Men’s Swimming & Diving Off To Fast Start At NCAA Championships
The Texas Men's Swimming & Diving team sent two relays and six individuals into the A and B finals on the first day of the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way, Wash.
Texas couldn't have gotten off to a better start to the weekend as the 200 freestyle relay team recorded a 1:16.58 for the fourth fastest time in school history and the fastest in the field. Jimmy Feigen, Tripp Cooper, Charlie Moore and Dax Hill combined to make UT the only team under 1:17.00. They will be the top seed going into the finals this evening.
Feigen was also dominant in the 50 freestyle prelims, touching the wall in 19.03 for the fastest time by nearly 2/10 of a second. His time was by far his fastest of the season and ranks tied for seventh best all-time at UT. He advances on to the A final.
Texas closed out the prelims session with another great relay performance in the 400 medley relay. Cole Cragin, eric Friedland, Neil Caskey and Hill combined for a time of 3:06.68 for the second fastest time overall to make the evening final.
The momentum from the 400 medley relay carried on to diving for the Longhorns. Seniors Drew Livingston and Matt Cooper both qualified for the finals with their performances in the 1-meter diving prelims. Livingston posted the top score of the session with a 387.65 to make the A final while Cooper tallied the ninth best total of 348.15 to lead all divers headed to the B final.
In the 500 freestyle, junior Michael McBroom posted the fastest time this season by a Longhorn swimmer with a 4:15.99 to win his heat. It was the sixth fastest time overall to send him into the A finals.
Both UT swimmers in the 200 IM advanced to the B finals. The 2010 national champion, Austin Surhoff, just missed the A final with his ninth best time of 1:43.81. Nick D'Innocenzo was right behind him with the 10th-best time of 1:44.06. The time was a personal best for D'Innocenzo and Surhoff tallied his fastest time of the year.
In the 50 freestyle, Feigen was joined by Moore and Hill. Moore finished 21st with a 19.72 while Hill was 23rd with a 19.75.
Four others also swam the 500 freestyle prelims for UT. Freshman Clay Youngquist was 20th with his personal best time of 4:18.58, freshman Jake Ritter had a 4:21.79 for 31st, senior Jackson Wilcox was 33rd with a 4:21.94 and senior Kyle McNeilis swam a 4:24.63 for 37th.
