Leon Marchand Sets National-Best Time in 500 Free with 4:07 vs. Arizona
Leon Marchand added another nation-leading time on Saturday, blistering a 4:07.81 in the 500 freestyle against Arizona.
That swim annihilated the Arizona State record, set last March by Julian Hill at 4:13.18. It also routs the NCAA-best time of Georgia’s Jake Magahey (4:09.83) this season. And it’s within a shout of the NCAA record set by Florida’s Kieran Smith in 2020 at 4:06.32.
The Sun Devils claimed lopsided wins in both meets, the top-ranked men by a 223-58 score and the women by a margin of 211.5-88.5. In both meets, the margins of victory are the most in the intrastate series since 1998.
Leon Marchand also went 44.77 to win the 100 backstroke. That’s the fastest time in the nation this season, edging NC State’s Kacper Stokowski by .02 seconds. It’s also second in program history, trailing only Zach Poti’s 44.14 from 2020.
Zalan Sarkany also lowered the Arizona State record for the third straight meet, dropping it to 8:49.31. It had been stubbornly stuck on 8:57.64 since 1984.
Despite the lopsided final score, Arizona State provided plenty of racing intrigue amongst themselves. Jack Dolan, one of the 13 seniors being honored, tied with Jonny Kulow for the 50 free crown in 19.46. Another senior, Max McCusker, wasn’t far back in third in 19.58. Patrick Sammon’s 42.76 edged Kulow (42.79) Dolan (43.07) in the 100 free. McCusker went 45.66 to edge Alexander Colson (45.81) and Grant House (46.01) in the 100 butterfly.
Sarkany was third in the 500 behind Marchand and Hill, who was also second to House in the 200 free. House led off the 400 free relay in 42.88 as the Sun Devils prevailed in 2:48.00, Kulow and Sammon joining him and Marchand anchoring in 41.53. Dolan, Marchand (23.20 split), McCusker and Kulow (18.74) won the 200 medley relay in 1:22.98.
David Schlicht had a big day, winning the 100 breaststroke and 200 breast. He also finished second in the 200 individual medley to Hubert Kos. The Hungarian Olympian went 1:43.10 in the IM and also won the 200 back in 1:41.10. Colson added the 200 fly crown to the pile.
The Arizona State women’s dominance was just about as comprehensive, going at least 1-2 in each of the first seven individual event. Lindsay Looney, another of the celebrating seniors, led the way. She claimed the 200 free ahead of Molly Batchelor. Looney and Jade Foelske went 1-2 in both butterfly events, Looney on top both times.
Foelske also turned around quickly to take second in the 200 IM to Charli Brown, who also swept the backstroke events. Ize Adame did the same in breaststroke, after Brown, Adame, Foelske and Erin Milligan dominated the 200 medley relay.
Milligan also led off the winning 400 free relay, teaming with Batchelor, Ieva Maluka and Looney. Batchelor bested Milligan and Maluka in that order in the 50 free. Maluka topped Milligan in the 100 free. Batchelor also won the 500 free. Her runner-up there, Katherine Randall, had won the 1,000 to kick off the meet.
Arizona didn’t get a top-two finish until Julia Heimstead in the 200 back. She also was third in the 200 free and 200 fly.
Fire, all them swimmers are ripping some super fast times