FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Stanford moved into second place as the Pac-12 Men's Swimming Championships moved through two days of the four-day event at the King County Aquatic Center.
In four events on Thursday, Stanford individuals and a relay totaled 26 season bests, 10 lifetime bests, and two additions or improvements to the Stanford top-15 all-time list. The Cardinal climbed from fifth to second as a team, with 304.5 points. Arizona State leads with 401 and Cal is third with 237 through nine events.
Stanford captured second in the 200-yard freestyle relay with its best time of the season – 1:15.68. Using the combination of Jonathan Tan, Andrei Minakov, Rafael Gu, and Avery Voss for the first time this season, the Cardinal beat its previous season best by more than a second and was far under the NCAA 'A' standard of 1:16.80.
Also on the podium was Rex Maurer. The freshman took third in the 500 free in 4:12.58 and was among three Cardinal in the A final. He was followed by Henry McFadden in seventh and Preston Forst in eighth.
In the 200 individual medley, Stanford got a fourth from Rick Mihm and a sixth from Gibson Holmes. Both were personal bests. Mihm's 1:42.10 moved him from No. 7 to No. 5 on Stanford's all-time performers' list and Holmes, a freshman, clocked 1:43.40 to break into the list at No. 11.
Including Jack Ryan's two diving victories last week, Stanford has reached the podium six times so far.
Friday's schedule is the busiest yet, with finals in the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 400 medley relay. Stanford's Andrei Minakov is the two-time defending Pac-12 champion in the 100 fly.
Stanford's 200 free relay team (l. to r.): Andrei Minakov, Avery Voss, Rafael Gu, Jonathan Tan. Photo by Chuckarelei/Pac-12.
Pac-12 Men's Swimming Championships
At King County Aquatic Center
Winners and all Stanford results
Team scores (thru nine events): 1, Arizona State 401; 2, Stanford 304.5; 3, Cal 237; 4, Arizona 224.5; 5, USC 221; 6, Utah 111.
500-yard freestyle – A final: 1, Leon Marchand (ASU) 4:06.18; 3, Rex Maurer (Stanford) 4:12.58; 7, Henry McFadden (Stanford) 4:18.35; 8, Preston Forst (Stanford) 4:20.93. B final: 12, Matt Fenlon (Stanford) 4:18.86 (PB); 15, Andrew Matejka (Stanford) 4:19.62. C final: 17, Gabe Machado (Stanford) 4:17.91 (PB); 19, Liam Custer (Stanford) 4:19.82. Prelims: 4, R. Maurer 4:15.62; 6, Forst 4:16.31; 8, McFadden 4:16.61 (PB); 13, Matejka 4:19.85; 17, Fenlon 4:20.84; 18, Custer 4:21.09; 20, Machado 4:22.08. Unplaced: Henry Morrissey (Stanford) 4:21.08 (PB).
200 individual medley – A final: 1, Hubert Kos (ASU) 1:38.77; 4, Rick Mihm (Stanford) 1:42.10 (PB; No. 5 Stanford AT); 6, Gibson Holmes (Stanford) 1:43.40 (PB; No. 11 Stanford AT); 8, Luke Maurer (Stanford) 1:45.47. B final: 9, Ron Polonsky (Stanford) 1:41.25; 14, Josh Zuchowski (Stanford) 1:44.91; 16, Zhier Fan (Stanford) 1:45.75. Prelims: 4, Mihm 1:42.69; 6, Holmes 1:43.74 (PB); 7, L. Maurer 1:43.86; 9, Polonsky 1:43.98; 12, Fan 1:44.45; 13, Zuchowski 1:44.68; 22, Hayden Zheng (Stanford) 1:47.20.
50 free – A final: 1, Jack Dolan (ASU) 18.61; 5, Jonathan Tan (Stanford) 19.40. B final: 9, Rafael Gu (Stanford) 19.36; 10, Andrei Minakov (Stanford) 19.37; 11, Avery Voss (Stanford) 19.57 (PB); 14, Ethan Harrington (Stanford) 19.73. Prelims: 7, Tan 19.35; 9, Minakov 19.40; 10, Gu 19.42; 14, Harrington 19.60; 14, Voss 19.60 (PB); 20, Andres Dupont (Stanford) 19.71 (PB); 40, Ethan Dang (Stanford) 20.61. Unplaced: Ethan Hu (Stanford) 20.48.
200 free relay – 1, Arizona State 1:14.59; 2, Stanford (Jonathan Tan, Andrei Minakov, Rafael Gu, Avery Voss) 1:15.68.
PB = personal best
AT = all-time