Leon Marchand on 400 IM Showdown: “I can’t wait for this”

2022 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Reported by Michael Hamann.

400 IM

Top 8 finishers:

  1. Carson Foster (TEX- Sophomore): 3:33.79
  2. Hugo Gonzalez (CAL- Senior): 3:34.88
  3. Jake Foster (TEX- Junior): 3:37.33
  4. Bobby Finke (FLOR- Senior): 3:37.84
  5. Leon Marchand (ASU- Freshman): 3:37.97
  6. David Johnston (TEX- Sophomore): 3:38.90
  7. Brooks Fail (ZONA- 5Y): 3:39.10
  8. Sean Grieshop (CAL- 5Y): 3:39.62

Top seed Leon Marchand of Arizona State took care of business in the final heat, cruising to the win in 3:37.97 to have him seeded fifth heading into this evening. He was the lone A final qualifier from his heat.

In the team title race, Texas gets a huge boost with 3 A finalists, while Cal will also have three swims tonight with 2 A’s and a B.

In the second to last heat, Texas’ Carson Foster fired back at Hugo’s massive swim, posting a 3:33.79 to take the top spot with one heat to go. That swim is now the second fastest of all time behind Chase Kalisz‘ American record. We are now all but guaranteed to see a sub-3:40 swim miss the A final.

Cal’s Hugo Gonzalez left no doubt in the first circle seeded heat, putting together a masterful performance to take over the top spot with a 3:34.88. Gonzalez seems to have gotten the proverbial monkey off of his back from last year’s meet, where he posted the top time of the meet in the B final after missing the A final. Texas junior Jake Foster was runner-up behind Gonzalez in 3:37.33 to sit second with two heats remaining.

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Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

After Léon Marchand vs Destin Lasco in the 200 IM, it’s time for another showdown vs Carson Foster. 😎
Léon clearly saved his energy in prelims. Like MP, he does just the necessary to qualify and then boom in final. He has quickly learned.
I don’t know why Carson went so fast. It seems not very smart. We’ll see.
Hopefully we have a great fight between both guys.
Léon went out very fast in his 200 IM while Destin who is a back-half swimmer finished like a bullet.
Carson is very strong in the first part of the 400 IM. His freestyle is very good too. But he knows that he will struggle on breaststroke… Read more »

B1Guy!
2 years ago

3:31.97

Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

I never thought Léon would drop 2 seconds off his 200 IM PB made at conference championships.
I never thought he would be so strong in yards.
I never thought a few months ago that such a skinny young man who made an olympic final would become a swimming superstar.
He could win the 200 IM, the 400 IM, the 200 breast, the 200 free and the 200 fly this week. Replace 200 breast with 200 back and you have a MP-like swimming schedule. That’s crazy.
And now let’s be honest. He’s on track to win at least both IM events in Paris in 2024 at home. That’s amazing. And I think we can expect a… Read more »

Khachaturian
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

Bobo that is a bit too much hopium

Taa
Reply to  Bobo Gigi
2 years ago

I found Leon’s hype man for Paris

swimmer
2 years ago

He is going sub 3:25

Mr Piano
Reply to  swimmer
2 years ago

3:19

Scotty P
Reply to  swimmer
2 years ago

He is going to drop something super dirty tonight. Chase seems like a nice guy, but his record is getting re written.

About Coleman Hodges

Coleman Hodges

Coleman started his journey in the water at age 1, and although he actually has no memory of that, something must have stuck. A Missouri native, he joined the Columbia Swim Club at age 9, where he is still remembered for his stylish dragon swim trunks. After giving up on …

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