In the second day of action in the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships at Federal Way, Washington, the University of Texas Longhorns dominated the stage, tightening their grip on the team championship. The Longhorns ended Thursday evening with a total of 190 points, in front of the University of California (159.5 points) and Indiana University (146 points).
Dominance of the 500-Yard Freestyle
Freshman phenom Rex Maurer led the way for Texas by winning the 500-yard freestyle with a stellar time of 4:05.35. His fellow Longhorn, Luke Hobson, took the second spot, giving the Longhorns a 1-2 finish in this event. This strong performance greatly strengthened Texas’s standing in the overall ranking.
Hubert Kos Shines in the 200 Individual Medley
After Maurer’s win, sophomore Hubert Kos also put on a great show for Texas in the 200 individual medley. Kos, an Olympic gold medalist, posted a personal-best time of 1:37.91, beating California’s Destin Lasco by a hair. Lasco had won the event at the previous national championships with the same time.
Tennessee’s Successes in Sprint Events
The University of Tennessee took great strides in the sprint events. Jordan Crooks successfully defended his title in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 17.91 seconds. This was his fifth time going under 18 seconds in this event. Crooks also established a program record with a 17.82-second leadoff split in the 200 freestyle relay, leading the Volunteers to a meet record time of 1:12.84. Florida, seeking a fourth consecutive victory in this relay, took third.
Indiana’s Win in 1-Meter Diving
Indiana University’s Quentin Henninger, a senior, won his first NCAA title through a victory in the 1-meter diving. Stanford’s Jack Ryan took second place, posting his best NCAA finish to date.
The four-day championship event rolls on, with future activity including six swimming championships and a single diving competition at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatics Center. As events unfold, teams will look to reverse Texas’s advantage, paving the way for dramatic performances in the coming days.
