MINNEAPOLIS – Léon Marchand shattered his own NCAA record to win the 200 IM (1:36.34) at the NCAA Championships on Thursday evening at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center, helping the Sun Devils stay within the top-three of the team standings.
NCAA Championship Central | Live Results | Day 1 Recap
Marchand cleared his previous record of 1:37.69 – which he set at last year's national championships – to pick up the third title of his career. He's now captured the 200 IM twice in addition to the 200 breast.
Marchand was the headliner on Thursday, but the Sun Devils also received a big performance from Jack Dolan, who went 19.15 in the 50 free to place seventh overall. It's the first time the redshirt junior has earned First-Team All-American status, after he took 14th in this event last spring.
The Marchand-Dolan duo combined for 32 points, as the Sun Devils currently sit in third place. Entering these NCAA Championships, the Sun Devils have only had two top-six finishes in program history (6th in 1982, 2022). They are zoning in on the best finish in team history this week in Minneapolis.
TEAM STANDINGS
1. California, 184
2. Texas, 165
3. ASU, 154
4. NC State, 151.5
5. Florida, 145
The Sun Devils closed out the night with a fifth-place showing in the 200 free relay by Dolan-Jonny Kulow-Max McCusker-Grant House, who teamed up to go 1:15.06. It's the second-fastest time in school history and already the team's third top-five finish in relays this week.
In addition to Marchand pacing the 200 IM, the Sun Devils received a total of 22 points in the consolation final alone, as House (9th/1:41.35), David Schlicht (10th/1:41.50) and Hubert Kos (11th/1:41.61) went 1-2-3, respectively.
Andrew Gray was the first Sun Devil in the water in the evening final session. He took 5th in the 500 free consolation final at 4:14.61, which was good for 13th overall.
MORNING PRELIMS
Léon Marchand and Jack Dolan were the two Sun Devils to qualify for an evening championship final. Marchand went 1:38.33 in the 200 IM to take second, while Dolan cruised to an 18.87 in the 50 free to place seventh.
Dolan was .01 removed from tying his own school record, which he set at the Pac-12 Championships in early March.
Andrew Gray (16th/4:13.59), Julian Hill (18th/4:14.24) and Daniel Matheson (19th/4:14.44) were all among the top-20 finishers in the 500 free. Joining Marchand in the 200 IM was Grant House (10th/1:41.64), David Schlicht (12th/1:41.80) and Hubert Kos (13th/1:41.83).
Jonny Kulow took 17th in the 50 free, touching the wall at 19.05.
FRIDAY EVENT SCHEDULE (8 a.m. prelims/4 p.m. finals)
400 Individual Medley | 100 Butterfly | 200 Freestyle | 100 Breaststroke | 100 Backstroke | 3-Meter Diving | 400 Medley Relay
SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING POSTSEASON FINISHES UNDER COACH BOWMAN (PAC-12/NCAA)
2023: 1st/TBD
2022: 3rd/6th (program's highest finish since 1982)
2021: DNC (entire program redshirted due to COVID-19)
2020: 4th/no NCAA due to COVID-19
2019: 4th/21st
2018: 4th/20th
2017: 4th/14th
2016: 5th/44th(T)
SUN DEVIL MEN'S NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Léon Marchand, 200 IM (2023)
Léon Marchand 200 breast (2022)
Léon Marchand 200 IM (2022)
Joona Puhakka, 3m Dive (2005)
Joona Puhakka, 1m Dive (2005)
Joona Puhakka, 3m Dive (2004)
Joona Puhakka, 1m Dive (2003)
Attila Czene, 200IM (2000)
Francisco Sanchez, 50 Free (1996)
Mike Orn, 200 Free (1983)
Andy Astbury, 500 Free (1982)
Keith Russell, 3m Dive (1968)Bernie Wrightson, 1m Dive (1966)
SCHOOL RECORDS SET IN MINNEAPOLIS
200 IM – Marchand (1:36.34, NCAA record)
200 medley relay – Dolan, Marchand, McCusker, Kulow (1:21.07)
800 free relay – House, Sammon, Hill, Marchand (6:05.08)
ALL-AMERICANS IN MINNEAPOLIS
Léon Marchand – 200 IM, 200 medley relay, 800 free relay
Jack Dolan – 50 free, 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
David Schlicht – 200 IM (Second-Team)
Hubert Kos – 200 IM (Second-Team)
Max McCusker – 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
Jonny Kulow – 200 free relay, 200 medley relay
Grant House – 200 free relay, 800 free relay, 200 IM (Second-Team)
Patrick Sammon – 800 free relay
Julian Hill – 800 free relay
Andrew Gray – 500 free (Second-Team)
FOLLOW ALONG
Keep up with the Sun Devils on Day 3 in Minneapolis via the team's Twitter account, @ASUSwimDive, which will be updated daily with results, recaps, photos and more.
