Stanford Swimmers Take Lead

Stanford’s Pablo Morales won the tenth national title of his career Friday when he took the 100-yard butterfly at the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. men’s swimming and diving meet. His victory also helped the Cardinal take the team lead away from USC.

Matt Biondi of California, who had broken his American record in the 50-yard freestyle Thursday, lowered his American record in the 200-yard freestyle Friday night from 1 minute 33.22 seconds to 1:33.03.

Stanford, which had trailed USC by four points after Thursday’s events, led with 253 and is in good position to win its third straight title when the meet ends today. Florida picked up 40 points by winning the 800-yard freestyle relay to climb into second place with 183. Host Texas was third with 180. USC fell to fourth with 178.

Morales, who won the the 200-yard individual medley Thursday, now has as many NCAA individual titles as record-holder John Naber of USC. The Stanford senior will go for a record 11th title today in the 200-yard butterfly, which he has won the past three years.

Morales’ 100-yard butterfly victory led a Cardinal sweep in the event. Jay Mortenson was second and Anthony Mosse third.

Jeff Kostoff gave Stanford its first victory of the evening by regaining his national title in the 400-yard individual medley, covering the distance in 3:47.40.

In the 100-yard breaststroke, freshman Todd Torres of Louisiana State edged defending champion Giovanni Minervini of UCLA. Torres’ winning time was 53.96. Minervini touched in 54.33.

Harvard’s David Berkoff won the 100-yard backstroke in 48.20, beating Mortenson, who set an American record in the event on the first leg of a Thursday relay.

Biondi said he knew he would be pushed by Florida’s Troy Dalbey in the 200-yard freestyle. Dalbey was second in 1:33.28.