Spann places sixth in 200m breaststroke at Beijing Olympics

08.13.2008 | Men's Swimming and Diving

Aug. 13, 2008

BEIJING -- University of Texas junior Scott Spann finished off his first Olympics appearance by taking sixth in the 200-meter breaststroke finals Thursday morning at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Spann (Austin, Texas/Westlake H.S.), a University of Michigan transfer, placed sixth in 2:09.76, and Japan's Kosuke Kitajima, the world record holder in the event, took the gold in an Olympic record mark of 2:07.64. Spann had qualified third for the finals by clocking 2:09.08.

Texas-Ex Aaron Peirsol locked up another appearance in an Olympic final, qualifying first in the 200m backstroke semifinals in 1:55.26. American Ryan Lochte, the co-world record holder with Peirsol, qualified second in 1:55.40.

NBC will air live coverage of the 200m backstroke finals on Thursday at 9:19 p.m. Central.