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Mathias Breaks Program Record in Prelims

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MINNEAPOLIS – Indiana men’s swimming and diving senior Van Mathias broke the program’s 50-yard freestyle record, swimming an 18.89 during Thursday (March 23) morning’s preliminary session at the 2023 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships inside the Jane K. Freeman Aquatic Center.

Mathias’ time was the ninth-best among morning swims, so he’ll share the top qualifying spot in the 50 free consolation final Thursday night. Mathias broke Olympian Blake Pieroni’s mark of 18.93, set at the same pool at the 2018 national meet.

Mathias’ personal best coming into the season was a 20.05, but the fifth-year swimmer has trimmed his time as the season has gone. At midseason, Mathias swam a 19.38 then brought it down to a 19.00 to win the Big Ten title in February.

Sophomores Finn Brooks (19.36) and Rafael Miroslaw (19.44) both swam season-bests, which bodes well for the days to come.

Senior Andrew Capobianco tallied a 391.00 score in the 1-meter diving prelim, just 1.95 points behind the championship final’s top qualifier. Capobianco is now an 11-time All-American and will go for his second medal on the 1-meter springboard after winning silver a year ago. In the prelim, Capobianco tallied scores of 65.60, 67.50, 61.50, 54.00, 69.30 and 73.10.

IU has the No. 12-seeded relay in the final event of the evening, the 200-yard freestyle relay. Indiana won the event at the Big Ten Championships as Mathias, junior Gavin Wight, Brooks and Miroslaw went a pool record 1:16.29. The program record is not far from reach, sitting at 1:15.41.

RESULTS
200 IM
DQ. Luke Barr (Shoulders past vertical toward breast – back)

50 FREESTYLE
t9. Van Mathias – 18.89 (Program Record, Career Best, Consolation Final)

  1. Finn Brooks – 19.36 (Career Best)
  2. Rafael Miroslaw – 19.38

1-METER DIVE

  1. Andrew Capobianco – 391.00 (Championship Final)
  2. Carson Tyler – 338.25
  3. Maxwell Weinrich – 327.90
  4. Quinn Henninger – 319.15

HOOSIER ALL-AMERICANS
Brendan Burns (200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay)

Andrew Capobianco (1-meter)

Tomer Frankel (200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay)

Van Mathias (200 Medley Relay, 800 Freestyle Relay, 50 Freestyle*)

Rafael Miroslaw (800 Freestyle Relay)

Gavin Wight (200 Medley Relay)

* - Denotes Honorable Mention

UP NEXT
Mathias and Capobianco will return for their individual finals Thursday night. The 50 free final is scheduled to begin at 7:40 p.m. ET to be followed by 1-meter diving. Indiana will also compete in the 200-yard freestyle relay which caps the evening.

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