Arizona State University's (ASU) men's swimming and diving team made history at the 2026 NCAA Division I Championships, setting a new school record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:20.07. This achievement not only marked a significant improvement over their previous record but also positioned them as the third-best team in all-time history for this event. The relay team, led by Adam Chaney, Andy Dobrzanski, Ilya Kharun, and Jonny Kulow, showcased exceptional teamwork and individual prowess, outperforming even the defending champions, Texas. The race was a testament to the team's dedication and skill, as they managed to lower the meet record by 0.08 seconds, a remarkable feat in the highly competitive world of college swimming.
One of the standout performances came from Ilya Kharun, who clocked an astonishing 18.70 in the 50 fly, the second-fastest split in all-time history. This achievement further solidified his status as a top swimmer, with only one other swimmer, Josh Liendo, managing to crack the top ten all-time splits. Kharun's performance was particularly impressive, as he improved upon his own record from the 2025 CSCAA Dual Meet Challenge, showcasing his consistent growth and dominance in the sport.
The relay's success can be attributed to the strategic splits and the exceptional performance of each swimmer. Adam Chaney, the leadoff swimmer, set a strong pace with a split of 20.35, which was 0.94 seconds faster than his previous performance. Andy Dobrzanski, the breaststroke leg, contributed a split of 23.04, while Jonny Kulow, the anchor leg, outperformed the longhorn man, Garrett Gould, by 0.60 seconds with a split of 17.98. The team's overall performance was a testament to their hard work and dedication, as they managed to improve upon their previous record by 0.13 seconds.
The race also highlighted the competitive nature of college swimming, with teams like Florida and Texas pushing ASU to their limits. Florida, the defending champions, finished just 0.01 seconds off their former meet record, with Josh Liendo's anchor leg of 17.58 matching his split from the SECs. Texas, on the other hand, showcased their strength with a front half of 42.58, thanks to Will Modglin's 20.19 leadoff and Nate Germonprez's 22.39 breaststroke split, both of which ranked them among the top five all-time.
Despite the strong competition, ASU's performance stood out, and their new school record in the 200 medley relay will undoubtedly be a source of pride for the university and its swimming program. The team's success serves as an inspiration to aspiring swimmers and a testament to the power of hard work and dedication in achieving greatness in the world of sports.
