By Sharon Robb
GREENSBORO, N.C., March 23, 2021–University of Texas got on the scoreboard first Wednesday in the NCAA Division I Men’s Swimming and Diving Championship at Greensboro Aquatic Center.
The Longhorns won the 800-yard freestyle relay in a pool record 6:07.25 with Drew Kibler, Austin Katz, Carson Foster and Jake Sannem.
Defending national champion California was second in 6:08.68 with Trenton Julian, Daniel Carr, Destin Lasco and Bryce Mefford. Texas A&M was third in 6:10.79.
University of Florida was fourth in 6:10.91 with Kieran Smith, Troy Freeman, Alfonso Mestre and Bobby Finke.
The top four teams all finished under the previous pool record of 6:11.84 set in 2019 by Louisville.
A total of 235 swimmers from 41 teams are competing. California is defending champion and Texas was runner-up in 2019. Before that, Texas won it four consecutive years with California runner-up those four years.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s championships will look a lot different, much like last week’s women’s NCAAs.
Due to the mass gathering restrictions in place in North Carolina, spectators are not allowed to attend the meet including parents, family members and friends.
There is no participant seating on the pool deck. All teams and individuals were assigned seating in the grandstand seating area.
The meet is airing on ESPN3 for both preliminary and finals sessions.
Thursday’s events are 200-yard freestyle relay, 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard individual medley, 50-yard freestyle, 1-meter diving and 400-yard medley relay.
ELSEWHERE
ST. PETERSBURG—Six-time Olympian Ryan Lochte held off Caeleb Dressel in the 200-meter individual medley and won the 100-meter backstroke in the ISCA TYR International Senior Cup Wednesday at North Shore Aquatic Complex.
Lochte, 36, training for his fifth Olympic Games, won the 200 IM in 1:59.72 ahead of Gator Swim Club teammates Dressel was second in 2:00.50. He won the 100 backstroke in 55.92.
Dressel won the 50-meter butterfly in 23.98 and Singapore Olympic gold medalist Joseph Schooling tied Will Davis for second in 24.08.
Erika Pelaez, 14, of Eagle Aquatics won the 16-and-under 100-meter backstroke in 1:01.88. Cornell grad Ilya Evdokimov, 25, of Pinnacle (Va.) Racing won the men’s 100-meter breaststroke in 1:02.04. Evdokimov is a Florida Gold Coast swimmer who competed for Taravella High School and Coral Springs Swim Club.
SOFLO will compete in the ISCA East Elite Showcase Classic March 31-April 3.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com
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