Zhang to represent Falcons at NCAA Championships

Following a stellar senior season, Wen Zhang is preparing to travel to Minneapolis as the lone Air Force participant at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships. Zhang will swim in the 50 Free, 100 Free, and 200 Free. Zhang's swim schedule is as follows:

Thursday, March 23
50 Free Prelims: 9:00 am MT
50 Free Finals: 5:00 pm MT

Friday, March 24
200 Free Prelims: 9:00 am MT
200 Free Finals: 5:00 pm MT

Saturday, March 25
100 Free Prelims: 9:00 am MT
100 Free Finals: 5:00 pm MT

The entirety of the meet will be streamed on ESPN+ (subscription required).

The Road to Minneapolis
Zhang was again one of the most prolific Division I swimmers this season, while rewriting his own records at the Academy. Before earning his second-consecutive WAC Swimmer of the Year honor, Zhang swam to a championship win in the 500 Freestyle at the WAC Championships, resetting the conference and school record with a time of 4:15.96. Zhang was also the winner of the 200 Freestyle race, recording what was the third-best time in Division I after touching out at 1:31.42, a new conference and program record. The Alabaman also placed second at the championship meet in the 100 Freestyle, as his time of 42.32 became a school record as well. Zhang will depart the Academy owning three program records (100 Free, 200 Free, 500 Free) in addition to having earned five individual WAC championships.

The Dothan product is no stranger to the spotlight, as he proved at the U.S. Open this past November. Zhang qualified for the 200m Freestyle final round where he eventually finished eighth. Zhang's time of 1:49.60 granted him an invite to the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium in the summer of 2024.

Zhang will arrive in Minneapolis entry times of 19.63 in the 50 Free, 42.32 in the 100 Free, and 1:31.42 in the 200 Free. Zhang's 200 Free time sits as the fifth-fastest swim in the event in Division I this season.

A Season Ago...
The 2023 season marks Zhang's second NCAA Championship appearance. In 2022, Zhang swam in the 100 Free, 200 Free, and 500 Free. Zhang did not qualify for a second swim in either event, placing 48th in the 100 Free (43.52), 17th in the 200 Free (1:32.65) and 45th in the 500 Free (4:20.90).

Coach Clayton Talks Wen Zhang Prior to NCAA Championships

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