NCAA Men’s Swim Meet : USC Takes First-Day Lead, Places Four in 500 Freestyle

USC took the lead on the first day of the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. swim meet after freshman Dave Wharton won the 200-yard individual medley and the Trojans picked up points from four swimmers in the finals of the 500-yard freestyle Thursday.

With two days of competition remaining, USC had 120.5 points, and Texas was second with 110, followed by Louisiana State with 78, California with 70 and Stanford, the Pacific 10 champion, with 65.

UCLA was in 10th place with 35 points. The Bruins got 34 of their points for finishing second in the 400-yard medley relay, with Mark Dean, Giovanni Minervini, Craig Oppel and Robert Graner.

Texas won the relay, and USC was fourth.

Wharton’s time of 1 minute 45.04 in the 200 individual medley was a pool record at the Indiana University-Purdue University Natatorium.

In the 500 freestyle, defending champion Dan Jorgensen of USC had to settle for a second-place tie with Jason Gorrie of Florida, but Trojan teammates Mike O’Brien (fifth), Christ Chalmers (seventh) and Chip Hobson (eighth) also earned points.

The eight fastest times in the morning heats compete for the titles.