STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford posted the top time in each of Saturday’s events during a men’s swimming dual meet between the Cardinal and Pacific at Avery Aquatic Center. The efforts earned Stanford (3-0) its third victory on the season by a 145-101 margin to kickoff the New Year.
“For this meet, we had everybody with times or places or strategies they were working on,” Goldman Family Director of Men’s Swimming Ted Knapp said. “That was our approach, and we had a lot of success in doing so.
“If you look back at those who swam in the same events last season, we were almost 100 percent better in those events today. Those situations were positive for us. When you consider our workload, it’s almost acceptable to be off, but it’s very exciting to be ahead. That’s what we’ll take away from today’s meet.”
David Nolan had a hand in Stanford’s 200 medley relay (1:30.29) victory and went on to win the 200 free (1:37.00) and 50 free (20.69).
“I was really impressed with David’s first three events,” Knapp said. “He had a really tough triple in the first half of the meet.”
Justin Buck’s 9:23.13 in the 1,000 free was far and beyond that of second-place Kale Ai (9:52.34), who matched Pacific’s highest finish on the day.
Ryan Arata needed 50.65 to finish the 100 back ahead of the pack and Daniel Le (56.31) was the first of four Cardinal to touch in order during the 100 breast.
A 1:47.02 did the trick for Tom Kremer to take the 200 fly. Thomas Stephens won the 100 free in 44.91 and Will Gunderson (1:47.76) did so in the 200 back.
“There are a handful of guys who are an exciting amount better this year than last year,” Knapp said.
Coming in strong in the second half of the meet was Max Williamson, who posted the fastest times in the 200 breast (1:59.98) and 200 IM (1:48.96).
Stanford remains at home while facing Arizona (Jan. 24) and Arizona State (Jan. 25) in a Pac-12 Conference doubleheader.