Bears Within Striking Distance After Day Three
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Ryan Hoffer won his second individual NCAA title in as many days and six Golden Bears earned top-eight finishes across five events on the third day of the 2021 NCAA Men's Swimming & Diving Championships Friday at Greensboro Aquatic Center.
Cal closed Friday's finals session in second place (372 points) after entering the day in front of the field, but is still within striking distance of Texas (414) with one day of competition remaining. Florida (282), Georgia (198) and Indiana (158) round out the top five through 14 events.
Hoffer won the 100-yard butterfly in 44.25 for his second individual crown of the meet after claiming the 50 free title Thursday. By outlasting runner-up Nicolas Albiero (Louisville) by .07 seconds, Hoffer clinched his first NCAA title in the 100 fly after previously finishing sixth and seventh at the 2018 and 2019 national meets. The Cal senior swam a 44.24 in morning qualifying, setting new school and pool records in the process.
In the first event of the night, Sean Grieshop took third place in the 400 IM (3:38.73). Grieshop, the 2019 runner-up in the event, earned Cal 16 points with the bronze medal. After his 3:41.91 in morning prelims didn't make the A Final cut, Hugo González set a pool record to win the B Final in 3:36.73. González was held to nine points and ninth-place finish despite his finals time standing as the fastest in the field.
The Bears picked up 16 points apiece from Trenton Julian and Reece Whitley, who both placed third in the 200 free and 100 breast events, respectively. Julian hit in 1:31.55 in the 200 free while Whitley clocked in at 51.03 in the 100 breast.
Destin Lasco led a trio of Bears to top-11 finishes in the 100 back as he took third place in 44.49, which stands as the second-fastest time in school history behind Ryan Murphy (43.49). Bryce Mefford placed eighth (45.52) and Daniel Carr took 11th (45.32), finishing third in the B Final.
The evening concluded with the Cal quartet of Carr, Whitley, Hoffer and Björn Seeliger placing third in the 200 medley relay (1:22.43).
UP NEXT
The NCAA Championships conclude Saturday with a stacked slate, including the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 1650 free and 400 free relay. Morning qualifying for all individual events – except the 1650 free – begins at 7 a.m. PT. The 1650 free event will begin at 1:10 p.m. PT, followed by the remainder of the finals session starting at 3:02 p.m. PT. All sessions will be broadcast on ESPN3.
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