Hoosiers Break American Record on Opening Night
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – Indiana’s all-American quartet of senior Luke Barr, graduate transfer Brian Benzing, senior Finn Brooks and junior Matt King broke the American record in the 200-yard medley relay Wednesday (March 26) night to open the 2025 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships inside the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
Indiana’s 1:20.92 marks the program’s first time under 1:21, shattering the previous Big Ten and program record 1:21.39 set at conference championships one month ago. The time is six hundredths faster than the previous American standard set by NC State a year ago. IU finished fifth in the first event of the championships.
Barr led it off in 20.65, almost identical to his Big Ten time. Benzing’s 22.65 breaststroke marked the fastest among the non-disqualified relays. Brooks went 19.49 in the butterfly, and King brought the Hoosiers home in 18.13 – the field’s fifth-best anchor.
Indiana’s sixth place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay will help its chances in this week’s team race. The Hoosiers were seeded No. 14 in the event with a 6:11.39 but won the third of four heats with a 6:06.76 to reach the podium.
The Hoosiers sit tied for third in the team standings with 54 points after two events.
“It was a good start for the Hoosier program,” IU head swimming coach Ray Looze said. “An American record in the 200 medley relay, then a fantastic 800 freestyle relay to end the session. Prelims will be key tomorrow morning. We need to focus on all the little things and execute fundamentals.”
Junior Owen McDonald led off the 800 free relay with a 1:31.14, moving him from No. 9 to No. 4 all-time in the program’s all-time performers list. Senior Rafael Miroslaw followed up with a nearly identical 1:31.39. Senior Kai van Westering contributed a 1:32.79 before fifth-year senior Tomer Frankel anchored with a 1:31.53.
RESULTS
200 MEDLEY RELAY
5. Luke Barr, Brian Benzing, Brooks, King – 1:20.92 (All-America, American Record, Big Ten Record, Program Record)
800 FREESTYLE RELAY
- Owen McDonald, Rafael Miroslaw, Kai van Westering, Tomer Frankel – 6:06.76 (All-America)
HOOSIER ALL-AMERICANS
Luke Barr – 200 medley relay
Brian Benzing – 200 medley relay
Finn Brooks – 200 medley relay
Tomer Frankel – 800 freestyle relay
Matt King – 200 medley relay
Owen McDonald – 800 freestyle relay
Rafael Miroslaw – 800 freestyle relay
Kai van Westering – 800 freestyle relay
UP NEXT
The 2025 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships resume Thursday for day two, the first full day of action. Athletes will compete in the 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 1-meter dive and 200 freestyle relay, with preliminaries beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Finals are scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.
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