The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Swimming and Diving earns eight championships finals berths at NCAA Championships
03.28.2010 | Men's Swimming and Diving
March 28, 2010
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Texas will make a formidable run for its 10th national championship this evening after securing eight championships finals berths and six consolation finals berths during the day three preliminary round Sunday at the 2010 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.
Texas trails first-place California by 18.5 points heading into tonight's finals. However, with UT having one more championships finals berth than the Golden Bears and three more consolation finals berths, the Longhorns will threaten California's lead in this evening's final session of the meet.
Arguably, the top swim of the entire preliminary session came from UT junior Scott Spann. Competing in the second of six heats in the 200 breaststroke, Spann motored his way to the top seed in tonight's final with a mark of 1:52.24, breaking Brendan Hansen's school record of 1:52.62 set at the 2003 NCAA Championships. Sophomore Eric Friedland will make his first career appearance in a NCAA final, as he qualified sixth in the 200 breaststroke at 1:54.49.
Texas made a statement early on in the 200 backstroke, where UT secured one championship berth and three consolation finals berths. Freshman Austin Surhoff, who won the 200 individual medley on Friday, qualified second in the event at 1:40.34.
Senior Hill Taylor tied for eighth in 1:41.55 and later lost a swim-off for the last championship finals berth to Florida's Marco Loughran. He will join junior Bryan Collins and freshman Cole Cragin in tonight's consolation final. Collins qualified 14th in 1:42.30 and Cragin took the last consolation finals berth in 1:42.55.
Texas made another move in the 100 freestyle with two finalists and two consolation finalists. Senior Dave Walters qualified third in 42.28, and sophomore Jimmy Feigen tied for fourth in 42.33. Senior Ben Van Roekel qualified 15th in 43.11, and junior Scott Jostes took the last consolation finals berth by taking 16th in 43.22.
Texas closed out the preliminary round by qualifying second for tonight's 400 freestyle relay in 2:51.54. Jostes led off in 43.03 before Feigen split 42.61 on the second leg. Van Roekel split 43.26 on the third leg before Walters anchored in 42.64.
Senior Ricky Berens qualified 11th in the 200 butterfly at 1:43.98 and will compete in tonight's consolation final.
UT sophomore Drew Livingston took fifth in the platform diving preliminary round with 432.75 points. Junior Matt Cooper will join him in tonight's after taking sixth in the preliminary round with 402.75 points.
Sunday's finals get underway at 6 p.m. Central. Live video coverage will be available at ESPN360.com.
2010 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships - Day 3 Prelims Results
200 Backstroke
2. Austin Surhoff - 1:40.34
T8. Hill Taylor - 1:41.55 (lost swim-off, will compete in B final)
14. Bryan Collins - 1:42.30
16. Cole Cragin - 1:42.55
18. Neil Caskey - 1:42.63
21. Hayes Johnson - 1:43.14
100 Freestyle
3. Dave Walters - 42.28
T4. Jimmy Feigen - 42.33
15. Ben Van Roekel - 43.11
16. Scott Jostes - 43.22
34. Peter Jameson - 43.90
200 Breaststroke
1 Scott Spann - 1:52.24
6 Eric Friedland - 1:54.49
33. Nick D'Innocenzo - 1:58.71
200 Butterfly
11. Ricky Berens - 1:43.98
400 Freestyle Relay
2. Jostes (43.03), Feigen (42.61), Van Roekel (43.26), Walters (42.64) - 2:51.54
Platform Diving
5. Drew Livingston - 432.75
6. Matt Cooper - 402.75
