Southern California DQ Costs Them Spot in 200 Free Relay A-Final

2017 MEN’S NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

• Wednesday, March 22 – Saturday, March 25
• IUPUI Natatorium – Indianapolis, IN
• Prelims 10AM/Finals 6PM (Eastern Time)
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• Live stream: Wednesday/Thursday Prelims & Finals, Friday/Saturday Prelims / Friday/Saturday finals on ESPN3
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The Trojans looked sharp last night as they jumped up to take 5th place in the 800 free relay, and they looked great this morning too in the prelims of the 200 free relay.  However, it was immediately announced that the Trojans’ heat, the third and final one, was subject to video review, and a few minutes later, word came that USC was disqualified for an early relay takeoff on the final exchange.  The live results show that the Trojans’ anchor, Kyle Grissom, left 0.04 seconds early.

Initially, it appeared that Southern California had finished 5th, with a time of 1:16.38, thanks to three legs all within a few hundredths of 19-flat by Dylan Carter, Ralf Tribuntsov, and Santo Condorelli.

That will cost the Trojans roughly 30 points, which may hurt them in what looks like should be a tight battle for the 6th-10th places in the overall teams standings this week.

Alabama benefitted from the DQ, as they moved up from 9th to 8th place and qualified for the championship final.

The Ohio State Buckeyes were also disqualified for an early relay exchange.  Their time of 1:17.85 would have put them 18th had it stood, instead Minnesota moves up to the second alternate position.