Zalan Sarkany Breaks 12-Year-Old Conference Record With 14:23.01 1650 Freestyle

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
• Day 4 Finals Recap

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:

1. Zalan Sarkany (Arizona State) – 14:23.01 (CONFERENCE RECORD)
2. Krzysztof Chmielewski (USC) – 14:39.64
3. Daniel Matheson (Arizona State) – 14:44.85
4. Liam Custer (Stanford) – 14:46.22
5. Gabe Machado (Stanford) – 14:55.52
6. Reece Grady (Arizona State) – 14:56.90
7. Jack Meehan (California) – 14:58.38
8. Tyler Kopp (California) – 15:05.36

On what is the final night of the Pac-12 Championships before the conference dissolves with conference realignment, it was only fitting that a record was broken to kick off the night. Arizona State’s Zalan Sarkany swam to a new conference record in the 1650 freestyle as he won in a 14:23.01.

Sarkany’s swim tonight broke Chad La Tourette‘s record of a 14:24.35 back at the 2012 NCAA Championships to finish 2nd.

Split Comparison:

As seen in the split comparison, the biggest difference tonight was Sarkany’s first 200. Sarkany was out almost a whole two seconds faster at the 200 mark as he turned in a 1:40.89 while La Tourette flipped at the 1:42.47 mark. The two held in the 26-range a majority of the race, although Sarkany split a 25.99 at the 750 mark.

Sarkany smashed Zach Yeadon‘s Championship record of a 14:33.69 that Yeadon swam in 2021.

Sarkany’s time from tonight leads the NCAA this season by over 14 seconds. Coming into tonight, USC’s Krzysztof Chmielewski had the top time with a 14:37.74 from midseason. He finished behind Sarkany tonight in a 14:39.64.