2024 Men’s NCAA Champs: Day 2 Prelims Preview

2024 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Day 2 Prelims Heat Sheets

Leon Marchand is entered as the #1 seed in the 500 freestyle after already setting an NCAA record in the event at Pac-12s in a 4:06.18. He is the top seed ahead of his own teammate Zalan Sarkany who is in as a 4:09.19.

Last year’s champion in the event Luke Hobson is most likely not even on someone’s radar with a quick look at the psych sheets as he is the #37 seed meaning he is not even in the circle-seeded heats. Hobson won last year in a 4:07.37 winning by a second and a half. Hobson missed Big 12s so his entry time of a 4:15.56 comes from midseason. Hobson instead competed in February at 2024 Worlds for the US. On night 1, he already blasted an American record in the 200 free leading off the Texas relay so he seems to be more on form here than mid-season.

Without defending champion Marchand in the 200 IM, the event will have a new winner. The Arizona State duo of Hubert Kos and Owen McDonald lead the way. They two are the only sub-1:40 entries. The #3 seed Destin Lasco of Cal skipped Pac-12s as he instead competed at Pro Swim-Westmont so like Hobson, he has room to move up as well. Lasco was 2nd behind Marchand last year.

The splash and dash will conclude the morning as the 50 free is the final event. Jordan Crooks of Tennessee will look to defend his NCAA title as he won the event a year ago. He has already been faster this season as he swam a 17.99 and is the only man under the 18 second mark this season. Florida’s Josh Liendo is the #2 seed. The two faced off already on night 1 as they both swam the 50 fly on their team’s 200 medley relays. Liendo became the #2 performer all-time with a 18.97 while Crooks split a 19.70. Chris Guiliano led off Notre Dame’s 800 free relay in a personal best and is one to watch as the #3 seed as well.

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Coach Ward
29 days ago

I wish Michael Andrew was swimming in this meet

Octavio Gupta
Reply to  Coach Ward
29 days ago

Yeah the 500 record would be in serious danger if he was.

Coach Ward
Reply to  Octavio Gupta
29 days ago

He does not swim that event 200 might be

Jersey Swimming
29 days ago

Appears Matt Fallon scratched the 500 as he was on the psych sheets but not the heat sheets.

Joe
Reply to  Jersey Swimming
29 days ago

seems smart

Facts
Reply to  Jersey Swimming
29 days ago

The thought of Fallon swimming a 500 free at a championship meet is pretty funny

MarshFAN
29 days ago

Texas with a few great swims this morning, strong diving and Coach Eddie MOJO can position themselves to finish 5th in the meet

Wethorn
29 days ago

Thank you for the heat sheets!

Last edited 29 days ago by Wethorn
Bubba
29 days ago

Hobson’s got the zoomies!!! He gon give Marchand a RUN!

25Back
Reply to  Bubba
29 days ago

Didn’t Jett go 4:10 at the Stanford dual meet? He’s a lock for at least 4:08 if not 4:06-4:07 to me.

mds
Reply to  25Back
29 days ago

The only lock is that we all have to wait and see what Jett does.

WV Swammer
29 days ago

I’m expecting some tom foolery from Marchand (out in 1:37.0 or faster then is like 52+ last 100).

1:40.8 to make IM A-final

It will take 19.00 to make B-final in the 50, and 18.8 to make A

96Swim
Reply to  WV Swammer
29 days ago

It might be sub 19 for the B. It took 19.1 to make the meet.

WV Swammer
Reply to  96Swim
29 days ago

That’s too ambitious, 19.0 to make B.

There are ALWAYS a few misses or miscalculations in prelims.

96Swim
Reply to  WV Swammer
29 days ago

With Mcduff scratching there are 30 guys entered 19.1 or faster of whom 18 are sub 19. It probably is something like 19.05 to make the B but sub 19 isn’t out of the question and there will be a few 19.0s that likely miss.

Joe
Reply to  96Swim
29 days ago

Last year it was 19.04 I think. I wouldn’t be shocked to see sub 19

WV Swammer
Reply to  WV Swammer
29 days ago

Yea ngl i kinda cooked

About Anya Pelshaw

Anya Pelshaw

Anya has been with SwimSwam since June 2021 as both a writer and social media coordinator. She was in attendance at the 2022 and 2023 Women's NCAA Championships writing and doing social media for SwimSwam. Currently, Anya is pursuing her B.A. in Economics and a minor in Government & Law at …

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