Men’s Pac-12 Invite
- March 5, 2023
- SCY (25 yards)
- Federal Way, WA
- Teams participating: Stanford, Utah, Cal, UNLV, USC, Cal Baptist, Arizona
The Pac-12 men’s meet concludes the conference championship season and selections come out Wednesday, March 8th. This means that it is hard for the teams to attend a “last chance” meet a week after their conference meet. This meet, the Pac-12 Invite, occurred Sunday, the day after the official Pac-12 Championships concluded. These swims allow swimmers to improve their chances of qualifying for NCAAs.
Stanford’s Joshua Zuchowski swam a personal best time of 1:40.47 in the 200 back which now places him at #30 in the country. Around 28-32 men earn an individual NCAA qualification every year so it is hard to guarantee that Zuchowski earns a spot, but he definitely improved upon his chances. His previous season best of 1:40.68 which he swam at Pac-12s a day prior would have placed him at #35 in the NCAA this year, so even with a .21 second drop, his chances greatly increase.
Also improving his chances of making NCAAs was fellow Stanford teammate Andres Dupont who swam a 42.17 in the 100 free. Dupont swam a personal best of 42.29 in finals of Pac-12s. His time from Pac-12s would have sat at #33 in the country, but he now sits tied for 29th. Both Dupont and Zuchowski are Stanford freshmen.
USC’s Artem Selin splashed and dashed in the 50 free swimming a 19.16 to place him at #29 in the NCAA this season. Selin went a 19.41 during the event at Pac-12s before time trialing and going a 19.29. His time from time trials would have placed him at #35 in the NCAA this season. Selin went to NCAAs in the 50 free last year for USC where he finished 34th in prelims.
Other event winners:
- Luke Rodarte of Cal swam a 52.46 in the 100 breast just off his 52.07 from time trials at Pac-12s. His 52.07 has him at #43 in the NCAA this season
- Preston Forst of Stanford swam a 1:45.16 in the 200 fly. Forst currently sits at #30 in the NCAA this season in the 500 free
- Arizona’s Hunter Ingram won the 100 fly in a 46.43 just off his best of 46.13.
Presuming Marchand and Carson Foster don’t swim it, Forst is up to #28 in the 500.
Did Robin Hanson try to improve his 200 free time?
Judging by this link, he did not:
https://www.swimcloud.com/results/264826/
Also judging by swimcloud he’s at 35 in the 200 free. Remove Marchand and Foster, that’s 33. Is there someone else ahead of him that won’t swim it?
Probably Minakov as well
Minakov is the only other one I don’t think will swim it. Jett, Groumi, and Piszczorowicz of NCSU might not swim in favor of different events, but I wouldn’t count on it. Jake Mitchell also comes to mind but based on what he’s swum this year the 200 FR seems more likely than the 400 IM.
Realistically, he’s on the outside looking in. Bit strange he didn’t try to give it another go here given how close he is to qualification (a 0.34s drop gets him to 25th)–maybe he would’ve been a roster space casualty anyway?
Gal Cohen Groumi might be another
Sorry, another who’s ahead, that won’t swim the individual
Strange that he didn’t even attempt to lower his time given he scored in the event last year. The coaches must be confident he gets in somehow, right? Is it possible Jett ditches the 200 free for the 100 fly, opening up another spot?
I can’t think of anyone else. Looks like he’s not gonna make the cut. Seems odd that he wouldn’t make another attempt, I wonder why.
If minokav doesn’t then he’s most likely at 31. Which is probably on the right side of the line. But super close.
He probably won’t. I think he has a better chance at finaling in the 50 than trying to double up the 100 fly and 200 free.
Also, Stanford’s overall depth is solid enough to free up Minakov from all 5 relays, which is a +