Stanford vs. Pacific (Men Only)
- Jan. 13, 2023
- SCY (25 yards)
- Results
- Stanford 179- Pacific 67
The Stanford men hosted the Pacific men this afternoon for a dual meet. Neither of the teams suited. It was a rainy day as the sun could not be seen on the livestream.
Last year’s NCAA Champion in the 100 butterfly Andrei Minakov made his return to Stanford. The Russian native had not competed for the Cardinal yet this season and competed at the Russian SCM Championships in November 2022.
Minakov picked up numerous wins in his return. He kicked off the meet swimming the fly leg of Stanford’s winning 200 medley relay. He swam a 20.52, the fastest fly split of the field, helping the team finish in a final time of 1:28.14. Individually, Minakov won the 100 free in a 43.91. Minakov was third in the 100 free at NCAAs last year in a 41.09.
He also competed in the 100 fly where he touched second in a 48.29. He finished behind fellow teammate Rafael Gu as Gu won in a 47.27. That was a best time for the freshman in the 100 fly as his previous best was a 48.35 which he swam back in 2019. Gu also picked up a win in the 100 backstroke as he touched in a 48.35.
Sophomore Ron Polonsky picked up two individual wins for Stanford. Polonsky won both the 200 fly (1:48.89) and the 200 breast (2:01.78). Polonsky swam the 200 breast at midseason where he went a 1:56.57. Notably, he was a 1:52.91 for 18th in the event at NCAAs last year. Both Gu and Polonsky were also on Stanford’s winning 200 free relay to cap off the meet. Senior Leon MacAlister had the fastest split in that relay with a 20.00.
MacAlister was second in the individual 50 free as he touched in a 20.49 just behind sophomore teammate Avery Voss. Voss touched in a 20.43. Voss wasn’t far off his season best of 20.07 which he swam at midseason.
Senior Neel Roy picked up a win in the 200 freestyle swimming a 1:37.55. He also was second behind Minakov in the 100 free touching in a 45.22. Roy has a best time of 1:34.50 in the 200 free which he swam at Pac-12s last year. His swim today was his fastest 200 free dual meet time so far this season.
Liam Custer had a big swim in the 1650 free as he won in a 15:15.47. That was over five seconds faster in the event than he was at midseason. He holds a best time of 14:37.86 which he swam in December 2020 while in high school.
Highlighting the meet for Pacific was junior Aidan Scott who was third in the 200 fly in a 1:51.73. Ethan Cole also highlighted the team as he was third in the 200 breast touching in a 2:09.38. Cole also swam the 200 free where he swam a 1:43.64.
Other event winners:
- 100 breast: Hayden Zheng, Stanford 56.17
- 200 back: Hayden Kwan, Stanford 1:45.35
- 500 free: Andrew Matejka, Stanford 4:32..58
- 200 IM: Luke Maurer, Stanford 1:52.13
I watched this meet, and there was significant rain during many of the races. Kind of cold too. The swimmers were often huddled up under the overhangs in the pool area right up until their races. I thought the times across the board were very impressive given these conditions!
Nice to see him back. Stanford’s only hope of finishing 7th at NCs imo
another student athlete …
He is a very talented swimmer. His ability to do both meets in Russia and the US raises questions. How does he pretend that a war is not going on and have no, as far as I know, stance on that war? People on a global scale are suffering. Many sports organization have banned Russian athletes from competition. Many 20 years olds have lost their lives in this conflict. ‘I just want to be a swimmer’ seems naive at this point in time.
L, maidenless take
It’s not really fair to demand he take a public stance on an issue when one of the two stances will get him punished here and the other will get him punished back home.
because there may be a cost to discerning and expressing one’s beliefs we should stay silent? I would encourage you to read about Logan Eggleston UT volleyball player. She exemplifies the process of maturation that college should encourage. And what would you say to the parents of innumerable children who die of hunger because of this conflict all over the world? ‘We shouldn’t ask him to make a hard choice’. I believe it is very good to ask all collegiate athletes to make such choices.
It’s just different and you don’t get it bro. You wouldn’t say anything if it meant you could possible never return home to see your family.
Are you aware of what you’re asking? Russians do not have the privilege to freely critize their government like Americans do, at the very least you’re risking future prospects by so openly opposing the regime, and possibly far more. He’s also only 20, so asking him to have a fully nuanced understanding of exactly what his country is doing contrary to the narratives he’s grown up and is being spread back home, and to then further expect him be openly sharing his understanding of what’s happening is a bit much…
As per his fellow countrymen fighting this war, the reality is that social class matters in Russia like it does most anywhere else. Minakov is from Saint Petersburg, and the… Read more »
As both a gifted athlete and a gifted student he has numerous choices that most of the world does not. He has accepted the position he is in and that brings responsibility that many don’t share with him. I invite him to lead. I offer the example of Logan Eggleston as an example of one who has chosen to carry the responsibility she chose in a way that reflects positively on both her and the University of Texas. It does not matter whether I agree with her or not. She demonstrates a growing capacity to lead. I believe Alexei has the same capacity. Chronological age does not make it appear. Giving voice to and acting congruent to one’s beliefs does.… Read more »
Your example doesn’t mean anything because no one in America is going to get poisoned by the government for taking a stance on anything.
damn… that many words and you couldn’t get his name right
“He has accepted the position he is in and that brings responsibility that many don’t share with him.” He is Russian by virtue of his birthplace, how is that his choice? Unlike other Russian swimmers, however, he has not participated in Russian propaganda. Give the guy a break.