NCAA Men’s Championships: Hubert Kos Set NCAA Record to Deny Destin Lasco 4-Peat
Destin Lasco has spent the last three years ruling the men’s 200 backstroke. There’s a new leader in the event, though, and his name is Hubert Kos.
The Texas junior capped an imperious weekend at the NCAA Men’s Championships in Federal Way, Washington by going 1:34.21. That gouges more than a second out of Lasco’s record of 1:35.37.
“That was a crazy, crazy finish to a really crazy meet,” Kos said. “I knew that I had a chance to do something special in that event. Obviously, I wanted to go 33, but it’s fine, maybe next year. And it was really a great feeling to get that second NCAA record and get the record back.”
Lasco’s consolation is a fifth straight year in which he’s finished no worse than second in this event. He went 1:36.41, faster than his winning time in 2022. Cal went 2-3-4, with Gabriel Jett third and Mewen Tomac fourth to draw within 40 point of the Golden Bears.
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Lasco had won this event each of the last three years, his time improving from 1:37.71 as a true sophomore to 1:35.37 last year. He had been second in 2021.
But the guard has changed around him. He’s still more than keeping up, but Kos was on another level Saturday, and the Olympic champion knew he’d have to be to get past a racer as special as Lasco.
“Especially in the 2IM, we saw how good he is and that he’s a force to be reckoned with every year,” Kos said. “And Cal came at us hard that last day and obviously yesterday as well in the morning. So we knew that every point mattered and that I had to step up and really show everybody that I am the Olympic champion in this event, and I have to do something here for the boys. And I was able to do it. I’m really, really happy – and fair play to all the guys, especially Destin, who raced this week, and they did really, really well.”
Jett, who was also third in the 100 fly, added third in the 200 back in 1:36.76. Tomac, who finished fourth in the 100 back, was there in the 200 as well in 1:36.90.
Jonny Marshall, the runner-up in the 100 back under the NCAA record, was drafted into lane 8 but made an early charge, second to Kos’ pace. He petered out late, finishing fifth in 1:37.00. Indiana finished sixth via Owen McDonald’s 1:37.59.
Ruard van Renen, who was third in the 100 back, landed seventh. Will Modglin of Texas was eighth, one spot worse than the 100 back, though better than his 200 IM A final disqualification.
Cal got a couple of bonus points with Keaton Jones storming past Kai Van Westering to win the B final after the Indiana junior looked to have the consolation final under control. Jones went a best time of 1:38.29, ahead of van Westering’s 1:38.37. Cornell’s Pietro Ubertalli was 11th overall in 1:39.22, scaring the league record on a night of Ivy League accomplishments.
Event 16 Men 200 Yard Backstroke
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NCAA: N 1:35.37 3/30/2024 Destin Lasco, California
Meet: M 1:35.37 3/30/2024 Destin Lasco, California
American: A 1:35.37 3/30/2024 Destin Lasco, California
U. S. Open: O 1:35.37 3/30/2024 Destin Lasco, California
Name Year School Prelims Finals Points
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=== Championship Final ===
1 Kos, Hubert JR Texas 1:36.08 1:34.21N 20
r:+0.74 22.04 46.22 (24.18)
1:10.21 (23.99) 1:34.21 (24.00)
2 Lasco, Destin 5Y California 1:36.40 1:36.41 17
r:+0.73 22.80 47.35 (24.55)
1:12.12 (24.77) 1:36.41 (24.29)
3 Jett, Gabriel SR California 1:36.69 1:36.76 16
r:+0.74 23.44 47.82 (24.38)
1:12.24 (24.42) 1:36.76 (24.52)
4 Tomac, Mewen 5Y California 1:37.26 1:36.90 15
r:+0.55 22.59 47.06 (24.47)
1:12.22 (25.16) 1:36.90 (24.68)
5 Marshall, Jonny SO Florida 1:38.07 1:37.00 14
r:+0.85 21.96 46.28 (24.32)
1:11.35 (25.07) 1:37.00 (25.65)
6 McDonald, Owen JR Indiana 1:37.67 1:37.59 13
r:+0.55 22.72 47.13 (24.41)
1:12.48 (25.35) 1:37.59 (25.11)
7 Van Renen, Ruard JR Georgia 1:37.08 1:38.11 12
r:+0.57 23.21 48.60 (25.39)
1:13.54 (24.94) 1:38.11 (24.57)
8 Modglin, Will SO Texas 1:38.04 1:39.53 11
r:+0.75 22.96 47.87 (24.91)
1:13.22 (25.35) 1:39.53 (26.31)
=== Consolation Final ===
9 Jones, Keaton SO California 1:39.25 1:38.29 9
r:+0.81 23.69 48.56 (24.87)
1:13.64 (25.08) 1:38.29 (24.65)
10 Van Westering, Kai JR Indiana 1:38.62 1:38.37 7
r:+0.82 22.81 47.57 (24.76)
1:12.78 (25.21) 1:38.37 (25.59)
11 Ubertalli, Pietro JR Cornell 1:39.36 1:39.22 6
r:+0.67 23.75 48.91 (25.16)
1:14.03 (25.12) 1:39.22 (25.19)
12 Hagar, Tommy SO Alabama 1:39.43 1:39.47 5
r:+0.79 23.51 49.07 (25.56)
1:14.17 (25.10) 1:39.47 (25.30)
13 Najera, Humberto SO California 1:39.30 1:39.54 4
r:+0.63 23.61 48.72 (25.11)
1:14.13 (25.41) 1:39.54 (25.41)
14 Diehl, Daniel SO NC State 1:39.39 1:40.07 3
r:+0.74 23.43 48.83 (25.40)
1:14.68 (25.85) 1:40.07 (25.39)
15 Sequeira, Aaron SR Stanford 1:39.14 1:40.25 2
r:+0.68 22.93 47.92 (24.99)
1:13.45 (25.53) 1:40.25 (26.80)
16 Zuchowski, Josh JR Stanford 1:39.61 1:40.46 1
r:+0.80 23.83 49.60 (25.77)
1:15.61 (26.01) 1:40.46 (24.85)
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