FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Nobody in Federal Way this week has been more dominant than the No. 1 Sun Devil Men, who are inching closer to the first Pac-12 Championship in program history after another dominating performance on Friday.
Léon Marchand turned in a 3:31.57 in the 400 IM, breaking his own record (3:31.84) for the fastest time ever in the event. He cleared the runner-up by more than six seconds, clinching his second individual title of the week and already the fifth of his Sun Devil career.
Grant House won the 200 free for the second consecutive season, courtesy of his time of 1:30.67 that's currently the fastest time in the nation. House was joined by teammates Patrick Sammon (2nd/1:31.82) and Julian Hill (3rd/1:32.27) to round out the top-three.
Additionally in this event, Andrew Gray (6th) added his second top-six finish this week. It took a gritty effort from Gray to appear in the A final, as he triumphed in a swim-off against Cal's Patrick Callan in the morning prelims.
It was the fifth time this week that four Sun Devils have qualified for the same championship final – 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, 400 IM, 200 free.
House's victory is already the fourth individual title a Sun Devil has won this week.
The Sun Devils put an exclamation point on Day 3 in Federal Way by breezing to a 400 medley relay title, via Jack Dolan-Marchand-Max McCusker-House in a time of 3:01.39. The third relay win of the week set both a new meet and school record.
Just speed. That's it ??@Pac12Network | #Pac12Swim pic.twitter.com/6dSEGBtECl
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 4, 2023
TEAM STANDINGS AFTER DAY 3
1. ASU, 637.5
2. Cal, 534
3. Stanford, 441.5
4. Arizona, 245
5. Utah, 239.5
6. USC, 233.5
3:31.57 IN THE 400 IM FOR LÉON MARCHAND ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 4, 2023
IT'S THE NEW FASTEST TIME IN HISTORY ??
?? @Pac12Network | #Pac12Swim pic.twitter.com/3lL80L1XNE
The Sun Devils have picked up points in bunches this week, and perhaps nothing displayed that more than Friday's turnout in the 200 IM finals. Four finished within the top-seven, picking up 62 points to keep a healthy distance between second-place Cal.
Hubert Kos made the podium for the first time of his collegiate career, placing third in the 200 IM. David Schlicht (5th) and Daniel Matheson (7th) joined Marchand and Kos in the championship final.
Max McCusker added his second top-six finish of the week, taking third in the 100 fly. Alex Colson and Cody Bybee were fifth and seventh, respectively.
Owen McDonald was runner-up in the 100 back, the best finish for the young Sun Devil this week. Jack Dolan was vying for his second Pac-12 title, but took a fourth-place finish in the 100 back.
John Heaphy was the top Sun Devil in the 100 breast, placing 12th overall.
SUN DEVIL CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS THIS WEEK
Léon Marchand, 400 IM, 200 IM, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay 800 free relay
Grant House, 200 free, 800 free relay, 400 medley relay
Jack Dolan, 50 free, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Max McCusker, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Jonny Kulow, 200 medley relay
Patrick Sammon, 800 free relay
Julian Hill, 800 free relay
Individual wins: 4
Relay wins: 3
SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING POSTSEASON FINISHES UNDER COACH BOWMAN (PAC-12/NCAA)
2022: 3rd/6th
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 TOP-3 FINISHES AT PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
2022: 3rd
1995: 2nd
1993: 3rd
1987: 3rd
1983: 3rd
1980: 3rd
SWIMMER SOUNDBITE
Marchand was his usual self – cool, calm and collected – following his historic 400 IM performance when chatting with the Pac-12 Network's Rich Burk on the broadcast.
Marchand: "That was a very good time. That was my best time. I'm very happy with that.
Burk: "It's anybody's best time. That's the fastest time in history."
Marchand: [laughter] "I know. Yeah, that's pretty cool."
MORNING PRELIMS
The Sun Devils have had no shortage of finals appearances this week in Federal Way, made possible by the work they've done in the morning preliminaries.
On Friday morning, the Sun Devils got after it once more, sending a total of seven to a final in the 200 IM, including four in the championship final. Léon Marchand (2nd), Hubert Kos (3rd), Daniel Matheson (4th) and David Schlicht (5th) turned in terrific efforts to position the Sun Devils into prime scoring chances.
Cale Martter (9th), Zalan Sarkany (15th) and Jake Mason (20th) – all freshmen – were the other top finishers in the 200 IM.
The Sun Devils once again sent four to the A final in the 200 free, courtesy of a prelim victory from Grant House. Patrick Sammon (2nd), Julian Hill (4th) and Andrew Gray (8th) followed.
Jonny Kulow (10th) and Tiago Behar (15th) were the remaining top Sun Devils in the 200 free.
In the three other events from Friday morning – 100 fly, 100 breast and 100 back – the Sun Devils had a combined five swimmers qualify for the championship final.
100 back – Jack Dolan (1st), Owen McDonald (2nd)
100 fly – Cody Bybee (5th), Max McCusker (7th), Alex Colson (8th)
A trio of Sun Devils emerged out of the 100 breast prelims, in John Heaphy (10th), Andy Dobrzanski (17th) and Ethan Hansen (19th).
SATURDAY EVENT SCHEDULE
1650 free | 200 back | 100 free | 200 breast | 200 fly | 400-free relay
Preliminaries: 12 p.m. MST
Finals: 7 p.m. MST
FOLLOW ALONG
Keep up with the Sun Devils on the fourth and final day in Federal Way via the team's Twitter account, @ASUSwimDive, which will be updated with scores, results, recaps and more this week.
Fans can also follow along via the Pac-12 Championship Central.