🏊Ksiazek Sets School Record to Open NCAAs

AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 22 Florida State swimming and diving team opened the 2019 Men’s NCAA Championships with a school record by freshman Jakub Ksiazek in the 200 free by leading off the 800 free relay on Wednesday night at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

In a fast first heat, Ksiazek lowered his career best, which was previously set at the ACC Championships at 1:34.61. The Szcecin, Poland, native erases the mark that was set in 2014 by Kevin Rogers at 1:34.52.

Ksiazek was followed by juniors Rudo Loock (1:36.12), Griffin Alaniz (1:34.34) and Vladimir Stefanik (1:34.64).

“That was a great first swim,” FSU head coach Neal Studd said. “Kuba (Jakub) leading off with a school record was awesome. We were very excited about the splits from the guys, especially Griffin who stepped up with a personal best after not swimming that race at ACCs.”

The Seminoles finished in 19th place with a final time of 6:19.14, which was just off their seeded time of 6:18.35 which was set at the ACCs in school record-setting fashion by Loock, freshman Max McCusker, Stefanik and Ksiazek.

Thursday’s prelims will be a key session for the Noles as the second-seeded 200 free relay begins the meet. Junior Max Polianski will follow in 200 IM and seniors Will Pisani, Kanoa Kaleoaloha and Emir Muratovic along with Alaniz will compete in the 50 free followed by the 400 medley relay. Sophomore Joshua Davidson will dive in his second-straight NCAA 1-meter prelims.

All prelim sessions will start at 10 a.m. CT, and will be streamed via texassports.com, while finals will begin at 6 p.m. CT and will be featured on ESPN3. The top 16 in each event will compete at finals.

Wednesday:

800 Free Relay: 19^th – 6:19.14 – Ksiazek (1:34.04, school record), Loock (1:36.16), Alaniz (1:34.34), Stefanik (1:34.64)

Thursday:

Prelims: https://texassports.com/watch

Finals: http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/3492341/ncaa-mens-swimming-and-diving-championships

200 Free Relay

200 IM – Max Polianski (option)

50 Free – Will Pisani, Kanoa Kaleoaloha, Emir Muratovic (option), Griffin Alaniz (option)

400 Medley Relay

1-Meter Diving – Joshua Davidson

Friday:

Prelims: https://texassports.com/watch