Joao de Lucca Begins Defense of 200 Free NCAA Title in Dual Meet Against Xavier

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky, October 11. THE Louisville Cardinals opened their season with a home dual meet against Xavier, with the men’s team defeating Xavier 189-70 and the women taking the win 195-64.

Joao de Lucca, the reigning NCAA champion in the 200 free with the third-fastest time in history, won two individual events today. He won the 200 free handily with a 1:37.43, putting him at the top of the national rankings in the early season. Florida’s Corey Main had posted a 1:37.69 at the All-Florida Invite a couple of weeks ago. De Lucca followed that up with a 44.46 in the 100 free that nearly beat out teammate Caryle Blondell’s 44.67. While de Lucca was third in the 100 free at last season’s NCAAs, Blondell placed 14th.

Kelsi Worrell placed fourth in the 100 fly at the NCAA championships and started her season with a 54.91 to win by nearly nine seconds today. Worrell also won the 100 back with a 55.35.

Grigory Tarasevich, the reigning junior world champion in the 50 backstroke and bronze medalist in the 100 back for Russia, opened his collegiate swimming career with a 100 back winning time of 50.23 over freshman teammate Aaron Greene’s 50.39. The two flip-flopped places in the 200 back, with Greene winning in a time of 1:48.96 and Tarasevich posting a 1:49.18.

Tanja Kylliainen nearly broke her pool record of 1:58.27 in the 200 fly, posting a time of 1:58.79 for the win. She also won the 200 IM with a 2:02.64. Other top swims included a 20.68 by Blondell to win the men’s 50 free and a 1:50.76 by Josh Quallen to win the men’s 200 fly.

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