Leon Marchand went on a side quest this week at ASU’s dual meet with USC.
First, he took on more typical fare with a breaststroke double, but then he turned to the 100 fly. It was only his second time swimming the event, and his first at a non-intrasquad meet. But that didn’t stop him at all, as he blasted a 44.66 for the win and a new Sun Devil team record.
Courtesy: Poolside Perspective (via Youtube)
Marchand was out in 20.87 and came home in 23.79 for the win. The 44.66 makes Marchand the #2 ranked swimmer in the NCAA this season, behind Luke Miller who rocked 44.17 at NC State’s tri-meet with Georgia and Duke one day earlier. It would’ve put him a hundredth away from qualifying for the 2023 NCAA ‘A’ final.
The only other officially recorded time for Marchand in the 100-yard fly was at ASU’s Gold vs. Maroon Intrasquad meet in 2022, when he logged a 45.68.
Now, Marchand owns the #1 time in the NCAA in the 500 free, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 IM, and 400 IM. He also ranks #2 in the 100 fly and 100 breast. Though he may stick to his classic NCAA lineup to maximize the Sun Devils’ points, Marchand continues to showcase himself as one of the most versatile athletes in the NCAA.
This is also the second time that the Sun Devil 100 butterfly record has gone down this season. ASU freshman Ilya Kharun broke the record at his first ASU dual meet in October. He brought the record under 45 seconds for the first time with a 44.88. Marchand’s taken an additional .22 seconds off the team record, but given the way that Kharun has been swimming this season, it is a real possibility that the record gets broken at least once more this season.
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My mistake: Kos has faster PB 3:36.86, Louser(Cal), 3:37.60 faster PB, puts him 2nd returning time ahead of Schlicht.
Leon’s ASU teammate David Schlicht will be saddened to learn his 1:52.46 200 SCY Breaststroke against NC State now stands 2nd in the NCAA rankings to Marchand’s 1:52.70 against USC. (lol)
And as to Leon sticking to his “classic NCAA lineup to maximize the Sun Devils’ points,” many believe Hubie Kos is ready to step into Leon’s top spot in the 400 IM if Marchand moves to an alternate schedule. Kos was 4th last year, trailing just Marchand, Gonzales and C. Foster, making Kos the top returner if Leon goes to another event. And beyond that, Schlicht, with his NCAA B Final win (3:38.03) over Baylor Nelson (3:38.11) has the 2nd fastest returning time without Leon. This also improves the… Read more »
As great as he is, and Kharun, I dont see them breaking the NCAA record.
Liendo will break it and Kharun will break it by his senior year if he doesn’t go pro early
‘Ain’t no thing for Leon.
Didn’t luke Miller go 44.1 for a school record
We haven’t seen any race video for that swim, if you have it, please pass along.
This series is focused on race videos.
Miller 100Fly swim at the 2:32:15
https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/9e1552ca-bad8-42c8-95d3-50f5dfdc4b10
Thanks for providing the link. Great to watch, though I felt like I was listening to a broadcast undergrad who had never been to a swim meet but had been given some materials to review, but really didn’t. And he never stopped talking. Two fans randomly picked out of the stands could likely have given better commentary. Anyway, great to see.
I would not be surprised it this record, along some others, gets broken again at the NC State Invitational.next week as I expect both NC State and ASU swimmers will out for blood after their dual meet in October