2018 Men’s NCAA Championships: Day 1 Relay Finals Live Recap

2018 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The wait is over! After months of speculation and a week of impassioned prediction and discussion, the 2018 Men’s NCAA Championships are upon us, with a slew of records in jeopardy and a team showdown setting up to be the closest points battle since at least 2014.

Tonight’s timed finals session is little more than an appetite-whetting, with only 3 heats of the 800 free relay. Still, this relay has historically been very explosive ever since the NCAA moved it to its own session on Wednesday night – last year, we saw what at the time were the #2 and #3 fastest 200 free swims in history (courtesy of Indiana’s Blake Pieroni and USC’s Dylan Carter) leading off this relay as well as the fastest 200 free split in history (Texas’ Townley Haas).

For reference, the current American record in a flat-start 200 free is 1:30.46, and the fastest relay split in history is a 1:30.42, both held by Haas.

And over two seasons with the 800 free relay moved to day 1, we’ve seen 7 of the 8 fastest 800 free relays in history, including NC State’s U.S. Open and NCAA record-setting team from last year as well as last year’s runners-up Texas, which set the American record.

Stay tuned to this page for live, heat-by-heat recaps of tonight’s relay action, and check out @SwimSwamLive on Twitter for even more up-to-the-second coverage.

800 FREESTYLE RELAY

  • NCAA record: NC State (Held, Vazaios, Ress, Dahl), 2017, 6:06.53
  • American record: Texas (Conger, Newkirk, Smith, Haas), 2017, 6:08.61
  • U.S. Open record: NC State (Held, Vazaios, Ress, Dahl), 2017, 6:06.53
  • 2017 NCAA Champion: NC State (Held, Vazaios, Ress, Dahl), 6:06.53

Running Top Teams:

  1. NC State – 6:05.31
  2. Indiana – 6:06.01
  3. Texas – 6:07.59
  4. Florida – 6:09.52
  5. Georgia – 6:12.75
  6. California – 6:13.38
  7. Louisville – 6:13.49
  8. Stanford – 6:14.75

Indiana’s Blake Pieroni led off against reigning American record-holder Townley Haasfinishing with the two fastest 200 frees in history along with the first-ever swim under 1:30 – relay start or flat start. Pieroni went 1:29.63 to crush the field, blowing almost a full second off of Haas’s old American record. Haas was 1:30.41 to just sneak under his old national record of 1:30.46 set last year.

But while those two staked their teams to big leads, it was NC State that had the guns left at the end, overtaking IU for the win in the final leg.

That was courtesy of a blazing 1:30.77 from Justin Ress on the anchor leg. Andeas Vazaios led off in 1:31.32, Ryan Held was 1:31.09 and Jacob Molacek 1:32.13 as NC State defended its event title from last year and broke their own NCAA and U.S. Open records with a 6:05.31.

Indiana was also under the old NCAA and U.S. Open records, going 6:06.01, getting a 1:31.9 from Mohamed Samy and a pair of 1:32.2s from Vini Lanza and Ian Finnerty.

Texas, meanwhile, broke the American record – the top two teams each had international swimmers – in 6:07.59. That came courtesy of Haas, Jeff Newkirk (1:32.58), Jonathan Roberts (1:32.36) and Austin Katz (1:32.24).

Florida elected not to use Caeleb Dressel, settling for fourth in 6:09.52 with a 1:31.98 leadoff from Jan Switkowski. Khader Baqlah was also 1:31.64 on his leg.

A few other notable splits from the event:

  • Cal’s Andrew Seliskar: 1:31.28 leadoff
  • Harvard’s Dean Farris: 1:30.55
  • Arizona State’s Cameron Craig: 1:32.76 leadoff
  • Auburn’s Zach Apple: 1:30.74
  • Michigan’s Felix Auboeck: 1:31.90

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KCordes1
5 years ago

So we’re just going to sleep on the enormous jump by UGA from their incoming time? These fellas clearly mean business this year, even with almost all their “bubble” swimmers missing the meet by a couple spot. This program is already coming up on consistent top 5 or 6; if they could develop some sprinters they could be a force pre-2020*.

* Worth bearing in mind the world-class pro-group they have in their company.

a_trojan
Reply to  KCordes1
5 years ago

IF they develop sprinters, that’s a huge if

Drama King
5 years ago

Wolfpack will win atleast 4 relays in this year.
Final battle will be between Horns and Wolfpack.
Horns closing down Packs in 2back. Then get the lead from Windle’s diving points. And holding on to the lead in 400 free relay with 2nd place finish.

Andy Hardt
5 years ago

Great first day of racing! I’m salivating over what we’re going to see the rest of the meet.

Wow, lots of polarized reactions over my commentary! I’m glad you guys appreciated the Dean Farris comments. For those of you who thought I seemed nervous or inexperienced, you’re absolutely right! I’d love some constructive criticism if you’ve got any.

And “full of swimming” is a phrase I stole from a British track commentator. It means the swimmer is surging or looks to have a lot left in the tank. But you can interpret it however you want 🙂

Kate
Reply to  Andy Hardt
5 years ago

From what I’ve seen, reactions are mostly positive! I think you’re doing a wonderful job. I appreciate the way you keep the viewers updated with splits, seem to have historical knowledge of many of the swimmers, and pay attention to the whole pool. I imagine your delivery will smooth out as the meet goes on, don’t worry about it. Thank you for what you’re doing!

1anda2
Reply to  Andy Hardt
5 years ago

Love the energy, keep it rolling. If it was easy we’d all be doing it.

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Andy Hardt
5 years ago

HE JUMPED IN!!

comment image

Steve Nolan
Reply to  Steve Nolan
5 years ago

(Pictured above: What tends to happen to people that spend too much time in the comments.)

But for real though, think you did a hell of a job. One of my tiniest nits to pick was talking about future heats during that first heat of relays…but I mean there were only 3 teams so I get how you’d kinda run out of things to talk about.

And I say this as someone that’s obviously pretty big into swimming, but your commentary does seem pretty well-tailored to us. Which makes sense, I don’t know how many non-fan stragglers you’re going to get tuning in to an internet livestream.

a_trojan
Reply to  Andy Hardt
5 years ago

sharing splits was great, keep doing that

Jon Babbitt
5 years ago

Dean Farris would never tea bag someone… he potatoe sack em’!

Adam
5 years ago

Sasquatch was there today. Saw him taking pictures of Dean Farris.

Iufan
5 years ago

That race between NC State and IU was amazing! The two fastest rising teams in the ncaas giving it their all to top the podium. I am very excited to see how Lanza and Finnerty swim this week. Their times were smoking for non? freestylers.

Klorn8d
5 years ago

Everyone is talking cal vs texas. But tonight kinda reinforces my thoughts that it’s a legitimate 5 team race with NC State, Indiana and Florida as well

IU Swammer
Reply to  Klorn8d
5 years ago

I think Cal and Texas are just too deep. I think they will be 1-2 unless they mess up. But if either DQs a relay or has a key swimmer not perform well, NC State, IU, and Florida are close enough that they could swoop in.

E+Gamble
5 years ago

Blake Pieroni’s last 50 was a 23.18. Wow.

About Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson

Jared Anderson swam for nearly twenty years. Then, Jared Anderson stopped swimming and started writing about swimming. He's not sick of swimming yet. Swimming might be sick of him, though. Jared was a YMCA and high school swimmer in northern Minnesota, and spent his college years swimming breaststroke and occasionally pretending …

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