{"id":608979,"date":"2025-03-29T18:25:03","date_gmt":"2025-03-30T01:25:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=608979"},"modified":"2025-03-30T05:33:35","modified_gmt":"2025-03-30T12:33:35","slug":"ncaa-mens-championships-zalan-sarkany-repeats-in-pivotal-1650-free-opens-final-session","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/ncaa-mens-championships-zalan-sarkany-repeats-in-pivotal-1650-free-opens-final-session\/","title":{"rendered":"NCAA Men’s Championships: Zalan Sarkany Repeats in Pivotal 1650 Free Opens Final Session"},"content":{"rendered":"

NCAA Men’s Championships: Zalan Sarkany Repeats in Pivotal 1650 Free Opens Final Session<\/strong><\/p>\n

The race between Texas and Cal is close once again as the final night of the 2025 NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships begins in Federal Way, Washington.<\/p>\n

Texas will need every point it can get to secure a title, while Cal is chasing, but within striking distance.<\/p>\n

The 1650 freestyle could set the tone for the night, and ultimately the meet, for both teams, as well as Indiana who was trying to hang in there – and had the defending champion in Zalan Sarkany,<\/strong> who won it last year for Arizona State.<\/p>\n

The Longhorns had two in the final heat with David Johnston<\/strong> and Rex Maurer<\/strong>. Johnston has placed fifth and fourth in the past two years. Meanwhile, Maurer has already had a tremendous meet, winning the 500 free and 400 IM.<\/p>\n

Cal had one in the final heat as well in Lucas Henveaux<\/strong>. The fifth-year helped the Golden Bears secure the 800 free relay in an NCAA-record time on Day 1 and has placed in his individual events.<\/p>\n