NCAA Men’s Championships: Brendan Burns Eyes 200 Double (Day 4 Heat Sheets)

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

NCAA Men’s Championships: Brendan Burns Eyes 200 Double (Day 4 Heat Sheets)

Brendan Burns is twice an NCAA champion in the 100 backstroke and once is the 200 butterfly. The Indiana fifth year has two more shots to add to that.

Burns opted for a Saturday double this year at the 2024 NCAA Championships, going with the 200 back and 200 fly to cap the meet at the IUPUI Natatorium.

A year ago, Burns won the 100 back on the same day as the 100 fly. He did that, he said Friday, to try and leave the 200 fly as his only event on Saturday, which he had won in 2022. That year, he’d finished second in the 100 back and ninth in the 100 fly on Friday.

The 17-time Big Ten champion was looking for a new challenge this year. He passed the first part by winning the 100 back out of Lane 1.

“Last year I wanted to do the 200 fly and focus on that and defend my title. That didn’t happen,” Burns said. “This year, my fifth year, I sat down with the coaches at the beginning of the season and I think one of my process-oriented goals was I wanted to leave no stone unturned, and this wasn’t something I’d gone after at NCAAs before. And I just wanted to leave it all out there for my team. I think we have a really great opportunity tomorrow to move up in the team standings, and I have a really big responsibility for my teammates tomorrow to make sure I go out there and do what I’m capable of. I’m really excited for that opportunity.”

The team title is up for grabs. Arizona State leads the way at 343 points. California, hunting its third straight title and its 14th straight top-two finish, is second in 286.5. Florida, stung by a DQ in the 400 free relay, has 273 points, with Indiana fourth in 347.

Burns isn’t necessarily the favorite in the 200 back. The top seed and 2003 World Champion, Hungarian by way of Arizona State Hubert Kos is tops in 1:35.69. Florida’s Jonny Marshall is second with Owen McDonald third.

Burns is closer in the 200 fly as the fourth seed. Ilya Kharun of Arizona State leads, while Andrei Minakov of Stanford is second, trying to shake off not making it back in the 100 fly, is the second seed, and Gal Groumi of Michigan third, among six swimmers under 1:40.

The 100 free should be a war. Josh Liendo will chase a third title, to go with the 50 free and 100 fly. Jordan Crooks is looking to get on the board as the third seed. Same for Notre Dame’s Chris Guiliano and 200 free runner-up Jack Alexy.

Leon Marchand is the favorite for a third win in the 200 breast. His seed time of 1:48.60 the top seed, and he owns the NCAA record from this meet last year. Second is Penn’s Matt Fallon, the only other swimmer under 1:50. Carles Coll Marti of Virginia Tech is third.

Liam Bell, the 100 breast champ, is seeded 32nd. Runner-up Brian Benzing is 34th.

The final day of competition wraps with platform diving and the 400 free relay.

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