Wednesday hosts a head-to-head collision between No.3 ranked Stanford, who boasts the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation, and the back-to-back NCAA champions Cal.
The Cal men’s swimming team will battle Stanford in the unconventional triple distance format that features six different categories. The rivalry meet will take place in the Avery Aquatic Center in Stanford, Calif., at 2 p.m.
The seventh-ranked Bears will have to adjust to the physically demanding triple distance format. Each swimmer is required to swim one of the six categories — fly, back, breast, sprint free, distance free, and individual medley.
Each of the categories features three races of different lengths — 50, 100 and 200 meters — and the times of the three races is added up to determine the winner for each category.
This excludes distance free races, which features 200, 500 and 1,000 meters and individual medley races, which features 100, 200 and 400 meters. The coaches of both squads will choose who swims in what races. The meet is then topped off by 200 medley relay and 200 free relay at the end.
This type of meet is very taxing on a swimmer’s body, since many of the athletes have to swim at least three different races in the course of one day.
The format also favors the distance swimmers more because long distance swimmers can create a bigger leads in their cumulative time. Sprint swimmers usually win the shorter races by smaller margins.
Technique — which Cal stresses in the fall season — will be underscored due to the grueling format of the race. It is easy for the swimmers’ techniques to break down while increasing both speed and stroke frequency.
“We need to be focusing on technique throughout the race,” said junior Scott Farley. “ We want to be consistent and finish strong.”
Stanford will also focus on not letting its own form break down due to fatigue. The Cardinal will try to outlast Cal with their deep, multi-faceted roster.
Stanford landed the top recruit in the nation in Tom Kremer, who ranks within the top 25 in nine different individual events in his respective age group. They also acquired Danny Thompson, who is the top distance recruit in the country and will be a weapon in the 800 free relays.
“This meet will have meaning because of the high caliber team that Stanford is,” said coach Durden. “There will be plenty of good races.”
Stanford’s newcomers will have an interesting battle with Cal’s No. 3 freshman group led by Jacob Pebley, Nick Dillinger and Josh Prenot.
Pebley and Prenot highlight Cal’s impressive recruiting class, as Pebley is one of Cal’s best backstrokes and Prenot is a multi-event threat, especially in breaststrokes.
The two teams will certainly electrify the pool with their top recruiting classes. Both rivals have been in the acme of swimming and will bring meaning to this non-standard meet.
“Any meet against Stanford is special,” said junior Marcin Tarczynski. “There are always a lot of emotions flowing when we face those guys.”
Hunter He covers men’s swim. Contact him at [email protected]
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