Wildcats Finish Third at Pac-10 Championships

Federal Way, Wash. ?- The Arizona men’s swimming and diving team completed competition at the 2007 Pac-10 Championships Saturday evening at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in third place with 625 points. The men totaled 2 conference champions and 10 NCAA automatic qualifying times throughout the four day meet.

“This was a good meet for us, we fought really hard,” head swimming coach Frank Busch said. “Over four days, our team achieved a lot and the guys improved in every race. I’m so proud of the team and I think we have a great team going to NCAAs.”

Junior Matt Biel finished fifth in the 1650 free with a time of 15:23.76 to start off tonight’s action, while sophomore David Pursley finished sixth (15:24.65) and freshman Jean Basson finished seventh (15:29.87).

Freshman Bryan O’Connor finished sixth in the championship finals of the 200 back with a time of 1:45.86, while classmates Jake Tapp finished 11th (1:46.94) and Scott Jackson finished 13th (1:48.59).

Sophomore Nicolas Nilo posted an automatic qualifying time of 43.07 in the 100 free, finishing third overall, as senior Adam Ritter finished fourth with a time of 43.48 and junior Darian Townsend finished seventh (43.88).

Junior Bart Steninger posted the first automatic qualifying time of his collegiate career in the 200 breast, finishing third overall with a time of 1:56.40.

“Bart’s swim was one of the greatest swims I have ever witnessed,” Busch said. It was so fun to see him do so well and I will never forget that race.”

Junior Ivan Barnes finished 11th in the event (2:01.06), while sophomore Josh Arreguin finished 13th (2:03.77).

In the 200 fly, junior Darren Maxwell finished 10^th with a time of 1:48.32.

The 400 free relay of Ritter, Townsend, junior Albert Subirats and freshman Joel Greenshields finished third with a time of 2:52.85.

The men will return to action on March 15-17 when they travel to Minneapolis, Minn. for the 2007 NCAA Championships.

Men - Team Rankings

1. Stanford 990.5

2. Cal 657

3. Arizona 625

4. USC 511.5

5. ASU 372

6. Washington 222

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