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What Will Relay Lineups For The Men’s 400 Medley Relay Look Like At 2024 NCAAs?

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By Sean Griffin on SwimSwam

2024 MEN’S NCAA SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

The third finals session of the 2024 Men’s NCAA Championships will include the 400 medley relay, where many of the top contenders have multiple lineup options.

Arizona State (top seed), Florida (2nd seed), and California (4th seed) are all among the top contenders, but each have multiple lineup choices. See a complete breakdown of those options, below:

Top Seed — Arizona State (2:58.49)

The Sun Devils clocked the fastest time in the nation this year at last month’s Pac-12 Championships, where they checked-in at 2:58.49, which is just 0.17 outside the NCAA record. Their quartet there consisted of Hubert Kos (44.04), Leon Marchand (49.87), Ilya Kharun (43.84), and Jonny Kulow (40.74).

While it seems likely that Marchand, Kharun, and Kulow will all feature again tonight, the backstroke leg isn’t quite clear. During Friday’s prelims of the 100 backstroke, sophomore Owen McDonald (44.25) dropped 1.34 seconds to qualify 5th for the final, while Kos notched an effort of 44.39. Kos’ best time is 43.75, which he recorded at the Pac-12’s in Federal Way last month. While Kos’ best time is faster, he was a bit off his best in yesterday’s 200 IM final, while McDonald has been on fire in Indianapolis.

It seems probable that they’ll stick with their record-setting lineup from last month, but a decision looms nonetheless.

2nd Seed — Florida (3:00.32)

The Florida Gators, who popped a new NCAA record at this meet a year ago, have three of their relay legs on the roster again this year. Adam Chaney (backstroke), Josh Liendo (butterfly), and Macguire McDuff (freestyle) are those swimmers. Liendo and McDuff will almost certainly appear on tonight’s squad, but the backstroke and breaststroke legs will be an interesting decision.

For backstroke, Chaney and Jonny Marshall are the two potential options. Marshall was the 2nd seed entering the event this morning (44.12), as he claimed the SEC title last month with the fastest performance by a freshman ever. However, Chaney out-touched him this morning, 44.24 to 44.52.

Chaney has been a staple for the Gators over the past four years, and he always rises to the occasion for relays. Marshall does have the faster best time though, albeit by 0.05.

Marshall represented Florida on this relay last month at SECs, where he led-off in 45.13, after winning the individual event earlier in the session.

The breaststroke leg is another question, as Julian Smith and Aleksas Savickas have both clocked sub-51 swims in their career. Smith (50.94) was a bit faster (51.35) than Savickas this morning, but has already contested three relays, meaning he can swim this relay or tomorrow’s 400 free relay. Smith was pivotal to Florida’s record-breaking 400 free relay last year, so it’s likely we see Savickas slot into the breaststroke leg on tonight’s relay.

4th Seed — California (3:01.55)

The Golden Bears lineup seems fairly straightforward, as their fastest on-paper lineup from this season is Destin Lasco, Liam Bell, Dare Rose, and Jack Alexy. However, Alexy can only compete in four relays at this meet because he is swimming in three individual events, so he’ll have to either skip this event or Saturday’s 400 free relay.

In the potential absence of Alexy, Bjorn Seeliger (40.75) would be the next probable option, as he owns a faster best time than Alexy. Seeliger set his best time back at the 2022 NCAA Championships, while Alexy has been the faster swimmer for Cal this season.

SwimSwam: What Will Relay Lineups For The Men’s 400 Medley Relay Look Like At 2024 NCAAs?

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