Josh Dannhauser became the second-fastest mid-distance swimmer and David Crossland became one of the 10-fastest backstrokers in school history during prelims of the 2019 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships on Thursday at the Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas.
Swimming in the second heat of the 500 free, Dannhauser dropped a 4:16.78 to shave 0.38 seconds off his career best and move up to second on Auburn's Top 10 performers list in the event. His time was the seventh-fastest performance in school history, with only Zane Grothe going faster, leapfrogging Will Dove (4:16.94, 2009) on the performers and performances lists.
Leading off Auburn's 400 medley relay, Crossland went 46.31 in the 100 back, slicing 0.91 seconds off his previous best of 47.22 from last month's SEC Championships. That enabled him to move into 10th on Auburn's all-time performers list, just ahead of Bryce Hunt (46.58, 2004).
Santiago Grassi turned in Auburn's highest individual finish of the day, finishing 19th in the 50 free in 19.24 where it took a 19.20 to earn a return swim.
Auburn's events on Friday will be the 100 fly (Liam McCloskey, Grassi, Foster Ballard), 100 breast (Tommy Brewer, Spencer Rowe), the 3-meter (Conner Pruitt) and the 200 medley relay.
Prelims begin at 10 a.m. CT and finals at 6 p.m.
Live scoring from the meet is available through TexasSports.com, Divemeets.com and the Meet Mobile app.
A live video stream is also available of all prelims sessions through TexasSports.com while finals sessions are available through ESPN3.
Auburn Results
200 Freestyle Relay
18. Auburn – 1:17.94
500 Freestyle
27. Josh Dannhauser
50 Freestyle
19. Santiago Grassi
1-Meter
34. Conner Pruitt – 259.15
400 Medley Relay
21. Auburn – 3:06.92