Matt Sates on 500 Free NCAA Title: “I actually miscounted”

2022 NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Thursday night finals heat sheet

Reported by Michael Hamann.

500 free

Top 8 finishers:

  1. Matt Sates (UGA- Freshman): 4:06.61
  2. Jake Magahey (UGA- Sophomore): 4:07.39
  3. Luke Hobson (TEX- Freshman): 4:08.42
  4. Kieran Smith (FLOR- Senior): 4:08.68
  5. Brooks Fail (ZONA- 5Y): 4:10.05
  6. David Johnston (TEX- Sophomore): 4:11.57
  7. Alfonso Mestre (FLOR- Junior): 4:11.98
  8. Ross Dant (NCST- Junior): 4:14.30

Florida senior Kieran Smith darted out to the early look in lane two, but Texas freshman Luke Hobson was close on his heels through the first 200 yards of the race. After the halfway point, however, the Georgia Bulldogs in the middle of the pool began to make their move.

Freshman Matt Sates made up ground on both Smith and Hobson in a hurry, splitting a 24.21 from the 350 to 400 and a 23.98 from the 400 to 450 yard mark. He carried his sophomore teammate with him as well, as the Georgia duo flew past the field to secure a 1-2 finish. Sates’ swim establishes a new Georgia Tech pool record and NCAA meet record with the win.

Texas moved up a bit from seeds coming into the race, with Hobson moving up to third and Johnston moving up to 6th. With Carozza’s swim in the B final, Texas had a net loss of 3 points vs post-prelim seed in the event.

Stanford sophomore Preston Forst darted out to a huge lead in the B final and held off a hard-charging Bobby Finke to win the B final in 4:11.56 to Finke’s 4:11.74. Notably for the team race, Texas’ Coby Carozza dropped from the second seed all the way to seventh, a net loss of 5 points from his seed after prelims.

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John26
2 years ago

Off topic but Popovici swam a 48.50 yesterday

Billabong
2 years ago

No surprise, Matt Sates destroyed them. Can we finish the debate about whether he can convert SCM to SCY, and just accept that he is better than all the college boys. Quite a lot better actually.

Ghost
Reply to  Billabong
2 years ago

And stop saying he is only a freshman, so might not handle it all. Look how many frosh swam last night. Maybe start asking seniors why they aren’t stepping up?!?!

Billabong
Reply to  Ghost
2 years ago

Step it up college boys (seniors in particular). You are getting trounced by freshman, one of whom arrived only two months ago.

RJ2
Reply to  Billabong
2 years ago

if he was “quite alot better” he would have broken the record right?

Jay Ryan
2 years ago

I was thinking this kid has adapted quickly to SC yards, but I think this is the second time this year he lost count in a 500. Great swimmer. Shaky counter.

Swimmer
Reply to  Jay Ryan
2 years ago

He is used to swimming a 400

dom
Reply to  Jay Ryan
2 years ago

if you watch the video the official put the counter saying 11 in the water when everyone else was at 9

Shaq
2 years ago

Jake Magahey with the 4:03!

MaxHardie
2 years ago

The best two NCAA swimmers are from South Africa and France, very dominant and both freshman. Surprised about Kieran Smith, is he focusing in upcoming LCM?

SCCOACH
Reply to  MaxHardie
2 years ago

yup he’s just doing LCM and going casual 4:08’s on rest days

USA
Reply to  MaxHardie
2 years ago

He may just be having a post-Olympic down year. Happens to a lot of people

Billabong
Reply to  MaxHardie
2 years ago

Kieran Smith just got destroyed by a youngster who’s best event is the 200IM. That’s the long and the short of it. No more analysis required.

Swimmer
Reply to  MaxHardie
2 years ago

Sates is just built different. I have never seen someone be able to switch gears like that in a race. His kick is also absolutely insane. I do not know how he maintains that

Marsh
2 years ago

I just know he’s tearing it up in athens

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