(Photo: Casey McNulty/Sun Devil Athletics)
After a day of swimming against the nation’s best in the Eddie Reese Texas Showdown, the top relay squad for the Arizona State men’s team sought to seal the deal and earn ASU a first-place finish in the final event of the day, the 400-yard medley relay.
With the stakes high and bragging rights on the line, everyone was surprised to see the Devils trailing the Longhorns at the beginning of the race. After all, ASU is known for its relays and taking the lead early, so it was unlike the Devils to be about a second and a half behind. By the second leg, the gap between ASU and Texas continued to grow, causing the Texas crowd to erupt with joy and thrust the Horns into the air. However, the Devils never back down from a fight, especially one against a rival.
At the halfway point in the race, ASU had one goal: narrow the 15-yard advantage set by Texas’ first two swimmers. Sophomore Ilya Kharun did just that, outsplitting Texas junior Hubert Kos on the butterfly leg by nearly 1.5 seconds. Kharun’s efforts put the Sun Devils back into the race, so it was all down to junior Jonny Kulow to bring it home for the team from Tempe. Kulow dove into action even with Texas senior Chris Guiliano, ready to deliver a Superman-style performance driven by the intense fire of a rivalry.
Guiliano is a two-time Olympic medalist, six-time ACC All-American and a World Champion. Yet, his accolades didn’t faze Kulow whatsoever. As the junior plowed through the water, he managed to gain nearly an entire second lead over Guiliano, driving it home for ASU in a powerful fashion. The Devils’ time of 3 minutes and 1.18 seconds shattered the pool record and established the top time for the event in the NCAA this season. Not only was it a show-stopping scene for everyone watching, but it was a moment that Kulow has turned into his trademark this season.
While in Texas, Kulow also assisted the Devils in another thrilling comeback during the 200-yard medley relay and pushed toward a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. In addition, he had a dominant showing in the 400-yard freestyle relay, granting ASU nearly a 15-yard lead and establishing the second-best time in the NCAA this season.
From his performance in Texas alone, it’s safe to say the junior is the most trusted among the Sun Devils to anchor any relay race, as his strong string of swims this season is reflected in the nation’s top times.
During the Devils’ midseason invitational in Greensboro, North Carolina, Kulow contributed to the school record-setting time of 1:13.93 in the 200-yard freestyle relay, which is the nation’s fastest time this season. During the same competition, he also anchored the 200-yard medley relay and secured the second-best time in the NCAA at 1:21.63.
Beyond his prowess in relays, Kulow displays versatility and success in the individual sprint freestyle events. The junior holds top-five times within the NCAA for both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, showing significant improvement from last year.
With seven top-five times in the NCAA, Jonny Kulow has solidified a legacy during his third season as a Sun Devil. As he consistently delivers dominant relay showings and clutch victories for the Devils, Kulow is concurrently upholding his notable reputation as the most trusted relay anchor and becoming recognized as a powerhouse in the pool. As championship season approaches, he is set to be a prime asset for Arizona State as it faces the most monumental competitions and climactic swims of the season.
