Video Courtesy: Pac-12 Networks
2016 MEN’S PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Wednesday, March 2nd- Saturday, March 5th
- Prelims 11 AM, Finals 6 PM (Pacific Time)
- Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way, WA
- Defending Champion: USC Trojans (Results)
- Live Results
- Psych Sheet
- Championship Central
Cal sophomore Connor Hoppe entered the final of the men’s 100 breaststroke at the Pac-12 Championships on Friday evening as just the 7th qualifier.
In prelims, he swam 53.24, which left him on the outside and well behind the top qualifier Carsten Vissering of USC (52.41).
But Hoppe, who had a big drop between prelims and finals at last year’s meet, went for an even bigger improvement this year, knocking a second-and-a-half from his morning swim to take the victory in 51.86.
Hoppe becomes the 5th Cal Bear to win a Pac-12 title in the 100 breaststroke, and the first since Damir Dugonjic in 2011.
Hoppe was just 11th in prelims of the 200 breaststroke on Saturday and will swim in the B-Final of that race – where he’ll be joined by the 100 runner-up Vissering. The only medalist from the 100 to also make the A-final in the 200 breaststroke was Arizona freshman Blair Bish.
Hoppe placed 18th at last year’s NCAA Championship meet in this event.
Although Connor says in the video that he was seeded 7th, he was actually seeded 6th. The fact that it was a heat of 8 and he wasn’t in an outside gives that away.
Way to go Connor!!!! Making Merced proud!!!!!
Awesome swim! Go bears!