Indiana University Athletics
Indiana University
Day 2- Finals
IU Moves Up to 11th at NCAA Championships
3/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming and Diving
Results |
Photo Gallery 
Site: Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium (Iowa City, Iowa) Score: 104 Points (11th) Live Results:
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IOWA CITY, Iowa -- Top-eight finishes from freshman Blake Pieroni, sophomore Michael Hixon, freshman James Connor and the 800 freestyle relay led the way for Indiana swimming and diving on day two of the 2015 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships in Iowa City, Iowa.
The Hoosiers have moved up to 11th place in the standings with 104 points, just a half a point out of the top 10.
Hixon was runner-up in the 3-meter springboard competition with a score of 492.40; his second top-two finish in the event in as many seasons. That goes along with his fifth-place finish on the 1-meter Thursday night. Connor took fourth in the field after scoring 471.70 points, matching his 1-meter finish last night.
It was a pair of record-setting performances for Connor and Hixon in prelims. As the second diver in the order, Hixon set a new school record with his score of 494.90. However, that record would last only 20 minutes or so as Connor scored 84 points on his final dive to set a new school and then-NCAA Championships meet record with a score of 496.80.
Going up against a field of upperclassman Pieroni showed no nerves in his first NCAA Championship final, clocking a 1:33.29 for fourth place. That is the third-fastest time in Indiana history, giving Pieroni all five top times in the IU record book. Additionally, Pieroni has posted all five of those times this season here in Iowa City.
Pieroni made his first championship final by qualifying eighth in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:33.26. That is the second-fastest time in school history. Sophomore Jackson Miller finished 32nd in 1:35.89.
The night ended on a high note for the Hoosiers as Pieroni, sophomore Jackson Miller, senior Steve Schmuhl and sophomore Anze Tavcar placed fifth in the 800 free relay to earn All-America honors with a time of 6:17.09. That is the second-fastest time in IU history and added 28 points to IU's total.
In the morning prelim session, Indiana finished 19th in the 200 medley relay as sophomore Bob Glover, junior Tanner Kurz, sophomore Max Irwin and freshman Ali Khalafalla posted a time of 1:26.35.
Schmuhl posted a time of 3:46.85 in the 400 individual medley, good for 27th overall in the field.
Junior Tanner Kurz finished tied for 30th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 53.29. Senior Mike Hurley posted a swim of 54.41, good for 43rd in the field.
The meet concludes Saturday with a prelim session for the 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 400 freestyle relay and platform diving starting at noon ET.
200 Medley Relay 19. Glover, Kurz, Irwin, Khalafalla - 1:26.35
400 Individual Medley
27. Steve Schmuhl - 3:46.85
200 Freestyle
4. Blake Pieroni - 1:33.29 (All-American; third-fastest time in IU history)(1:33.26 prelims; second-fastest time in IU history)
32. Jackson Miller - 1:35.89
100 Breaststroke
T-30. Tanner Kurz - 53.29
43. Mike Hurley - 54.41
3-Meter
2. Michael Hixon - 492.40 (All-American; ranks 4th in IU history) (494.90 prelims; ranks 2nd in IU history)
4. James Connor - 471.70 (496.80 prelims; School Record)
800 Freestyle Relay
5. Pieroni, Schmuhl, Miller, Tavcar - 6:17.09 (2nd-fastest time in IU history)
*1:34.41 leadoff for Pieroni
Players Mentioned
