ATLANTA – Through three days of competition, the Sun Devils remain steadfast in their pursuit of locking up one of their best showings at the NCAA Championships in recent program history.
After Day 3 at the McAuley Aquatic Center, in which Léon Marchand and Grant House added a pair of second-place finishes in their respective individual races, the Sun Devils are now eyeing down their first top-five finish since 1990 and their second since 1982.
Marchand, a day removed from becoming the fastest 200 IMer in the history of the sport, took home second in the highly-competitive 400 IM at 3:34.08. It breaks his school record of 3:34.45, a mark he set three weeks ago at the Pac-12 Championships.
Becoming a regular on this podium ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 25, 2022
?? ESPN 3 pic.twitter.com/wfzCPwqenA
House, the nation's fastest in the 200 free entering the final tonight, was the runner-up to Texas' Drew Kibler by less than a half-second after touching the wall at 1:30.68. It's the third-fastest time in program history, as he now owns eight of ASU's top-10 200 free marks.
The Sun Devils closed the evening with a 3:02.81 showing in the 400 medley relay, which earned them an eight-place finish overall and 22 points in the team standings.
TEAM STANDINGS THROUGH DAY 3
1. California 320.5
2. Texas 313
3. Florida 272
4. NC State 214
5. Indiana 183
6. Arizona State 167
7. Stanford 159
8. Georgia 150
MORNING PRELIMINARIES
The Sun Devils were quite active in the morning preliminary session, as a trio of others competed in the 200 free. House was the headliner, but he was also joined by Andrew Gray (21st), Julian Hill (31st) and Carter Swift (40th).
David Schlicht was alongside Marchand in the 400 IM, as he went 3:41.60 to place 17th overall and just miss out on qualifying for the final.
Alex Colson (22nd) and Cody Bybee (25th) raced in the 100 fly, John Heaphy (24th) took on the 100 breast and Jack Dolan (27th) rounded out the preliminaries in the 100 back.
Through three days of competition in Atlanta, seven of 12 Sun Devils have earned All-American status for finishing top-eight in either an individual race or in a relay.
CSCAA ALL-AMERICANS
Grant House, 200 medley relay, 800 free relay, 200 free relay & 200 free
Jack Dolan, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 medley relay
John Heaphy, 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay
Cody Bybee, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay, 400 medley relay
Patrick Sammon, 800 free relay
Julian Hill, 800 free relay
Léon Marchand, 800 free relay, 200 free relay, 200 IM, 400 IM, 400 medley relay
GRANT HOUSE, ALL-AMERICAN ??
— Sun Devil Swim/Dive (@ASUSwimDive) March 25, 2022
He goes 1:30.68 to place ?? in the 200 free ??
?? ESPN 3 pic.twitter.com/wEbPbuWv6G
SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Léon Marchand, 200 IM (2022)
Attila Czene, 200 IM (2000)
Francisco Sanchez, 50 free (1996)
Mikael Orn, 200 free (1983)
Andy Astbury, 500 free (1982)
SUN DEVIL MEN'S SWIMMING POSTSEASON FINISHES IN BOB BOWMAN ERA (PAC-12/NCAA)
2022: 3rd/TBD
2021: Team redshirted entire season due to COVID
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 SWIMMING TOP-10 NCAA FINISHES
2003: 10th
2002: 10th
2000: 10th
1998: 10th
1996: 9th
1991: 9th
1990: 5th
1987: 10th
1986: 9th
1984: 7th
1983: 7th
1982: 6th
UP NEXT
It all comes down to the fourth and final day of competition on Saturday, which will begin with preliminaries 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast and 200 fly beginning at 7 a.m. MST.
Finals for each event, plus the 1650 free and 400 free relay, are scheduled for 3 p.m. MST. The Sun Devils' 400 free relay team is the second-fastest in the nation, just one-hundredths of a second behind Pac-12 rival Cal.
FOLLOW ALONG
Don't miss what is shaping up to be an electric week in Atlanta for Bob Bowman's Sun Devils. To stay up to date with the squad this week, follow the team's Twitter account, @ ASUSwimDive.