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Julian Sets Cal, Meet Records With 4:09 500 Free, 4th Man Under 4:10 in ’21

2021 MEN’S  PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS

Cal senior Trenton Julian broke both Cal Bears record and the Pac-12 record tonight with his 4:09.49 victory in the 500 free tonight on Day 2 of the 2021 Pac-12 Men’s Championships. We’ve seen plenty of fast swimming already this season, and that trend has continued in the 500 free, where four men nation-wide have been under 4:10, the first time that’s happened since the 2016-2017 season.

Julian came into today with a lifetime best of 4:11.30, a time which he hit in winning the B-final of the 2019 NCA Championships. He clocked a 4:14.54 this morning before going sub-4:10 this evening, breaking a pair of records held by two other men swimming the same heat tonight as Julian.

Julian broke the Cal record of 4:10.29, which his classmate Sean Grieshop set while taking 2nd at the 2019 NCAA Championships. Grieshop finished 6th tonight with a time of 4:16.05. Julian also broke the meet record of 4:10.67, which Stanford’s Grant Shoults set as a freshman in 2017. Shoults had won this event each of the three years he’s competed at this meet, and finished 4th tonight with a 4:13.73.

Additionally, tonight’s swim makes Julian the fourth college swimmer to get under 4:10 this season. He joins Kieran Smith (4:06.32), Jake Magahey (4:06.71), and Drew Kibler (4:08.26), with once major conference meet (Big Ten) left to go before NCAAs.

Going back to the 2007-2008 season, this is only the second time that four men have been under 4:10 in the same season, and the only time it’s happened before NCAAs. This sets the stage for what should be a thrilling race in Greensboro later this month.

In Greensboro, Julian will have a shot at the overall Pac-12 record, a 4:08.92 set by Jean Basson of Arizona back in 2009.

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Marklewis
3 years ago

Yeah, the 500 free is going to be a fun one to watch at NCAAs.

Kieran Smith will be gunning for a new AR. The rest of the field won’t be far behind.

Taa
3 years ago

I thought Brooks would be the one under 4:10.

worm
Reply to  Taa
3 years ago

some might say he ‘failed’ to do so

BearlyBreathing
3 years ago

Could Cal have 3 A finalists in the 500 in 2 weeks time? Julian, Yeadon, Grieshop…

Taa
Reply to  BearlyBreathing
3 years ago

Prelims are tricky in this event but I’d say those guys have the experience to do it.

Reid
Reply to  BearlyBreathing
3 years ago

No reason to think they all can’t go faster, I think Julian and Yeadon will make it. Grieshop is a big taper swimmer, but he’s also a ways off where he’s been at PAC 12s in the past so not too sure.

PFA
3 years ago

Crazy thing is aside from Julian the rest under 4:10 are all either freshman or jr’s so I’d still call it a young field.

Math
Reply to  PFA
3 years ago

Yeah all of them are in college. Pretty young boiz

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Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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