March 29, 2008
Two more school records fell in the morning prelims and the Aggies advanced an individual and a relay to tonight?â„¢s finals on Saturday at the 2008 NCAA Men?â„¢s Swimming & Diving Championships at the King County Aquatic Center. The Aggies have broken a total of five school records at the Championships.
In 12th place in the team standings after two days, the Aggies will look to build on their point total in the 9 p.m. (central) finals with Israel Duran in the 200-yard butterfly and with the 400 freestyle relay.
Duran, a sophomore from Tijuana, Mexico, lowered his own school record with a strong 1:43.98 effort in the 200 fly. Duran was the No. 10 overall qualifier and will swim in the consolation final. His old school record of 1:44.79 came in his victory at last year?â„¢s Big 12 Championships.
The 400 free relay lowered its previous season best by nearly a second with a time of 2:55.25. The foursome of sophomore Casey Strange, senior Luke Chambless, junior Brad Raiford and senior Ozzie Gardner were the No. 11 qualifiers and will swim in the consolation final.
Earlier in the day, Gardner added the 100-yard freestyle school record to his resume with a 43.38 clocking, but missed qualifying for a night swim by .12 of a second and five spots. Gardner, who set the school record in the 50 free earlier in the Championship, eclipsed the old mark of 43.45 set by Matt Rose in his victory at the 2003 Big 12 Championships in Austin.
In other action, sophomore Nikita Denisyako posted a time of 1:43.92 in the 200 back; and senior Alejandro Jacobo swam to a time of 1:58.43 in the 200 breaststroke.