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Destin Lasco won the 200 individual medley with an NCAA A cut time of 1:40.16 on Thursday at the Minnesota Invitational.
MSWIM11/30/2023 8:25 PM | By: Cal Athletics
Bears Dominate Day Two Of Minnesota Invitational
Jett, Lasco, And Alexy Win Their Respective Events
MINNEAPOLIS – Day two of the Minnesota Invitational saw the No. 4 California men's swimming & diving team turn in some impressive individual performances at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center. The Golden Bears had five athletes reach the podium, with
Gabriel Jett,
Destin Lasco, and
Jack Alexy winning their respective events. Cal wrapped up the day by taking first and second in the 200-yard free relay.
Cal opened the evening session with four Bears finishing in the top eight of the 500-freestyle. Jett captured first with a time of 4:16.15 – improving on his NCAA B-cut time set in the prelims. Jett pulled away late to defeat runner-up Bar Soloveychick from Minnesota by over two seconds.
Tyler Kopp finished third with a time of 4:20.64, also an NCAA B qualifying time. Freshmen
Aaron Shackell and
Keaton Jones took sixth and seventh, with Shackell finishing with a time of 4:22.77 and Jones finishing with a time of 4:24.38.
In the B Final,
Trent Frandson finished first with a time of 4:21.67, an NCAA B qualifying time, and would have been fast enough to finish fourth in the A Final.
Jack Meehan took seventh in the B Final with a time of 4:26.27.
In the 200 individual medley, Lasco dropped 2.60 seconds from his seed time and finished with an NCAA A cut time of 1:40.16. He pulled away late thanks to a blistering final 50-yard split of 23.01 which was faster than his final 50 at least year's NCAA Championship.
In the B Final,
Sean Swift finished first with a time of 1:46.97. Samuel Quarters took fourth, clocking in with a time of 1:47.98.
Hank Rivers finished sixth with a time of 1:48.76.
In the final individual event of the evening, the 50 free, the Bears dominated the A Final. Cal had five of the top eight finishers.
Jack Alexy and Bjorn Seeliger finished one and two with Alexy edging out Seeliger by 0.03. Alex finished with a time of 19.19; Seeliger touched the wall with a time of 19.22.
Liam Bell took fourth with a time of 19.62.
Robin Hanson finished sixth with a time of 19.75. All four times are NCAA B Cut times.
Kai Crews took eight with a time of 20.07.
In the B Final
Dare Rose and
Matthew Jensen touched the wall at the same time to finish tied for 11th with a time of 19.95.
Colby Hatton took ninth with a time of 20.11.
In the final swimming event of the evening, the 200 free relay, Cal's A and B lineups finished first and second with both teams recording NCAA A qualifying times. The A lineup finished with a time of 1:16.81, the ninth fastest time of the year. Through three-quarters of the race, Arizona was out front when Alexy ran down the Wildcats with an anchor split of 18.71.
The Bears' B lineup of Seeliger, Bell, Jett, and
Dare Rose finished with a time of 1:16.91 to take second.
Cal's divers competed in the 3-meter championship on Thursday afternoon. Freshman
Geoffrey Vavitsas finished fifth with a score of 283.35.
Conrad Eck took seventh with a score of 272.00.
At the Toyota US Open Championship in Greensboro, N.C., former Golden Bear Trenton Julian finished third in the A Final of the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:58.46.
Day three of the Minnesota Invitational begins at 8 a.m. PT with the prelims of the 100-yard butterfly, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke. The prelims of the 1-meter diving championship is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. PT. Friday's finals are slated to begin at 4 p.m. PT.
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