2023 Men’s PAC-12 Swimming & Diving Championships
- Wednesday, March 1- Saturday, March 5, 2023
- Weyerhauser King County Aquatic Center – Federal Way, WA
- SCY (25 Yards)
- Defending Champions: Cal (5x)
- Championship Central
- Event Schedule
- Diving Results
- Live Stream
- Live Results
- Fan Guide
- Psych Sheets
Day 1 Heat Sheets (with relay lineups)
It’s time for the last of the Power 5 conference meets–the 2023 Men’s PAC-12 Championships get underway this evening in Federal Way, WA. In this first session, we’ll see timed finals for the 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays.
ASU put together a spectacular regular season, and the Sun Devils are the top seeds in both relays. In the 200 medley, they top the conference with a 1:22.60 from their dual meet with Stanford. At the NC State Invitational, they clocked 6:08.97 in the 800 free relay, which still stands as the #3 time in the NCAA this season and is over a second faster than second-seeded Cal (6:10.35).
Last year, Cal came into the swimming portion of the meet with 0 points, creating a significant deficit they erased en route to their fifth straight conference championship. After diving this year, they’re still sitting at the bottom of the standings but they aren’t starting from nothing thanks to three top-8 finishes from freshman Joshua Thai.
Men’s 200 Medley Relay — Timed Final
- NCAA Record: 1:21.13, Florida – 2022 NCAA Championships
- PAC-12 Record: 1:21.69, Cal — 2022 NCAA Championships
PAC-12 Championship Record: 1:22.16, Cal — 2020 PAC-12 Championships- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:23.76
Top 6:
- ASU (Dolan, Marchand, McCusker, Kulow) – 1:21.69 (T-PAC-12 Record + Meet Record)
- Arizona (Oates, Foote, Miller, Ercegovic) – 1:23.74
- Utah (Ungur, Horner, Garstanf, O’Haimhirgin) – 1:24.45
- USC – 1:25.30
DQs: Cal, Stanford
Well, that’s one way to start the meet. In the opening event of the meet, ASU fired off a 1:21.69 in the 200 medley relay, setting a new meet record and tying the PAC-12 record that Cal clocked at 2022 NCAAs. That slots the Sun Devils in as the second-fastest team in the NCAA this season, just behind Tennessee’s 1:21.43. This is ASU’s first PAC-12 title in the 200 medley relay.
Jack Dolan got things started for them with a 20.65 backstroke lead-off. It’s a significant drop for him from this meet last year, when he led the team off in a 20.96. Then, Leon Marchand split 22.98 on the breaststroke leg, followed by Max McCusker in 19.66. Finally, freshman Jonny Kulow brought the team home with an 18.40 anchor.
ASU was over a second ahead of Cal, who finished second and added eight-hundredths from their seed time. However, both they and Stanford (who touched the wall third) were disqualified. Currently, the reason for the disqualifications is not clear, we will update as more information becomes available. The disqualifications were for early relay take-offs, with both Dare Rose and Rafael Gu having reaction times of -.06. In addition to the two ‘A’ relays, both Arizona’s ‘B’ and ‘C’ relays were also disqualified.
With both Cal and Stanford DQed, it was Arizona who grabbed second in 1:23.74, courtesy of Billy Oates (21.32), Ryan Foote (23.51), Seth Miller (20.12), and Marin Ercegovic (18.79). This is big improvement for Arizona, who last year finished sixth in 1:24.10. 1:23.74 hits the ‘A’ standard in the event. It’s their second ‘A’ cut of the season, as they already had hit the standard in the 400 free relay.
Utah’s squad of Andrei Ungur (20.97), Jaek Horner (23.48), Ryan Garstang (20.89), and Finn O’Haimhirgin (19.11) rounded out the podium in third.
Men’s 800 Freestyle Relay — Timed Final
- NCAA Record: 6:03.89, Texas – 2022 NCAA Championships
PAC-12 Record: 6:06.83, Stanford — 2022 NCAA ChampionshipsPAC-12 Championship Record: 6:07.51, ASU — 2022 PAC-12 Championships- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 6:16.02
Top 6:
- ASU (Marchand, House, Sammon, Hill) – 6:06.30 (PAC-12 and Meet Records)
- Cal (Callan, Jett, Hanson, Lasco) – 6:09.65
- Stanford (Maurer, Polonsky, Dupont, Forst) – 6:11.08
- Arizona – 6:15.69
- USC – 6:24.16
- Utah – 6:30.46
ASU kept their foot on the gas in the 800 free relay, this time breaking both the PAC-12 and Championship records. They threw down a blazing 6:06.30, which is the fastest time in the NCAA this season by 2.34 seconds. Leon Marchand lead the Sun Devils off in 1:30.77, a best time by two and a half seconds, obliterating his previous mark of 1:33.26 from ASU’s January 2022 intrasquad. He was a part of this relay last year but didn’t lead off, and at NCAAs he anchored in 1:29.96. At this meet last year, he was 1:31.16.
1:30.77 is also the fastest time in the NCAA this season, adding another event to Marchand’s growing collection of season NCAA top times. No one else has broken 1:31 yet this season, as Jack Dahlgren held the fastest time at 1:31.17 before Marchand dove in.
After Marchand, defending PAC-12 200 free champion Grant House clocked 1:31.61, which is a tenth off his fastest flat start time of the season. Next, it was Patrick Sammon‘s turn, and he split 1:32.06 before Julian Hill brought the team home in 1:31.86. This is ASU’s second straight title in the 800 free relay, and the first time they’ve ever defended a PAC-12 title.
The Sun Devils finished over three seconds ahead of second-place Cal. The Golden Bears dropped seven-tenths from their seed time with a 6:09.65. Fifth-year Patrick Callan led off in 1:32.47, which likely punches his ticket to NCAAs later this month. Gabriel Jett swam 1:32.70, with Robin Hanson and Destin Lasco clocking 1:32.73 and 1:31.75 on the back half of the relay.
Stanford took third, 1.43 seconds behind Cal. Luke Maurer (1:32.80), Ron Polonsky (1:32.16), Andres Dupont (1:33.35), and Preston Forst (1:32.77) combined for 6:11.08, giving Stanford their second NCAA ‘A’ cut of the season.
Arizona followed behind Stanford in 6:15.69 with their own NCAA ‘A’ cut. That’s their second ‘A’ cut of the session, as they earned one earlier in the 200 medley relay. That brings their total relay ‘A’ cuts up to three. They have a ‘B’ cut in the 200 free relay, and their ‘A’ cuts mean they’ll be eligible to swim that race as well. Now, they’re just looking for a ‘B’ cut in the 400 medley relay to guarantee all five relays a swim at NCAAs.
Except for the ASU and Cal, this event was markedly slower than it was last year. In 2022, it took 6:09.98 to make the podium, and sixth was 6:26.63.
Team Scores Thru Day 1
- USC – 198
- Utah – 146
- Arizona – 131
- ASU – 127
- Stanford – 117
- Cal – 72
Marchand swimming 2 IM over 5 free
He is the defending champ and NCAA record holder in the 2IM, but I have no doubt he could also win the 500 (Probably in record time)
To date, there’s no evidence that Leon would be faster than a 1:46 in 200free LC
I don’t think he would be after watching his leadoff
If these college championships were held LCM, we wouldn’t have to ask such questions or wait for the summer to find out if he’ll break the 400 IM WR.
Carson Foster splits 1:30 point on relay split and goes 1:45, Marchand going 1:30 point flat start is evidence enough that he could go 1:46 LCM in my opinion
Will ASU be able to hold off Cal and claim the win, or will they get run down by Cal’s depth? I seem them leading going into day 4 but Cal has a big day like they always do, resulting in a narrow victory for the Bears
ASU has more depth In everything but backstroke than Cal. And they’ll have 3 A finals for 2 back. They’ll clutch up this W
Unfortunately you can’t seem to comment on other posts related to ASU success.?? It gets deleted. I DONT CARE. This team has been trucking. I think a top 10. Goodbye with the old, welcome the new. Bob has at least put we swim moms at ease- which is very hard yes.
U of A grad here and I would gladly take ASU bodying the cal teams if U of A can’t. AZ boys 4L!
ASU will finish top 5 (and not 5th) at NCAAs, which might not even be a hot take at this point – they look better than Texas and NC State, but idk if they can match Cal and surprisingly Florida’s depth. I might take Cal, Florida, ASU, Texas, NC State as my top 5
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if you told me cal would be dead last after day 1, i wouldn’t believe you
TEAM SCORES THRU DAY 1
1. USC – 198
2. Utah – 146
3. Arizona – 131
4. ASU – 127
5. Stanford – 117
6. Cal – 72
This looks almost exactly opposite of my preconceived notions
USC’s nail in the coffin was not landing Ray Looze for their new head coaching vacancy a few years back
Looze wouldn’t take it.
lol
I don’t know what I expected but those usc relays were flat out BAD. Three 1:36 splits on the 8 free relay? :22/:21 on the back and fly respectively for the medley? They got real lucky with those DQs for the medley… if I was the divers I’d be real frustrated with the swimmers and swim staff after the amazing performances they threw up last week.
This might go down as the worst USC men’s team in the history of the program. Both relays tonight failed to even make a “B” cut which is pathetic. Has that ever happened to a Trojan team?
Looze was smart to stay in Bloomington and Mauer failed miserably with who she kept and who she didn’t. This will be the common Trojan theme of the weekend minus a few individual good swims.
Well, they cut some really good guys…
just the opposite of my 1977 usc trojans…..returned 6 olympians and 5 gold medal winners from the 1976 olympics…….they will rise again just like the football team…..
Dude that USC 1976 team was like a half century ago. And USC isn’t “paying” mad money to swimmers like they are to the football team. They only way they got better this year in football was NIL money and paying exorbitant coaching salaries to help get recruits. Bohm the current AD barely knows where the pool is and only stops there to use the washroom since it’s next to the football practice facility.
I don’t want to beat a “dead Trojan Horse” but the SC men’s team will continue to be at the bottom of the Pac 12’s until they leave for the Big 10 and then they will be middle of the pack along side Purdue and… Read more »
Not with Lea Maurer as a Head Coach ! USC made a huge mistake giving so much freedom to someone who has clearly demonstrate the job title was too big for her.
Her Coaching staff even jump ship last year remember Chase Bloch ? she decide to cut so many swimmers?
She lies to the parents and intimidate the swimmers it’s her way or the highway.
if something goes bad is not her fault
And no one at USC hold her accountable for her decisions. USC deserves better
They had a nice breastroke split though!
It is odd. USC should be one of those schools that sells itself. They have: all the splendors of LA and a gate that keeps out all the bad, at least “good” or even “great” academics, and otherwise completely unaffordable tuition without scholarship (to which scholarship should be given to almost solely relay swimmers at this point), …AND, world class swimming facilities- and I’d imagine top other-necessary facilities.
“At least “good” academics”…they’ve got tougher admission statistics than nearly every other Power 5 team, but sure!
But the scholarship issue is perpetually a problem for men’s Olympic sports at USC. Only so much to go around and a very, very high cost of attendance if you’re not on a full ride.
California schools might be in big trouble in all sports, in football it is known that talent is leaving California to Zona and cheaper climates… Hard to get coaches as it costs so much, thats why Stanford builds houses for coaches in campus area to have even some kind of abode for them without them paying all their salary on housing….. Also entry standards higher, cost of attendance high etc. etc….