INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Following an exhilarating start to the 2024 Men's NCAA Championships, Auburn continued its stellar performance on night two inside the IU Natatorium on Thursday.
Top eight performances from both Mason Mathias in the 500 free and the 200 free relay squad kept the Tigers in ninth place (67 points) at the halfway mark of the championships.
If anyone knows how to make 500 yards electric, it's Alabama native Mason Mathias. The junior from Leeds already had the three fastest times of any Tiger in history in the event. On Thursday, Mathias outmaneuvered them all with a 4:10.83, a new school record and the sixth fastest time of the morning session.
Mathias managed a 4:14.00 in finals, solidifying eighth and First Team All-American honors for the first time in his career.
Auburn saved some fireworks for the 200 free relay. Redeeming himself from the morning 50 free prelims, Logan Tirheimer led the Tigers off with an 18.79, becoming the fifth-fastest performer in program history.
Kalle Makinen, Aidan Stoffle and Nate Stoffle all followed suit with impressive splits to combine for a 1:15.05, the third-fastest relay in school history and sixth place overall.
In the morning prelims, Grant Davis managed a 4:15.75 for 34th overall while Michael Bonson delivered a 4:19.11 for 41st.
Sophomore Danny Schmidt jumped to third all-time at Auburn with a 1:42.61 in the 200 IM at just his second NCAA Championships. His mark was good enough for 20th. Jacques Rathle wasn't too far behind with a 1:43.43 and 31st overall.
When it came to the 50 free, Tirheimer hit the wall at 19.13, a time which left the senior 23rd.
ALL-AMERICAN HONORS (10 athletes, 13 honors)
Henry Bethel (200 MR)
Michael Bonson (800 FR HM)
Ryan Husband (800 FR HM)
Sohib Khaled (200 MR)
Kalle Makinen (200 MR, 200 FR)
Mason Mathias (800 FR HM, 500 free)
Danny Schmidt (800 FR HM)
Aidan Stoffle (200 FR
Nate Stoffle (200 MR, 200 FR)
Logan Tirheimer (200 FR)
REMAINING SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Friday, March 29
9 a.m. CT – 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back (prelims)
5 p.m. CT – 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 400 MR (finals)
Saturday, March 30
9 a.m. CT – 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly (prelims)
2:45 p.m. CT – 1650 heats
5 p.m. CT – 1650, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 400 FR (finals)
Mathias, relays bolster stellar evening in Indianapolis
