Arizona State vs. UNLV
- October 6, 2023
- Mona Plummer Aquatic Center
- Tempe, Arizona
- Results on MeetMobile: “ASU vs. UNLV”
Arizona State junior Leon Marchand flexed his versatility on Friday against UNLV, clocking a personal-best 1:39.64 in the 200-yard backstroke — a three-second drop — just about 20 minutes after posting a 1:39.65 in the 200 butterfly. No other swimmer in the nation has broken 1:40 in either event so far this season.
Marchand’s previous-best 200 back time was a 1:42.82 from last October’s dual meet against Wisconsin. His 200 fly win was less than a tenth of a second away from his lifetime best of 1:39.57 from last November’s NC State Invitational.
By going 1:39 in both the 200 back and 200 fly, Marchand accomplished something that only one other swimmer did last season — Indiana’s Brendan Burns went 1:38.97 in the 200 fly and 1:38.22 in the 200 back — and it’s only October.
The 21-year-old French star added a third individual victory in the 400 IM with another nation-leading time of 3:37.96 to cap off a busy day of racing in Tempe. Marchand also split 50.47 on the breaststroke leg of ASU’s 400 medley relay to start the session. He owns the NCAA record in the 400 IM (3:28.82) along with the fastest 100 breast split of all time (49.23) from the 2023 NCAA Championships in March.
Marchand kept his momentum rolling this summer by repeating as world champion in both the 200-meter IM (1:54.82) and 400 IM (4:02.50) in Fukuoka, breaking Michael Phelps‘ last individual world record in the latter event. He also captured the 200 fly crown in 1:52.43.
I think there’s a case to be made that Leon could win 9 out of 14 events at NCAAs this year. In order of most obvious to most bold of claim:… Read more »
400im – duh
200im – duh
200breast – duh
200 fly – I think he’s got a 1:35 in him
500 free – 4:04 and easily wins. He went 4:07.8 at a minor meet and the 500 free is a huge taper event…
200 free – doubt anyone goes a 1:28 this year
100 breast – unless someone pops 49.6 or better I assume he takes it
200 back – Lasco might challenge but I think he could rip 1:35 low
It should be mentioned that the ASU coaches had a number of swimmers doing “off events”. Even the relays were a different mix and not necessarily the fastest swimmers in the A realays. Two meets coming up are going to be very exciting. First the ASU v NC state in two weeks at Tempe Oct 20 -21 two days format similar to Georgia meet. Followed by the NC State invitational starting Nov 15 in Greensboro The Invitational should be extremely interesting as both NC State and Georgia will also be at the meet.
Sun Devil Pro Group swims in breaks of ASU v UNLV meet (one “A” cut level swim/14 “B” cut level swims/ 4 PBs.):
100 Back – Smoliga (alone) :24.36/:26.34 – :50.70 (NCAA “A” cut is :50.88; only “A” cutl level swim of pro block.)
200 FreeW – Manuel :50.47/1:43.15; Regan Smith :50.08/1:43.25 PB; Paige Madden :50.70/1:43.84; Smith out quickest with Madden moving up on 3rd 50 so 0.50 separated all 3 with 50 to go. Quite encouraging that Simone closed best by over 0.60, to get the touch. All three within a second of NCAA “A” cut.
200 FreeM – Kibler :21.54/:44.81(:23.27)/1:08.97(:24.16)/1:33.46(:24.49)B-cut
Wen Zhang :22.16/:46.23(:24.07)/1:11.66(:25.43)/1:37.56 (:25.90)
200 FlyM – Kalisz – :49.43/:53.74 (1:42.77); Grant House: :49.65/:55.14 (1:44.79PB; prior PB… Read more »
Some other highlights:
Ertan 9:38, 4:43
McDonald 1:33.8 free
Dolan 19.04 lead off
Kharun 1:35, 4:21, 18.8 split, 44.4 fly split
Kos 46.0 fly, 46.0 bk, 3:45
Manuel, Regan, Madden all 1:43
Manuel, Smoliga both 57.3
Looks like Wen Zhang is with the pro group (air force guy) ???
Also noticed Marchand split 48/51 on fly, 47/52 on back. His backstroke is mostly underwater and he paid for it the last 50
Thank you for this – crazy fast, and exciting to see Madden back in form.
One question sorry – Manuel and Smoliga were 57.3 in what? Is that 47.3 100 FR?
I was at the meet. The pool bulkhead was set up for NCAA 25 yards competition. Members of the Sun Devil Pro Group swam during the internissions. So yes all pro times are NCAA type 25 yards.
Several other swims in ASU/UNLV meet worthy of note:
ASU men “A” cuts in both relays: 400 Medley Relay: 3:04.67(Kos :46.09; Marchand, :50.47; Kharun, :44.47; SencSamardzic, :43.64); B team was DQ’d after touching at 3:05.33. Dolan touched at :45.57 (referee told me his time is ‘valid.’); where the DQ came from was not in the results, but in looking at the 50 splits it seems likely that the freestyler (:19.83; :41.86) was the likely culprit, leaving the breaststroke (Andy Dobrzanski, :52.75; and flyer Jonny Kulow (:45.25) worth noting. 3:04.67 is nice, but Bowman clearly did not load his “A.” Dolan was 0.62 up on Kos and Kulow’s split from ASU’s 4×100 Free relay against Georgia 2 weeks ago, was… Read more »
This guy is better (yet will never be as accomplished) than Phelps.
If he’s better than Phelps, he should:
1. Break WRs in 100 fly, 200 fly, 200 IM, 400 IM *multiple times*
2. Swim top 2 times of the year in 100 back, 200 back.
He hasn’t done any of that, so no he’s not better than Phelps.
it’s a bit disingenuous to set WRs as a standard, as weird as that sounds. I believe we’re far closer to seeing unbeatable records than we were before MP arrived.
marchand is now clearly in the same tier of talent as MP was. MP just happened to be far ahead of his time, which is why it’s taken so long to wipe his name from the individual record books.
…and since so many of his best times are from the 08-09 suit era / 100, 200 free; 100, 200 fly; 400 IM.
I think that’s why pescatarian said “will never be as accomplished as”.
Marchand has a level of versatility that would even make Phelps envious. based on best times, they are comparable. It just depends how much credit you give MP for cooking first, when the rest of the world was slower.
I wouldn’t argue if they said there are dozens (hundreds?) of swimmers today “better” than Mark Spitz, though only a couple as accomplished.
I don’t understand why he should improve his world record in the 400 IM several times to be better than MP at least in that specialty? He certainly won’t win all his gold medals, but I think he can beat other records for example in the 200 IM or the 200 breaststroke, your comment seems very fundamentalist and nationalist to me
Considering swimming (nominal) times after 15-20 years is useless due to “swimming inflation” (average swimming times are getting faster every year). Phelps dominated 5 individual events in LCM, beyond swimming 3 relays, and he had chances of winning at least another two. This is still widely unmatched. When there will be a similar swimmer, the comparison will be possible.
In the SCY pool he is more accomplished. However in the big pool he is only super dominant in one event at the moment the 400 IM. At Phelps peak he was the undisputed king in the 200 free, 200 fly, 200 IM, and 400 IM
I wonder if Bowman had time to reflect on his years coaching Phelps thinking of what he could of done better. And now he has Leon. So fun to watch.
While I did not observe Coach Bowman during his Michael Phelps days I believe he has mellowed a bit, but will certainly still let a swimmer know when the swimmer does not perform up his standard. Coach Bowman has also put together a truly great coach support team headed by Hurbie Behm. I believe this is the strongest coaching team in the NCAA today. The fact that so many pro swimmers have and are choosing to swim with this group, is a big endorsement.
GYYAAATTTT! It’s October calm down. Please NCAA can we just for one year remove the cap on events and see Marchand sweep the entire meet. What is this guy not winning? 50 free, 100?, mile?, I got him pretty confidently winning every single other event
Probably no 100 fly, 200 back or 500 free (only bc of Hafnaoui)
To counter that, I think he’s got a very good chance in any of those three. Just think for the 100 fly he was out 44.0 in the 200 IM. I think at minimum he could go 43.0. 500 free I think he goes 4:03 at least after the 4:07 in a dual. 200 back I think would be a dog fight between lasco and him. All three would be dog fights in my opinion
All videos are on poolside perspective!