March 7, 2009
Aggie 200 Medley Relay Sets Record, Gets 'A' Cut
AUSTIN --- Texas A&M men's swimmers broke a school record for the third straight day at the Austin Grand Prix on Saturday, but this time the Aggies' 200-yard medley relay record came with an NCAA "A" cut and guaranteed trip to the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships.
Earning their spots at the 2009 NCAA Championships, which will be contested in College Station on March 26-28, were junior Jason Bergstrom, junior Casey Strange. The foursome reached the wall in a 1:25.61, which broke the school record of 1:26.16 that the same group had set on Friday.
For the record-setting time, the Aggies received solid efforts from the first two legs. Bergstrom led off with a 21.97 backstroke leg, and Lavery kept it going with a 24.30 split in the breaststroke. Loncaric broke it open for the Aggies with an amazing 20.20 butterfly leg, which was the fastest in school history by over a half-second. Strange brought it home with a swift 19.14 freestyle leg.
In addition to the NCAA "A" cut in the 200 medley relay, the Aggies have achieved "B" cuts in 12 other swimming races, including all the relays. Â Ten Aggies swimmers have achieved NCAA "A" or "B" qualifying standards either in individual races or relays. In addition, the A&M men will send four divers to the NCAA Zone D Qualifying meet at the University of Missouri next week with hopes of gaining a spot in the NCAA Championships.