The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Berens helps Team USA to silver at Pan American Games
07.17.2007 | Men's Swimming and Diving
RIO de JANEIRO -- University of Texas rising sophomore Ricky Berens helped Team USA to a silver medal in the 800-meter freestyle relay and reached the 100-meter butterfly final Tuesday afternoon in the 2007 Pan American Games at Parque Aquatico.
Berens (Charlotte, N.C.) gave the Americans an early lead in the relay by clocking the initial 200 meters in 1 minute, 48.61 seconds. Team USA led after three legs before the Brazilians took over and set a new meet record in 7:12.27. The Americans took silver in 7:15.00, while Canada took the bronze in 7:17.73.
After clocking the second-fastest time in Monday's 100-meter butterfly preliminary round at 53.01, Berens narrowly reached Wednesday's finals with an eighth-place mark of 53.66 in Tuesday's semifinals, which was good for third place in his heat.
Former Longhorn Christian Schurr reached Wednesday's 100-meter breaststroke finals with a qualifying mark in Tuesday's semifinals. Schurr took fifth at 1:03.00.
UT assistant men's swimming and diving coach Kris Kubik is serving as an assistant coach for Team USA.
