ATLANTA — The University of Texas men’s swimming and diving team extended its lead at the NCAA Championships on Friday, finishing the third day of competition with 340.5 points. The Longhorns are positioning themselves for a strong finish, holding a 9.5-point advantage over Florida (331), while Indiana remains in third with 254 points. The McAuley Aquatic Center has been the site of several record-breaking performances, led by Texas’ Hubert Kós, who continues to dominate in the backstroke events.
Kós’s performance on Friday was nothing short of historic. He first shattered his own NCAA, U.S. Open, program and meet records during the preliminary heats of the 100-yard backstroke, touching the wall in a blistering 43.08 seconds. He didn’t stop there. In the evening’s finals, Kós improved upon his already remarkable time, finishing in 42.61 seconds – a modern record – and successfully defending his 100-yard backstroke title. This performance surpasses his previous championship-winning time of 43.20 seconds. The Hungarian swimmer’s dominance is a key factor in Texas’s overall success at the championships.
Longhorns Dominate Beyond Kós’s Individual Success
While Kós’s performance stole the headlines, the Longhorns’ success wasn’t a one-man show. Several other swimmers contributed significantly to the team’s point total. Junior Nate Germonprez earned All-American honors with a fifth-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke, clocking in at 1:49.69. Fellow junior Will Modglin also secured an All-American finish, placing fourth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 43.80, improving his preliminary time of 44.08.
Rex Maurer added to the Longhorns’ point tally with a third-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing in 4:07.88, nearly a full second faster than his preliminary time of 4:08.78. The diving team also contributed, with Nick Harris earning All-America honors with a sixth-place finish on the 3-meter board, totaling 415.00 points. His performance was highlighted by a forward 4½ somersault tuck that earned a score of 89.30. Luke Forester followed closely behind, finishing seventh with a score of 405.55 points.
Record-Breaking Relay Caps Off a Strong Night
The highlight of the evening for the Longhorns was undoubtedly their performance in the 400-yard medley relay. The quartet of Modglin, Germonprez, Kós, and Camden Taylor combined for a program-record time of 2:57.22, breaking the previous record of 2:57.64 set at the 2026 SEC Championships. Texas Sports reported the relay performance as a significant boost to the team’s overall standing.
All-American and Honorable Mention Recognition
Beyond the relay, several Longhorns earned recognition for their individual performances. Will Scholtz received an Honorable Mention All-America designation after finishing 16th in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:52.05. A full list of All-Americans and Honorable Mention All-Americans from the Texas team is available on the Texas Longhorns official athletics website.
What’s Ahead for the NCAA Championships?
The final day of the NCAA Championships promises to be a thrilling conclusion. Events scheduled for Saturday include the 200-yard IM, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard butterfly, 200-yard backstroke, platform diving, and the 400-yard freestyle relay. Preliminaries are set to begin at 9 a.m. CT, with finals scheduled for 5 p.m. CT at McAuley Aquatic Center. Fans can catch all the action live on ESPN+, providing a platform to witness the culmination of these athletes’ hard work and dedication.
Top-10 Team Rankings (as of March 29, 2024):
- Texas – 340.5
- Florida – 331
- Indiana – 254
- Arizona State – 245
- Tennessee – 199
- California – 186
- NC State – 175.5
- Michigan – 163
- Virginia – 110
- Stanford – 95
The Longhorns will look to maintain their lead and secure the NCAA team championship on Saturday. With a strong roster and momentum from Friday’s performances, they are well-positioned to compete for the title. Stay tuned to time.news for continued coverage of the NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
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