Arizona Qualifies Seven for Final Day of NCAA Championships
Atlanta, Ga. ?- The sixth-ranked Arizona men’s swimming and diving team completed the final session of preliminary action at the NCAA Championships today, qualifying seven swimmers to compete in five events at tonight’s finals beginning at 7 p.m. (EST) at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center.
Sophomore Nick Thoman started out the day by breaking his own school record in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:42.20, placing him in the championship finals of the event.
Three Wildcats qualified for the finals of the 100 freestyle, as senior Simon Burnett, the 200 freestyle champion, posted a No. 1 seed , while setting a pool record with a time of 42.39. Senior Lyndon Ferns finished fifth overall with a time of 42.89 as sophomore Adam Ritter finished 14th with a time of 43.31.
Sophomore Ivan Barnes qualified for the championship finals of the 200 breaststroke, finishing fourth overall with a time of 1:56.07.
Concluding preliminary competition was the 400 free relay composed of Burnett, Ferns, freshman Nicolas Nilo and Ritter finished first overall with a new pool record-setting time of 2:52.24.
Day 3 Qualifiers:
200 Back: Thoman
100 Free: Burnett, Ferns, Ritter (consolation)
200 Breast: Barnes
1650 Free: Tyler DeBerry [Timed Finals (5 p.m. EST)]
400 Free Relay: Burnett, Ferns, Nilo, Ritter
Total Records Broken at the Meet After Day 3 Prelims:
100 Breast Dave Rollins 52.68 (school)
100 Back Albert Subirats 46.62(school)
200 Back Nick Thoman 1:42.20 (school)
100 Fly Lyndon Ferns 45.89(school & pool) *
200 Free Simon Burnett 1:31.20(NCAA, U.S. Open, school & pool)*
100 Free Simon Burnett 42.39 (pool)
200 IM Adam Ritter 1:44.15(school)
200 free relay Burnett, Ferns, Subirats, Ritter 1:16.54(school)
400 medley relay Thoman, Barnes, Subirats, Ritter 3:06.08(school/pool)*
200 medley relay Subirats, Rollins, Ferns, Burnett 1:23.88(NCAA, U.S. Open, school, pool)*
800 free relay Burnett, Ferns, DeBerry, Ritter 6:16.67 (Pool/ school)*
400 free relay Burnett, Ferns, Nilo, Ritter 2:52.24 (pool)
* - Indicates National Champion
