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AUSTIN, Texas, March 27. HOME pool advantage seemed to pay off for the Texas Longhorns after the first prelims session of the NCAA Men’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championships. Coming into the meet, Eddie Reese’s squad was ranked eighth based on psych sheet placings but puts themselves in position for a place in the top five after the first session.
Florida and Michigan remain the top two schools in the battle for the team title, though Florida got a big hit when one of its top swimmers missed out on the top 16 in the 200 IM. California could put its name in the hat, but will need to have bigger swims in the relays.
500 free
Michigan gets a big advantage in the 500 free, with two in the championship final and two in the consolation final. No other team got more than two in the top 16, and Florida was the only other school to get two in the top eight.
Michigan: two up/two down
Florida: two up
Texas: one up/one down
California: zero up/one down
Arizona: zero up/one down
Georgia: one up
Southern California: one up
200 IM
Florida was set to outscore Michigan in the 200 IM, but when Sebastien Rousseau missed out on top 16, it hurt the Gators severely. That’ll give Michigan and California an advantage.
California: two up/two down
Michigan: two up
Georgia: two up
Florida: one up/one down
Stanford: one up/one down
Texas: one up/one down
Indiana: zero up/three down
50 free
Michigan will score zero points in the sprint freestyle, which was not unexpected. California made a big statement with a swimmer in the championship final, while Florida could stay in the game with a win from Brad DeBorde. Texas shocked with two in the big final.
California: one up/two down
Texas: two up
Florida: one up
Florida, California and Michigan all find themselves in the top eight of both relays tonight. Texas moved up from 12th to second with their prelim swim in the 400 medley relay and from eighth to first in the 200 free relay, making them a big threat.
Overall up/down standings in individual events:
Michigan: four up/two down
Florida: four up/one down
California: three up/five down
Texas: three up/two down
