USC
2011 Pac-10 Championships
Freshman Colupaev Wins Pac-10 200y Free Title
March 04, 2011 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 4, 2011
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Freshman Dimitri Colupaev won USC's second straight conference title in the 200y free while senior Clement Lefert, last year's winner, was third to lead No. 7 USC on the third night of the 2011 Pac-10 Swimming Championships, Friday, (March 4) at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach, Calif.
Stanford remains in first with 599 points and is followed by Cal (580), USC (339), Arizona (336), ASU (190), Cal Poly (114) and UCSB (91).
Colupaev lowered his season-best in the 200y free twice, first in prelims (1:34.44) and then in the final (1:34.05), the latter time establishing himself as the third-fastest Trojan ever in the race.
The German first-year Trojan led wire-to-wire and enjoyed a half second lead after 100 yards. USC record holder Lefert, in an effort to repeat as champ, moved into second after 150 yards and got to within 0.31 seconds. But Colupaev had enough to hold off Lefert (1:34.39) as well as Stanford senior Jake Allen (1:34.28).
Freshman Jack Wagner was 12th in the race (1:37.33) while freshman Mike Godbe was 15th (1:37.94).
A day after finishing second in the 50y free, freshman Vladimir Morozov improved his best time in the 100y back in prelims to 46.93, qualifying third for the final. The second-fastest Trojan ever in the 100y back also took third in the championship final with a 46.90. Cal's Tom Shields won in 45.65.
In the consolation final, sophomores Alex Lendrum (47.66) and Nick Karpov (47.72) finished 10th and 11th, respectively, turning in season-bests.
Sophomore Justin DiFederico competed in his first career conference final after snagging the eighth spot out of the 400y IM prelims with a PR of 3:52.94. In the final, he also took eighth (3:57.53). In the consolation final of the race, sophomore Spencer Di Dio won the heat in 3:51.85 while junior Will Orlady was 13th (3:56.21).
Senior Dillon Connolly topped USC's swimmers in the 100y breaststroke, though missed qualifying for the final by a half second. He finished 12th (54.30) overall after his consolation final swim. Junior Matt Talmadge was 15th (55.00).
Junior Patrick White was USC's top finisher in the 100y fly, taking 10th (46.95), while freshman Chase Bloch was 12th (47.32).
In the 400y medley relay, USC's Morozov, Connolly, White and Lefert turned in a season-best (3:10.78) en route to fourth. Cal won the race in 3:05.29.
"We talked last night with the team about battling Arizona for the third place position and they responded both this morning and this evening to hold the Wildcats off for another day," USC head coach Dave Salo said. "We had some great racing out of some new and inexperienced guys and I think their confidence grows each day.
"Colupaev was outstanding tonight in winning the 200 and Lefert was in the race until the last few strokes. Morozov threatened the longstanding team record in the 100 back held by legendary Lenny Krayzelburg.
"We need to sharpen up the relays for NCAA but that will come over the next couple weeks."
Players Mentioned
