2024 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships
The first night of the 2024 NCAA Men's Tournament at the legendary IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis is in the books. This post will be dedicated to shedding some light on some swims that may have been under the radar, or not mentioned in our main summaries. Since tonight's session was only two legs, this edition of the swim you may have missed will be dedicated exclusively to the night's impressive relay splits.
First, we'll start with the team's record. Star of Notre Dame Chris Giuliano He took first place in the Fighting Irish 800 freestyle relay, running a personal best of 1:30.36. It may have gotten lost in the shuffle since Notre Dame finished 17th, but that was an incredible swim from Guiliano, as he came in fourth fastest among the splits in the field tonight despite his lead. He was out fast, splitting 20.61 and 22.88 in the first 50, versus 43.49 in the first 100. Then he came home in 46.87 in the second 100. With the performance, Guiliano set his own Notre Dame program record of 1:31.16, which was had just scheduled him to the ACC Tournament last month.
Another team record came in the 800 free relay. Michigan Junior Grommy galled He led the Wolverines' 800 free relay team in 1:31.07 tonight. Not only is this performance just one second off Grommy's career best of 1:32.07, which he swam at Big Tens last month, it also marks a new Michigan program record in the 200 free. The record stood at 1:32.02 and was held by Felix Obock. Grommy had a great race tonight, splitting 21.07, 23.11, 23.41 and 23.48 respectively in his 50s, leading to a 44.18 in the first 100 and a 46.89 in the second 100.
We have another team record out of 800 free relays for you. Alabama Charlie Hook He led the Crimson Tide Relay in a new career best of 1:30.55, helping his team to an 11th-place finish. Like Giuliano, Hawk broke his own swim program's record. The previous Alabama team record was 1:30.75 by Houck, who swam the relay at the SEC Championships last month. He was faster than Giuliano, swimming 43.22 in the first 100, thanks to 50 splits of 20.86 and 22.36. Then he dropped that pace a bit, coming home with a time of 47.23 in the 100 second.
There were some big splits among the freshmen in the 800 free relay tonight as well. Stanford student Henry McFadden The Cardinal relay anchored them in eighth place with a split of 1:31.45. It was the fastest split by a freshman tonight and comes within McFadden's official personal best of 1:32.03, which he swam at the Pac-12s a few weeks ago. North Carolina State student Daniel Diehl It was there, too, that the Wolfpack relay anchored in 1:31.52. Diehl has had a consistent career best of 1:32.72, which he swam at the ACC Championships last month.
Continuing with the freshmen who showed up strong tonight, NC State freshman Quentin McCarty The Wolfpack 200 medley relay is fixed tonight at 18.16. It was the second-fastest free split in the field tonight, helping boost NC State to an American record in the event. This is a huge swim for McCarty, who ran a personal best of 18.80 in the 50 freestyle, which he swam at the NC State Invite in November.
LSU Freshman Jerry Hribar He was also impressive in the 200 medley relay, running 18.50 seconds. Hribar's best record is 18.99, the time he swam at the SEC Championships last month.
