COLLEGE STATION / AUSTIN, Texas - The Arizona State swimming and diving squads finished their respective Art Adamson and UT Invitationals on a high note on Saturday, Nov. 21.
"This meet was a very important learning experience for our team," said head coach Bob Bowman. "We were able to install our routines for prelims and finals as well as race long course for the first time this year.
"We had some significant relay performances and several highly ranked swims. This experience will definitely help us as we progress through the season."
Friday's performance by the men's swim team -- an NCAA best for 2015-16 in the 4x200 relay -- would be tough to follow up on day three, but the Sun Devils had a case of déjà vu and did it again in the men's 4x100 relay.
The men's relay team of Patrick Park, Sean Kao, Barkley Perry and this time Tadas Duskinas getting in the mix beat another NCAA best, touching at 2:54.84 to beat the previous best by North Carolina State of 2.55.46. It also became the fourth-fastest time in ASU history.
As if that wasn't enough for Duskinas, he brought home the first victory for ASU in the men's 100-yard freestyle with a time of 43.50 -- good for a "B Standard" qualifying time.
Just a day after helping the relay team accomplish the year's best time, sophomore Patrick Park continued his strong performance on the weekend with a first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly. He turned in a 1:44.72 for a "B Standard" qualifying time and nearly a three-second victory.
Perry arguably made the highlight of the day, as he made an Olympic trial qualifying time in the men's 200-meter long course preliminary event with a time of 2:02.52. He would go on to finish fifth in the championship final with a time of 1:44.99 -- also a "B Standard" qualifying time.
In the men's 200-yard breaststroke, sophomore Christian Lorenz brought home a third-place finish for ASU with a time of 1.57.84. Yet again, it was another "B Standard" qualifying time for the Sun Devils.
Over in Austin, sophomore diver Heikki Makikallio came off the 10-meter platform with a second-place finish with a score of 420.80. Fellow sophomore David Hoffer came in fourth for his third-straight top-five finish of the weekend.
Diver Mara Aiacoboae decided to join the record-breaking party, as she took first place in the women's 10-meter platform and broke an four-year old record set in 2011 by Elina Eggers. Aiacoboae scored a 349.40.
In the women's 200-yard backstroke, senior Jennifer Morgan earned a "B Standard" qualifying time with a finish of 1:56.89.
The swim and dive teams take a break for winter and will return to the pool on Jan. 5 with the diving team hosting NAU. The swimmers host Wyoming on Jan. 16.