Hoosiers Post Great Results in Thursday Prelims at NCAA Championships

Thursday, March 22

Minneapolis, MN

11:00 AM

Indiana University

NCAA Championships - Prelims

Hoosiers Post Great Results in Thursday Prelims at NCAA Championships

3/22/2018 3:55:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving

Results (PDF)

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The No. 3-ranked Indiana University men's swimming and diving team had great prelim performances at the 2018 NCAA Championships on Thursday morning at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis, Minn. in record fashion.

The Hoosiers had a great prelims session, qualifying five individuals and one relay for the evening Championship Finals. IU also had one diver and another relay qualify for Consolation Finals.

200 Freestyle Relay
The IU 200 freestyle relay team of Ali Khalafalla, Blake Pieroni, Bruno Blaskovic and Josh Romany qualified ninth overall and will be the top-seed in Thursday night's Consolation Final with a time of 1:16.55. The mark is the second-fastest in school history.

200 IM
For the first time since 1975, the Hoosiers will have two swimmers in the Championship Final of the 200 IM, as both Vini Lanza (1:42.05) and Ian Finnerty (1:42.08) earned their spots. Lanza qualified sixth overall, while Finnerty qualified seventh. Lanza's time is tied for the sixth-best in school history, while Finnerty's is ninth.

50 Freestyle
Blake Pieroni continued his unbelievable start to the NCAA Championships, setting the school record in the 50 freestyle with a time of 18.93. With his mark, Pieroni qualified fourth overall for the Championship Final.

The senior is the first IU swimmer to qualify for the Championship Final of the 50 freestyle at the NCAA Championships since Jim Montgomery in 1976.

400 Medley Relay
The IU 400 medley relay team of Gabriel Fantoni, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza and Blake Pieroni will be the top-seed for tonight's Championship Final of the event with a time of 3:01.87. The mark is just over a half-second behind the Big Ten and school record the team set last month at the conference championships.

1-Meter Dive
The Hoosiers will have the top-two seeds for Thursday night's Championship Final of the 1-meter event. Michael Hixon will be the No. 1 seed after posting a score of 408.20, while James Connor will be the No. 2 seed after totaling a 397.30.

Freshman Andrew Capobianco just missed on the Championship Final, but will be the top-seed in the Consolation Final after posting a 369.50.

The No. 3-ranked Indiana University Hoosiers will continue competition at the 2018 NCAA Championships on Thursday evening with the finals of the 200 freestyle relay, 500 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle and 1-meter dive. Action gets underway at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Be sure to keep up with all the latest news on the Indiana men's and women's swimming and diving teams on social media – Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

200 Freestyle Relay
Ali Khalafalla, Blake Pieroni, Bruno Blaskovic, Josh Romany – 1:16.55 (Consolation Final)

200 IM
Vini Lanza – 1:42.05 (Championship Final)
Ian Finnerty – 1:42.08 (Championship Final)

50 Freestyle
Blake Pieroni – 18.93 (Championship Final; School Record, Personal Best)
T-25. Ali Khalafalla – 19.34
T-28. Bruno Blaskovic – 19.39

400 Medley Relay
Gabriel Fantoni, Ian Finnerty, Vini Lanza, Blake Pieroni – 3:01.87 (Championship Final)

1-Meter Dive
Michael Hixon – 408.20 (Championship Final)
James Connor – 397.30 (Championship Final)
Andrew Capobianco – 369.50 (Consolation Final)

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