Eagles see solid start on the first day of Nationals
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The first finals night of the swimming National Championships produces three individuals and a women’s relay team as Second Team All-Americans for Carson-Newman.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The first finals night of the swimming National Championships produces three individuals and a women's relay team as Second Team All-Americans for Carson-Newman.
"It was a mixed bag like I said earlier today," Coach Jordan Taylor said. "There were positives taken away from the day with school records from Caleb Howell and Marcelo Figueiredo and both of them getting Second Team All-American."
The evening started with the remaining 1000 Free swimmers and Marcelo Figueiredo (Porto Alegre, Brazil) stayed put at 13thplace after his swim in the morning with a school record time of 9:17.33. With the finish, the senior Eagle earned Second Team All-American for the first time in his career.
"It's always good to race in a National Championship and to start with a best time and a new school record," Figueiredo said. "I feel good and prepared for the next days. Racing the first day is hard because you don't know what to expect from yourself or other swimmers and today the team showed that we're ready to start a good Nationals and make good competition."
Following the 1000 Free was the men's 200 IM where Caleb Howell (Easley, S.C.) competed in the consolation final. He finished in 14thplace with a time of 1:49.43 earning Second Team All-American as well. The men's team as a whole is ranked at No. 11 as of Event 4.
On the women's side of competition, already two time All-American in 2018, Elly Culp (West End, N.C.) made her appearance in the 50 free consolation finals. She finished at No. 14 just like Howell with a time of 23:44 earning herself Second Team All-American.
"I think most importantly today was a chance to get the cobwebs out," Taylor said. "It was a bit of a nervous start, but I think everyone managed to take something away from today and learn. A lot of our athletes have their more important events coming up in the next couple days."
Continuing from this morning, the women's 200 Medley Relay competed in the consolation finals and finished in 16thplace just notching their Second Team All-American honor.
"Their swimming's there, they've been working hard all year," Taylor said of the team. "They've put the work in year in and year out and now it's just handling the nerves and the pressure. I really encourage them to do the same stuff they've always done. We belong here, all of our athletes earned their right to be on this National stage they've just got to come in here and make the most of that opportunity."
Competition will continue Thursday morning at 10 a.m. For more information, updates and results check cneagles.com.
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