NCAA Championships: Day Four Heat Sheets; Wide-Open Field in 200 Individual Medley
The University of Texas heads into the final day of the NCAA Championships in Atlanta with a 9.5-point advantage over Florida in the chase for the team title. The Longhorns have accumulated 340.5 points through three days of competition, with the Gators following at 331 points. Sitting third is Indiana with 254 points, followed by Arizona State (245) and Tennessee (199).
The first event of Saturday’s prelims session could go a long way in determining whether Texas can hold off Florida. The Longhorns have five of the top-13 seeds in the 200 IM, led by Baylor Nelson (1:40.29) as the third seed. He sits behind Indiana’s Owen McDonald (1:40.11) and Michigan’s Colin Geer (1:40.15).
LSU’s Jere Hribar is the top seed in the 100 freestyle at 40.42, but the favorite in the event is Florida’s Josh Liendo, the three-time defending champion. Liendo has already claimed NCAA titles in Atlanta in the 100 butterfly and 50 freestyle, and a fourth consecutive victory in the 100 freestyle is expected.
The 200 butterfly and 200 backstroke are headlined by heavy favorites, Arizona State’s Ilya Kharun and Texas’ Hubert Kos. Kharun heads into action with an entry time of 1:37.56 while Kos is the reigning NCAA champ and record holder in the 200 back. Kos has already won the 100 backstroke in NCAA-record time and his 200 back standard of 1:34.21 is in jeopardy.
The last day of the meet will also include platform diving and the 400 freestyle relay, where Arizona State is the top seed. The Sun Devils have already won relay crowns in the 200 freestyle relay and both medley relays.
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