Thursday, March 7
Federal Way, WA
TBD
USC
vs
Pac-12 Championships Day Two
Players Mentioned
IM/Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Men's Swimming & DivingFreshman Victor Johansson Wins Pac-12 Title In 500 Free
March 07, 2019 | Men's Swimming & Diving, Features
Kyle Grissom, Nikola Miljenic reach final of 50 Free
Freshman Victor Johansson won USC's 30th conference title in the 500y free in come-from-behind fashion while senior co-captain Kyle Grissom and first-year sophomore Nikola Miljenic also reached the A final of the 50y free to highlight USC's efforts on the first full day of the 2019 Pac-12 Men's Swimming Championships on Thursday (March 7) in Federal Way, Wash.
USC is fifth after the first full day with 176 points. California leads with 342 and is followed by Stanford (308), Arizona State (248), Arizona (223), USC and Utah (169).
Johansson, a Swedish national teamer who battled back from a December back injury, won his first Pac-12 title in his first final in 4:13.30, passing Cal sophomore Trenton Julian over the final 50 yards. Julian, the son of Trojan All-American greats Jeff Julian and Kristine-Quance Julian, touched in 4:13.61.
"This feels really good coming back like this after the back injury," Johansson said. "Nothing feels better and gives more energy than coming back like this after not being able to compete in December at the Texas Invitational. I'm so excited to see what the future holds."
Johansson's winning time makes him the seventh-fastest Trojan ever in the 500y free. It is USC's first win in the event since 2016 but its 12th since 2001. The Swede trailed Julian by 1.11 seconds with 50 yards to go but his closing 24.93 was enough to take the title. He posted a 4:14.52 out of prelims to earn the top seed.
Miljenic, who swam at Indiana last year but failed to make an A final at the Big Ten Championships, earned his first conference A final berth thanks to a 19.59 prelim effort. The Croatian native then took fourth in tonight's race in 19.35, lowering his PR by 0.01.
Grissom, who had never finished higher than 11th at the Pac-12s in the 50y free, clocked a 19.48 to take a career-best sixth with the second-fastest time of his career. He earned the A final race thanks to a morning swim of 19.57, the third-fastest 50 of his career.
"We came away with a few strong performances tonight with an exceptional come-from-behind win by Victor," USC Coach Dave Salo said. "Victor swam his race and despite being as many as four body lengths behind the early leader he crushed the last 75 to take the lead and the win.
"It was the inspiration the team needed for the rest of the night. We again were strong in the 50 free with Kyle and Niko throwing down strong swims. They were also both critical to our 200 free relay which had a strong performance."
Senior Walker Bell finished 16th (1:45.88) overall in the 200y IM to lead USC swimmers in the race. His prelim 1:45.42 was just off his career best.
USC's 200y free relay of Miljenic, Grissom, freshman Alexei Sancov and senior Carsten Vissering, posted a season-best 1:17.79, finishing fifth.
The meet continues Friday and Saturday with prelims at 11 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
USC is fifth after the first full day with 176 points. California leads with 342 and is followed by Stanford (308), Arizona State (248), Arizona (223), USC and Utah (169).
Johansson, a Swedish national teamer who battled back from a December back injury, won his first Pac-12 title in his first final in 4:13.30, passing Cal sophomore Trenton Julian over the final 50 yards. Julian, the son of Trojan All-American greats Jeff Julian and Kristine-Quance Julian, touched in 4:13.61.
"This feels really good coming back like this after the back injury," Johansson said. "Nothing feels better and gives more energy than coming back like this after not being able to compete in December at the Texas Invitational. I'm so excited to see what the future holds."
Johansson's winning time makes him the seventh-fastest Trojan ever in the 500y free. It is USC's first win in the event since 2016 but its 12th since 2001. The Swede trailed Julian by 1.11 seconds with 50 yards to go but his closing 24.93 was enough to take the title. He posted a 4:14.52 out of prelims to earn the top seed.
Miljenic, who swam at Indiana last year but failed to make an A final at the Big Ten Championships, earned his first conference A final berth thanks to a 19.59 prelim effort. The Croatian native then took fourth in tonight's race in 19.35, lowering his PR by 0.01.
Grissom, who had never finished higher than 11th at the Pac-12s in the 50y free, clocked a 19.48 to take a career-best sixth with the second-fastest time of his career. He earned the A final race thanks to a morning swim of 19.57, the third-fastest 50 of his career.
"We came away with a few strong performances tonight with an exceptional come-from-behind win by Victor," USC Coach Dave Salo said. "Victor swam his race and despite being as many as four body lengths behind the early leader he crushed the last 75 to take the lead and the win.
"It was the inspiration the team needed for the rest of the night. We again were strong in the 50 free with Kyle and Niko throwing down strong swims. They were also both critical to our 200 free relay which had a strong performance."
Senior Walker Bell finished 16th (1:45.88) overall in the 200y IM to lead USC swimmers in the race. His prelim 1:45.42 was just off his career best.
USC's 200y free relay of Miljenic, Grissom, freshman Alexei Sancov and senior Carsten Vissering, posted a season-best 1:17.79, finishing fifth.
The meet continues Friday and Saturday with prelims at 11 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m.
Women's Volleyball - USC 3, Creighton 0: Highlights (9/9/25)
Sunday, September 07
USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane on his spectacular one-handed TD catch, Trojans moving to 2-0
Saturday, September 06
USC Football vs Georgia Southern Post Game Press Conference
Saturday, September 06
USC LB Desman Stephens II | USC defeats Georgia Southern, 59-20
Saturday, September 06
