The No. 4-ranked Indiana University men’ swimming and diving team had a tremendous showing at the 2017 NCAA Championships on Thursday night at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind.
After two days at the NCAA Championships, the Hoosiers sit in fifth place overall with a total score of 121 points, just two points shy of N.C. State in fourth place. Texas leads with a score of 225.5, followed by California with 143 and Florida with 138.5.
Indiana had a pair of standouts in the 1-meter dive Championship Final, as Michael Hixon and James Connor finished 2-3 for the Hoosiers. Hixon placed second overall with a score of 437.70, while Connor was third with a total of 437.30.
Hixon had the best-scoring dive of the final in the sixth round, scoring a 91.80. The redshirt junior had a very consistent list, scoring 72 or more points on four of his six attempts. Connor also had a very good list, with all of his dives scoring at least 67.50 points. Hixon’s total is the sixth-best in school history, while Connor’s is seventh.
The Hoosiers placed two divers in the top-three of the 1-meter dive at the NCAA Championships for the first time since 1969 when Jim Henry took first and John Hahnfeldt placed third.
In the 400 medley relay, the Hoosiers had their best showing in the event in 37 years, as the team of Bob Glover, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza and Blake Pieroni placed sixth with a time of 3:03.98.
IU’s sixth-place finish is the best at the NCAA Championships in the 400 medley relay since also placing sixth in 1980.
Marwan Elkamash continued his record-breaking performance at the NCAA Championships, setting the school record for the second time on Thursday in the Championship Final of the 500 freestyle. Elkamash took home seventh place in the event with a time of 4:10.87. Elkamash’s finish is the best for any Hoosier in the event at the NCAA’s since Brian Barnes took sixth in 1995.
In the Championship Final of the 200 freestyle relay, the IU team of Ali Khalafalla, Pieroni, Sam Lorentz and Josh Romany tied for seventh overall with a time of 1:16.78. The finish is the best in the event for the Hoosiers in program history.
Ali Khalafalla was outstanding in the Consolation Final of the 50 freestyle, placing third to finish 11th overall with a time of 19.12. Khalafalla’s time is the third-best in school history.
Lanza had a great showing in the 200 IM, placing sixth in Consolation Final of the event to finish 14th overall with a time of 1:43.03. Lanza’s mark is the ninth-fastest in school history.
With their performances tonight, 10 IU swimmers and divers earned All-America honors – Pieroni (ninth career honor) Khalafalla (sixth), Hixon (sixth), Elkamash (fifth), Lanza (fifth), Lorentz (fourth), Connor (fourth), Glover (third), Finnerty (third) and Romany (first).
The No. 4 Indiana Hoosiers will continue competition at the 2017 NCAA Championships on Friday morning at 10:00 a.m. ET with the prelims of the 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay and 3-meter dive.
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200 Freestyle Relay
T-7. Ali Khalafalla, Blake Pieroni, Sam Lorentz, Josh Romany – 1:16.78 (All-America)
500 Freestyle
- Marwan Elkamash – 4:10.87 (School Record, All-America)
200 IM
- Vini Lanza – 1:43.03 (Honorable Mention All-America)
50 Freestyle
- Ali Khalafalla – 19.12 (Honorable Mention All-America)
400 Medley Relay
- Bob Glover, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza, Blake Pieroni – 3:03.98 (All-America)
1-Meter Dive
- Michael Hixon – 437.70 (All-America)
- James Connor – 437.30 (All-America)
