2024 MEN’S PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Dates: Wednesday, March 6 – Saturday, March 9
- Location: Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way, WA
- Defending champions: Arizona State (1x)
- Live Results
- Live Video (Pac-12 Network)
- Championship Central
- Fan Guide Preview
- Day 1 Finals Recap
- Day 2 Prelims Recap| Day 2 Finals Recap
- Day 3 Prelims Recap | Day 3 Finals Recap
- Day 4 Prelims Recap
The final session of the 2024 Men’s Pac-12 Championships will be kicking off here shortly in Federal Way. Even without a full strength Cal team, this has been a phenomenal week of racing. We’ve see NCAA records, Pac-12 records, and quite a few Pac-12 Championship records. It looks like a few more championship records could be wiped out tonight, so this should be a great last session.
TEAM SCORES (AFTER DAY THREE)
- Arizona State – 725
- Stanford – 505.5
- Cal – 406
- Arizona – 372
- USC – 288.5
- Utah – 167
ASU has the meet all but locked up. Assuming they don’t get DQ’d in every race tonight, they’ll win their 2nd-straight, and the final, Pac-12 title. Stanford is sitting firmly in 2nd and, based off this morning’s performances, it looks like Cal should be safe from Arizona in 3rd.
Tonight’s session will begin with the fastest heat of the 1650 free, then we’ll see finals of the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, and 200 fly. The session will conclude with the 400 free relay.
The 200 back should be a great race tonight. It features ASU’s Hubert Kos, who holds the fastest time in the NCAA this season with a 1:36.54. He was only 1:39.05 this morning, however, Kos has been swimming extremely well this week, so he should be able to get back down to his time tonight, which means he should also make a run at the Pac-12 Championship record of 1:36.94. ASU teammate Owen McDonald had a huge swim this morning, finishing 1st overall with a 1:38.49.
The 200 breast should be a great race as well. Arizona State’s Leon Marchand was 3rd this morning with a 1:52.22 but we’ve seen him drop big from prelims to finals in all his races this week, so we have no reason to doubt he’ll win tonight. Marchand is the NCAA record holder in the event with a 1:46.91. He split a very fast 49.87 on the breaststroke leg of the 400 medley relay last night, so we’ll see what he can do in the 200 breast tonight. This morning, it was ASU teammates David Schlicht (1:51.45) and Cale Martter (1:52.19) who finished 1st and 2nd respectively.
Sun Devil freshman Ilya Kharun led prelims of the 200 fly by a huge margin this morning, swimming a 1:39.52. Kharun holds the top time in the NCAA this season, having been as fast as 1:37.93. The Pac-12 Championship record sits at 1:38.53, so Kharun stands a great chance of taking it down.
50 free champion Jack Dolan clocked the fastest time in the 100 free this morning, swimming a 41.38. Teammate Jonny Kulow wasn’t far behind, swimming a 41.53.
MEN’S 1650 FREESTYLE – TIMED FINALS
- NCAA Record: 14:12.08 – Bobby Finke, Florida (2020)
Pac-12 Record: 14:24.35 – Chad La Tourrette, Stanford (2012)Pac-12 Championship Record: 14:33.69 – Zach Yeadon – Cal (2021)- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 14:37.31
Top 8:
- Zalan Sarkany (Arizona State) – 14:23.01 (CONFERENCE RECORD)
- Krzysztof Chmielewski (USC) – 14:39.64
- Daniel Matheson (Arizona State) – 14:44.85
- Liam Custer (Stanford) – 14:46.22
- Gabe Machado (Stanford) – 14:55.52
- Reece Grady (Arizona State) – 14:56.90
- Jack Meehan (California) – 14:58.38
- Tyler Kopp (California) – 15:05.36
Well, this session got off to a heck of a start. Arizona State sophomore Zalan Sarkany has been swimming incredibly well all week, but he saved the best for last. Sarkany ripped a new career best of 14:23.01 to win the mile by a huge margin. Moreover, that swim shattered the Pac-12 Championship record that Zach Yeadon set back in 2021 by a whopping 10.68 seconds. Additionally, Sarkany became the person who took down former Stanford star Chad La Tourrette’s Pac-12 conference record of 14:24.35, which had stood since 2012.
Sarkany was out like a bullet tonight, putting up a very impressive 4:17.43 on the opening 500 yards. His 2nd 500 came in at 4:22.67, and he went 4:25.08 on the 3rd 500. Sarkany then brought the pace back down, coming home in a speedy 1:17.83 on the final 150.
In the first swim of his very difficult 1650 free/200 fly double tonight, USC freshman Krzysztof Chmielewski clocked a 14:39.64 for 2nd. Chmielewski has been a little faster than that this season, having gone 14:37.74 already.
ASU freshman Reece Grady managed to make it onto the podium from the slowest heat this afternoon, swimming a 14:56.90, which took 50 seconds off his season best of 15:47.63.
MEN’S 200 BACKSTROKE – FINALS
NCAA Record: 1:35.73 – Ryan Murphy, Cal (2016)Pac-12 Record: 1:35.73 – Ryan Murphy, Cal (2016)Pac-12 Championship Record: 1:36.94 – Destin Lasco, Cal (2023)- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:39.13
Top 8:
- Hubert Kos (Arizona State) – 1:35.69 (NCAA RECORD)
- Owen McDonald (Arizona State) – 1:37.70
- Rex Maurer (Stanford) – 1:39.83
- Sebastian Somerset (California) – 1:39.84
- Aaron Sequeira (Stanford) – 1:40.55
- Ziyad Saleem (California) – 1:40.64
- Josh Zuchowski (Stanford) – 1:40.71
- Kai Crews (California) – 1:41.33
ASU sophomore Hubert Kos just made history, breaking Ryan Murphy’s legendary 200 back NCAA record of 1:35.73, which has stood since 2016. Kos clocked a 1:35.69 tonight, clipping Murphy’s record by 0.04 seconds. He also obliterated the Pac-12 Championship record of 1:36.94, which Cal’s Destin Lasco set at last year’s meet.
He was out shockingly fast, splitting 22.20 on the 1st 50 and 24.46 on the 2nd for a 46.66 on the opening 100. Kos then held his pace extremely well, tacking on 24.46 and 24.57 splits on the final pair of 50s, for a 49.03 on the 2nd 100. Kos’ previous best of 1:36.54 was set at the NC State Invite back in November.
ASU also saw fellow sophomore Owen McDonald put up a massive new career best of 1:37.70 for 2nd tonight. Prior to his 1:38.49 in prelims this morning, McDonald’s career best was the 1:39.01 he swam at last year’s Pac-12 Championships. With his swim tonight, McDonald is now #11 all-time in the event.
Stanford freshman Rex Maurer put up a 1:39.84 to take 3rd tonight. That performance comes in just off Maurer’s career best of 1:39.75, which he swam at the Texas Invite back in the fall.
Cal freshman Keaton Jones won the ‘B’ final in a 1:39.18, which is both a career best and would have been fast enough for 3rd in the ‘A’ final. Jones had never been under 1:40 in the event before.
MEN’S 100 FREESTYLE – FINALS
- NCAA Record: 39.90 – Caeleb Dressel, Florida (2018)
- Pac-12 Record: 40.75 – Bjorn Seeliger, Cal (2022)
- Pac-12 Championship Record: 40.90 – Bjorn Seeliger, Cal (2023)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 41.50
Top 8:
- Matt Jensen (California) – 41.63
- Jack Dolan (Arizona State) – 41.66
- Patrick Sammon (Arizona State) – 41.77
- Jonny Kulow (Arizona State) – 41.80
- Liam Bell (California) – 41.98
- Ralph Daleiden (Arizona) – 42.22
- Rafael Gu (Stanford) – 42.45
- Luke Maurer (Stanford) – 42.61
All but 2 of the men in the ‘A’ final of the 100 free tonight added from their prelims swims, including winner Matt Jensen (Cal), who went 41.63 tonight after posting 41.57 in the morning. Jensen was 3rd at the 50, flipping in 19.87, but was great on the 2nd 50, where he split 21.76.
Arizona State’s Jack Dolan came in 2nd with a 41.66, though his 41.38 from prelims still stands as the fastest time of the day. Dolan also had the early speed, putting up a very quick 19.58 on the opening 50.
Sun Devil junior Patrick Sammon was one of the swimmers who dropped tonight, taking 3rd in 41.77. He was just under his 41.85 from prelims. Both Sammon’s swims today marked career bests.
Cal’s Liam Bell was the other swimmer who dropped from prelims to finals, and, like Sammon, both his swims today were personal bests. Bell took 5th tonight in 41.98, which is his first time under 42 seconds in the event. We’re used to seeing Bell in the 200 breast at championship meets, however, it appears going this route has paid off. Bell came into the day with a career mark of 42.81, then swam a 42.17 in prelims before going his 41.98 tonight.
MEN’S 200 BREASTSTROKE – FINALS
- NCAA Record: 1:46.91 – Leon Marchand, ASU (2023)
- Pac-12 Record: 1:46.91 – Leon Marchand, ASU (2023)
- Pac-12 Championship Record: 1:47.67 – Leon Marchand, ASU (2023)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:51.09
Top 8:
- Leon Marchand (Arizona State) – 1:48.60
- David Schlicht (Arizona State) – 1:51.62
- Cale Martter (Arizona State) – 1:52.19
- Ron Polonsky (Stanford) – 1:52.27
- Andy Dobrzanski (Arizona State) – 1:53.48
- Zhier Fan (Stanford) – 1:53.62
- Hank Rivers (California) – 1:53.91
- Sean Swift (California) – 1:54.09
Leon Marchand picked up his 3rd individual win of the week, taking the 200 breast decisively with a 1:48.60. While that time is about a second off his Pac-12 Championship record of 1:47.67 from last year, it does mark a season best for Marchand, as well as the top time in the NCAA this season by over a second. Marchand also holds the NCAA record in the event with his career best of 1:46.91 from last year’s NCAAs.
Marchand opened up a big lead early tonight, splitting 51.89 on the first 100, which would have tied for 6th in the 100 breast final last night. He then split 28.19 on the 3rd 50 and 28.52 on the 4th, resulting in a stunning 56.71 on the 2nd 100.
It was a 1-2-3 punch for ASU, as David Schlicht took 2nd in 1:51.62. That time came in just off the 1:51.41 he swam in prelims, which is his career best in the event. Sun Devil sophomore Cale Martter tied his 1:52.19 from this morning, which is also his career best.
Stanford’s Ron Polonsky clocked a season best of 1:52.27, which was good for 4th tonight. Polonsky has a personal best of 1:51.73, a time he swam at the 2022 Pac-12 Championships.
MEN’S 200 BUTTERFLY – FINALS
- NCAA Record: 1:37.35 – Jack Conger, Texas (2017)
- Pac-12 Record: 1:37.93 – Ilya Kharun, ASU (2024)
- Pac-12 Championship Record: 1:38.53 – Trenton Julian, Cal (2021)
- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 1:40.16
Top 8:
- Ilya Kharun (Arizona State) – 1:38.64
- Alex Colson (Arizona State) – 1:40.78
- Haakon Naughton (Arizona) – 1:41.67
- Krzysztof Chmielewski (USC) – 1:42.01
- Gibson Holmes (Stanford) – 1:42.35
- Michal Chmielewski (USC) – 1:42.42
- Henry McFadden (Stanford) – 1:43.24
- Harry Homans (USC) – 1:44.95
Arizona State freshman Ilya Kharun earned his 2nd individual Pac-12 title of the week, making it a sweep of the fly events. Kharun swam a 1:38.64 to finish as the only swimmer in tonight’s field under 1:40. The time was about a second under his prelims swim of 1:39.52, however, Kharun has already been as fast as 1:37.93 this season, which is also his career best. The strength of Kharun’s swim tonight came in his back half. He split 22.24 on the 1st 50, then split 25.46, 25.35, and 25.59 respectively the rest of the way.
Arizona State’s Alex Colson came in 2nd with a 1:40.78 tonight, marking a season best for the senior. Colson has been under 1:40 in the event before, holding a career best of 1:39.55 from last year’s Pac-12 Championships.
Arizona’s Haakon Naughton, a sophomore, clocked a new career best of 1:41.67 to take 3rd tonight. Haakon’s 1:41.90 from prelims this morning marked his first time under 1:42 in the event, and he lowered his mark once again tonight.
After swimming the mile at the start of the session, USC freshman Krzysztof Chmielewski took 4th in the 200 fly tonight with a 1:42.01. The swim was just off Chmielewski’s prelims time of 1:41.45. He has a season best of 1:41.20.
Chmielewski’s brother, Michal Chmielewski, also a freshman, came in 6th tonight with a 1:42.42. He’s been as fast as 1:42.17 this season.
MEN’S 400 FREESTYLE RELAY – FINALS
- NCAA Record: 2:44.07 – Florida (2023)
- Pac-12 Record: 2:44.08 – Cal (2023)
Pac-12 Championship Record: 2:45.67 – Cal (2023)- NCAA ‘A’ Cut: 2:50.44
Results:
- Arizona State (Marchand, Dolan, Kharun, Kulow) – 2:44.23 (CHAMPIONSHIP RECORD)
- Cal (Hawk, Jensen, Bell, Jones) – 2:48.31
- Stanford (Maurer, Gu, Polonsky, McFadden) – 2:48.62
- USC (Selin, Makrygiannis, Parker, Pickles) – 2:54.33
- Utah (Van Brocklin, Woodall, Stachelek, Horner) – 2:56.35
Arizona State very nearly broke another NCAA record this weekend, taking the 400 free relay in 2:44.23. That swim marks a new program record for the Sun Devils and takes the down Pac-12 Championship record of 2:45.67, which Cal set last year. They were also just 0.15 seconds off Cal’s Pac-12 conference record of 2:44.08 from last year’s NCAAs, and 0.16 seconds off the NCAA record of 2:44.07, which Florida set at last year’s NCAAs.
Leon Marchand led the ASU team off in a new career best of 40.92, marking his first time under 41 seconds in the event. Jack Dolan then split 40.99, followed by Ilya Kharun with a 41.43, and Jonny Kulow with a 40.89 on the anchor. Notably, ASU’s ‘B’ team actually posted the 2nd-fastest time in the field tonight, swimming a 2:46.90. Filip Senc-Samardzic (42.76), Patrick Sammon (41.10), Cam Peel (41.79), and Hubert Kos (41.25) made up that ‘B’ team. It’s worth pointing out that ASU had the pieces to break the NCAA record tonight. If we swapped out Kharun’s 41.43 on the ‘A’ with either Sammon’s 41.10 or Kos’ 41.25, ASU would have broken the record.
Cal took 2nd tonight with a 2:48.31. Matt Jensen, the winner of the 100 free earlier in the session, put up a 41.23 on the 2nd leg of that relay.
Arizona’s relay finished under the NCAA ‘A’ cut but was disqualified.
TEAM SCORES (FINAL)
- Arizona State – 1036
- Stanford – 733.5
- Cal – 595
- Arizona – 433
- USC – 394.5
- Utah – 211
Luka Mijatovik would have won that if he had a lane
Augie Busch can’t make it through the Pac12 meet without calling one of his male swimmers a p***y or ripping into the women’s team telling them they are worthless. Asking for a friend is this person that should be leading a D1 swimming program. Rumor is the transfer portal will be filled with Wildcats. Good leadership Augie!
Tell us all why you are so bitter, Stan the swimmer.
Rumor on the deck is Texas is hiring Auggie
No it isn’t.
I think we are near college swimming end times with the level of ASU dominance this year.
I think within the next 2 year a 13:xx.xx mile is possible
I think he doesn’t but I think you can make a good argument that ASU should put Marchand in the 500 free at NCAAs
4:02 possible
Facts. They don’t have a clear winner for the 500 whereas Huby could probably hang with Lasco
I think Hubi has about as much chance to win against Lasco in the 200 IM as Sarkany has to out-touch Hobson in the 500. Possible, but I wouldn’t bet on either (yet).
So I don’t think it matters either way.
The other consideration is Marchand pushes at least two teammates down in scoring in the 200 IM but probably only one in the 500. Not that it matters too much cuz ASU is gonna run away with it
They could also move Kos to the 100 back if they move Leon to the 500. That way none of their events would overlap, and it could allow an ASU 400IM-er to enter the A-final if they haven’t already (Martter, Sarkany, Matheson?). Question is, who could Kos potentially push out in the 100 back (Dolan, McDonald?), and wether or not the promise of a few more points is worth the risk, because Kos’s 1st place in the 100 back is much less assured than his 2nd place in the 400IM.
There is always the option of moving Leon to the 100 breast, but I reckon they would have done it at Pac 12s if they were planning on doing it.
So much to consider!
Don’t sleep on Magahey. He was 4:07 as a freshman and is swimming well this season.
All I have to say is I don’t see 5 swimmers no matter how good they are making a big enough difference for cal to beat asu🤷♂️
Yea I was thinking about this too. Last year Cal scored 482 at NCAAs. ASU scored 430. Assume the 5 swimmers that Cal didn’t swim at Pac-12s can score 40 individual points each on average, so there’s 200. Then maybe an avg of 32 per relay, so another 160. Now we’re at 360. I think there are other individual scorers there like Liam Bell, Keaton Jones, Jensen, maybe some of the other breaststrokers and a few of the backstrokers too. So maybe Cal scores around 400 this time around. I think if Cal had Jason Louser & Aaron Shackell this season they would have made it an extremely close meet with ASU, but it does seem like ASU has the… Read more »
The only factor you seem to have left out was the loss of Hugo Gonzalez, Reese Whitley, Sean Grieshop, Lucas Henveaux, Pat Callan and others. Quite a dent in the team persona.
Oh yea, but there was no pathway to have them swim this year. Louser and Shackle were on the roster earlier this year, so they could have made a difference big. I think Shackle could have been a 40 point guy this year between the 200 free, 500 free and 200 fly. Louser routinely scored points at NCAAs in the 400 im, 200 I’m and 200 breast. I think they add 60-80 individual points, which puts Cal near their total from last year.
That’s why they swim the races!
That’s for sure
Think I remember reading an article that about 15-16 years ago or so, ASU swimming was on the chopping block (think it was a SwimSwam article) and I would say they have made some improvements and are fairly safe.
I wonder were their Men’s team ranks amongst all of the school’s sports?
It wasn’t on the chopping block. It was actually chopped. It took an actually reversal of position a few months later to have a team again. The school is in Tempe, but the swimming team was an actual replication of the legendary bird, a Phoenix rising from the ashes.
Cal really should demolish the field and the record at NCs in the 4 x 100 free relay. I’m thinking 2:42 low
Not crazy but I see a different picture, though it does still include Cal.
Florida was winner and has everyone back.
Cal was 0.01 back and has everyone back, with one leg that has gone from relay filler to Pac-12 champion.
ASU within 0.17(?) of the record, and two legs on the B relay enough better than their 4th leg on the “A” that if substituted for slowest leg it would have put them under Florida’s record.
And could the race be for the NCAA TEAM championship?
Who knows? Maybe three teams go 2:42.