arizona State’s Zalan Sarkany won the 1000 free in 8:37.82 and 500 free in 4:12.45, the fifth-fastest time in the NCAA this season. Jett took second in 4:16.81.

The teams will next meet for the conference title.

“This sets up an exciting Pac-12 Championship,” Cal assistant David Marsh said.

More College News

In the women’s meet, Cal opened with a win in the 200 medley relay as Isabelle Stadden, Jade Neser, Mia Kragh and Mckenna Stone won in 1:34.67.

Stadden won the 100 backstroke (50.55) and 200 backstroke (1:50.58). Neser won the 100 breast in 59.93. Rachel Klinker claimed the 500 free in 4:41.67. Kragh won the 100 butterfly in 51.30.

Cal’s Mia Motekaitis won the 200 free in 1:44.05, by one hundredth of a second over teammate Leah Polonsky (1:44.06). Stephanie Akakabota won the 50 free in 22.11. Eloise Riley claimed the 100 free in 48.47. Hannah Brunzell won the 200 breast in 2:09.70. Polonsky won the 200 IM in 1:55.67.

Riley, Akakabota, Emiloy Gantriis and Stadden won the 200 free relay in 1:27.77.

Cal’s Caroline Li won 1-meter diving with 274.73 points. Ariana Drake won 3-meter with 307.35.

Arizona State’s Deniz Ertan won the 1000 freestyle (9:37.44). Lindsay Looney won the 200 fly in 1:53.51.

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