The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Berens, Walters break Olympic record at Beijing Olympics
08.12.2008 | Men's Swimming and Diving
Aug. 12, 2008
BEIJING -- University of Texas juniors Ricky Berens and Dave Walters helped Team USA to a new Olympic record and the top seed in the 4x200-meter freestyle relay Tuesday evening at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Walters (Yorktown, Va.) and Berens (Charlotte, N.C.) helped the Americans to a preliminary-round relay victory, as Team USA finished in 7 minutes, 4.66 seconds to break the previous Olympic record of 7:07.05 set by Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Walters led off the relay in 1:46.57 before giving way to Berens, who split 1:45.47 on the second leg -- good for the second-fastest leg among the 64 relay legs -- to put Team USA in the lead for good. Erik Vendt split 1:47.11 on leg three before Klete Keller anchored in 1:45.51.
With his superb preliminary-round swim, Berens puts himself in contention to represent Team USA in the 4x200m freestyle relay finals, where he likely would join Michael Phelps, Peter Vanderkaay and Ryan Lochte on the relay. NBC will air the 4x200m freestyle relay finals live Tuesday at approximately 10:19 p.m. Central.
Fresh off of his thrilling victory on Team USA's 4x100m freestyle relay, Garrett Weber-Gale qualified eighth for the 100-meter freestyle semifinals after clocking 48.19 in the preliminary round. Australia's Eamon Sullivan landed the top seed in 47.80, and American Jason Lezak qualified 11th in 48.33. NBC will air live coverage of the 100m freestyle semifinals Tuesday at approximately 9:03 p.m. Central.
UT junior Scott Spann (Austin, Texas) took second in his 200-meter breaststroke preliminary heat in 2:10.61 to qualify 10th for the semifinals. American Eric Shanteau of Longhorn Aquatics qualified seventh in 2:10.29. NBC will air tape-delayed coverage of the 200m breaststroke semifinals during a 90-minute window that spans from 11:30 p.m. Central through 1 a.m. Central on Wednesday.
