USC Swimming Wraps Third Day of Pac-12 Championships

FEDERAL WAY, Wash.  –  USC senior Vaggelis Makyrgiannis' A-final appearance in the 100y backstroke highlighted Troy's third evening of action at the 2024 Pac-12 Swimming Championships.

Through three days of competition, USC currently sits in fifth place with 288.5  points. ASU currently leads the way with 725 points.

USC freshman Sanberk Oktar contributed some much-needed points for Troy in the 400y IM, posting a 3:51.92 (3:44.95 prelims) to finish seventh in the consolation final. In the bonus final, fellow Trojan newcomer Evan Pickles posted a lifetime best, clocking a 3:52.96 to finish third. Senior Ryan Abdollahi was fourth in the bonus final in 3:53.32.

Moving into the 100y butterfly, it would be freshman Michal Chmielewski to score for the Trojans as he finished second in the consolation final of the event in 46.16 (just off his prelim time of 46.06). Joining Chmielewski in the 100y fly consolation final was Harry Homans, who touched fifth in 47.00.

Trojan freshman Ian Pickles clocked a lifetime best in the consolation final of the 200y freestyle, posting a 1:36.10 to finish fifth in his heat.

A pair of Trojans earned second swims in the 100y breaststroke, with Ben Dillard (52.97) touching sixth in the consolation final and Chris O'Grady finishing fifth in the bonus final (53.94).

Troy's lone A-final appearance of the day came from Trojan Vaggelis Makyrgiannis, who finished seventh in the 100y backstroke in 46.42. During prelims, Makyrgiannis clocked the eighth fastest time (46.67) to punch his ticket into the championship final.

Sophomore Griffin O'Leary had a strong swim in the consolation final of the 100y backstroke, touching second in a PR 46.66. Trojan M. Chmielewski also appeared in the b-final, finishing eighth in 47.69 (46.84 in prelims).

Three Trojans appeared in the bonus final of the 100y backstroke, with USC finishing 3-4-5 as Jack Hamilton (47.80), Mark McCrary (47.84) and Derek Zheng (47.92) touched third, fourth and fifth in the heat, respectively.

USC wrapped up the third evening of action with a fifth place finish in the 400y medley relay as Makyrgiannis, Dillard, Chmielewski and Artem Selin combined to clock a 3:08.59.

BROADCAST INFO
Daily coverage from swimming finals will either be streamed through Pac-12.com and the Pac-12 Now app or shown over the linear Pac-12 Network. For the complete coverage schedule, click here.

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LIVE RESULTS: Click here.

2024 Pac-12 Men's Swimming Championships Timeline (all times PT)
Saturday, March 9
11 AM - Swimming Prelims
4 PM - 1650y Freestyle (Select Heats)
6 PM - Finals Session #4
·       1650y Freestyle (Fastest Heat)
·       200y Backstroke
·       100y Freestyle
·       200y Breaststroke
·       200y Butterfly
·       400y Freestyle Relay

Players Mentioned

Ryan Abdollahi

Michal Chmielewski

Ben Dillard

Jack Hamilton

Harry Homans

Mark McCrary

Chris O'Grady

Griffin O'Leary

Sanberk Oktar

Evan Pickles

Ian Pickles

Artem Selin