JOAO DE LUCCA – 200 FREESTYLE
On if an NCAA title is better the first or second time: I don’t know, it’s different. I think the first one I never realized how it would feel to be a national champion. I wasn’t here to defend anything. I’m always attacking, I just feel unstoppable.
On winning an NCAA title in his senior year: It’s really good. I’m returning something back to the university that has done a lot for me. I remember when I first came to Louisville I had no idea what Louisville was. It was something new for me and way different from where I’m from. They supported me and they did so much for me. I’m very happy to be able to give something back to them. This school means a lot to me.
As reported by SwimSwam’s Jared Anderson. Video edited by Coleman Hodges.
With defending champ Joao de Lucca well-known for his borderline-reckless first-half splits, it was a bit of a surprise to see a different name leading the field at the 100 mark. USC’s Dimitri Colupaev went out in 43.74 and put de Lucca in a position he’s not terribly used to – swimming from behind. Still, the Louisville senior proved he can do that equally well, coming back to take home his second NCAA championship in 1:31.96.
That’s actually a bit off what de Lucca went in winning this event last year, and its also didn’t match his mid-season time of 1:31.65, but it’s still one of the fastest swims in NCAA history. While Colupaev died hard and fell back to 8th place in this meat-grinder of a field, USC still took second place with junior and 500 free champ Cristian Quintero. Quintero went 1:32.28 with one of the better closing 100s of the field.
Michigan’s Michael Wynalda went 1:32.58 to take third just behind Quintero. Those were the three widely expected to vie for the title, so it wasn’t too surprising to see the cream rise to the top in the 200 free’s biggest moment of the year.
Georgia’s Mathias Koski actually dropped a half-second from this morning, even though he wasn’t able to match his amazing closing 50 from prelims. Koski still came home in 23.6, the best final 50 of the field, to cap off a 1:32.66.
Notre Dame senior Frank Dyer went 1:33.43, holding off a late charge from hometown hero Clay Youngquist. Youngquist went 1:33.66 for a rowdy Texas fan-base that has showed up in full-force to support the home team.
Florida’s Mitch D’Arrigo (1:33.97) and Colupaev (1:34.73) took the final two spots in the championship heat.
Stanford sophomore Tom Kremer won the B final, going 1:33.32. That’s only three tenths slower than he went in taking 3rd overall last year, which shows just how fast this meet is in 2014. Cal’s Will Hamilton was also quick at 1:33.75 for 10th.
The overall points remained fairly stable through that race, with Texas still leading, Florida 13.5 back and Cal sitting third by just 16 points.
