Get ready for a heart-pounding swim race that will leave you on the edge of your seat! In a thrilling display of speed and determination, Ilya Kharun and the Arizona State junior team turned the tables in a nail-biting 400 freestyle relay. But here's where it gets controversial: could this junior squad's victory signal a shifting power dynamic within the ASU swim program? Let's dive into the details.
During Arizona State's dual meet against Grand Canyon on Saturday, the Sun Devils showcased their depth by fielding four distinct teams in the 400 freestyle relay. The climax of the event came in the men's race, where the junior team, initially trailing significantly, staged an unforgettable comeback against their senior counterparts. And this is the part most people miss: the strategic lineup and individual performances that set the stage for Kharun's heroic anchor leg.
The senior team, anchored by Andy Dobrzanski (44.42), Tommy Palmer (43.09), and Jonny Kulow (42.03), held a commanding lead of over four seconds at the final exchange. Meanwhile, the junior team, featuring JT Ewing (44.23), Reece Grady (46.05), and Filip Senc-Samardzic (43.62), seemed out of contention. But then, two-time Olympic medalist Ilya Kharun stepped up, delivering a blistering 41.77 anchor leg that erased the deficit and secured victory for the juniors in 2:55.67, just six hundredths ahead of the seniors (2:55.73).
Split Comparison:
ASU Juniors | ASU Seniors
JT Ewing – 44.23 | Andy Dobrzanski – 44.42
Reece Grady – 46.05 (1:30.28) | Tommy Palmer – 43.09 (1:27.51)
Filip Senc-Samardzic – 43.62 (2:13.90) | Jonny Kulow – 42.03 (2:09.54)
Ilya Kharun – 41.77 (2:55.67) | Ryan King – 46.19 (2:55.73)
RACE VIDEO
Courtesy: Poolside Perspective
Beyond the junior-senior showdown, the ASU sophomore relay claimed third place with a time of 2:56.59, thanks to a standout 42.74 anchor from Quin Seider. Grand Canyon's top team finished fourth in 2:57.10, while the Sun Devil freshman relay rounded out the top five in 2:59.03.
Kharun's dominance didn't stop there. Earlier in the meet, he led off ASU's winning 200 medley relay with a personal best of 20.89 in the 50 backstroke and later secured an individual victory in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:21.16, just shy of his 2021 personal best of 4:20.55.
Controversial Question: With the juniors outpacing the seniors in such a high-stakes race, is it time to rethink the traditional hierarchy within collegiate swim teams? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Looking ahead, the Sun Devil men currently rank second nationally in the 400 free relay with their November time of 2:46.11 from the CSCAA Dual Meet Tournament. As the season progresses, will Kharun and the juniors continue to challenge the established order?
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In This Story
- Ilya Kharun
- James Sutherland
James Sutherland, a former collegiate swimmer at Laurentian University specializing in the 200 free, back, and IM, brings his expertise to SwimSwam. After completing his economics degree in 2018 and a graduate degree in sports journalism in 2019, James continues to share his passion for swimming through insightful coverage of the sport.
