NCAA News: Sun Devils Swimming Team Sweeps Pac-12 Relay Event With Double Record-Breaking Performances

On an eventful day at the PAC-12 Championships, the Sun Devils bear another NCAA record in their books. The ASU men’s swim and dive team is a star in its element. The NCAA news showcased ASU’s 200m and 800m swimming marks where the Arizona State University representatives swam their way to being champion at the 800m free relay and the 200m medley relay.

The team, comprising some of the most decorated swimmers, is coached by Bob Bowman, who once stated, “The WORK should be celebrated as well. Unprecedented in both scope and intensity.” Continuing the legacy of celebrating the win, the swimming team now took the swimming realm by storm with its dominant performances at the PAC-12 Championships.

Back-to-back records by the Sun Devils

The PAC-12 men’s swimming championship was scheduled between March 6 and March 9  at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, WA. Announcing a team victory back in the year 2023 where the Sun Devils gathered its first conference title, the ASU commanded the same position in the 2024 championships as well. Posted on Pac-12 Conference’s official page on X, the official authority corresponded, “Sun Devil Sweep! ASU breaks the 800 free relay meet record and goes 2-for-2 on night one!” On this night they set and broke records for both 200m medley relay and 800m free relay.

Striking a 1:20:55 record in the men’s 200 medley relay, the Sun Devils opened the event with their record-setting style. A quartet of Jack Dolan, Leon Marchand, Ilya Kharun, and Jonny Kulow made a new NCAA record. In that run, they broke the previous record set by the NC state (1:20.67) in 2023.

Besides that, the Sun Devils broke the meet record in the 800m free relay by swimming within 6:06.14 minutes. This helped him to break the championship record (6:06.30) made by them only in 2023. Meanwhile, one star of the team, who opened the 800 free relay both this year and the previous year, has his eyes set on the bigger goal.

The Olympic craze reaches the Sun Devils’ camp

After day one of swimming and diving (included), the ASU Sun Devils stood at 150 points, and as the Olympics are nearing, the Sun Devils’ camp also can not stay away from that. The French swimming superstar Leon Marchand lately announced his plans for the upcoming Paris Olympics, as per Olympics.com.

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“This year, the main focus is Paris 2024, with managing the pressure, the media, the expectation of course, all the people around. It’s pretty intense. I’m learning to deal with all that and I’m feeling better and better. I will be ready,” the world record holder of 400m long course individual medley stated, eyeing the 2024 Paris Olympics. While eyeing his first Olympic medal, Marchand has all but respect for the Arizona Sun Devils coach.

“You know, going to the U.S. and training with Coach Bowman was a huge step for me,” Marchand has told previously. Interestingly, Bowman himself thinks that his other star pupil, Michael Plelps’ legacy can be carried forward by Marchand. The 21-year-old swimmer is understandably elated to perform before his home crowd. “I’m lucky to have this opportunity in France to swim in front of the French fans,” he had told. It remains to be seen if Marchand can uphold Bowman’s belief in his home waters.

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