INDIANAPOLIS — Matt Hutchins once again took his place among the nation's best distance freestyle swimmers on Thursday.
The Wisconsin senior scored a 10th-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle to lead the way for the Badgers on the second day of the 2017 NCAA Championships at IU Natatorium. Hutchins, a 2016 Olympian for his native New Zealand, clocked a time of 4 minutes, 13.16 seconds that was good for second place in the consolation final and 10th overall
The finish earned Hutchins, who was sixth in the race at last year's NCAA meet, honorable mention All-America accolades. His teammate, junior Victor Goicoechea, finished 37th overall in a time of 4:20.52.
Senior Cannon Clifton narrowly missed a finals berth in the 50 freestyle, finishing 18th in the morning preliminary session by clocking a time of 19.32 seconds that was just four hundredths of a second back of the final qualifying spot. The top 16 finishers in each event advance to the evening finals.
Senior Brett Pinfold took 20th place in the 200 individual medley in 1:44.32.
Clifton and Pinfold also were part of a pair of 21st-place relay showings for the Badgers.
The 200 freestyle relay team of Clifton, Pinfold, senior Ryan Barsanti and junior Ryan Stack clocked in at 1:18.25.
In the 400 medley relay, Pinfold, sophomore Chris Wills, senior Harrison Tran and Clifton combined for a time of 3:08.69.
The NCAA championships continue Friday with Clifton swimming in the 100 butterfly and Pinfold, Hutchins and Goicoechea taking part in the 200 free. The preliminary rounds get underway at 10 a.m. (CT).
