More records rain down for Taylor's swimmers in Knoxville
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Day two of three in the University of Tennessee Invitational brought more changes to the nation’s times as the Carson-Newman swim program continues to prove its mettle against Division I talent.
Live Results for UT Invitational
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Day two of three in the University of Tennessee Invitational brought more changes to the nation's times as the Carson-Newman swim program continues to prove its mettle against Division I talent at the Jones Aquatic Center.
"We're tired but we are fighting through it and still getting some school records and best times," Coach Jordan Taylor said. "They are stepping up when they need to and that's awesome to see. I'm really pleased with another successful day as we continue to push forward."
Freshman Meredith Ginn improved on her 400-yard individual medley time by over nine seconds with an 18th-place finish at 4:25.35. The Ocala, Fla. native went from 39th in the country following the Emory Invitational now to fifth in the nation. Ginn's second improvement of the day came in the 100-yard breaststroke with a lifetime best time of 1:05.55.
Another freshman in Matthew George improved on a season-best time in the 200-yard freestyle with a 17th-place finish at 1:38.54. The current finish sits inside the top-eight out of all D2 swimmers. The time also marks a new program record, the second time in the past two days that the Manchester, England native has done so following yesterday's record in the 5000-yard freestyle.
"Both of them have been great for us," Coach Taylor said. It's what I've expected them to be able to do but they are both learning the little parts. We're finding what makes them click and they still have a lot to learn but what they have done is great but there's still more to come."
The C-N 'A' group in the 200-medley relay consisting of Ksenia Naydenova, Gabby Aguiar, Elly Culp, and Lisa Postma clocked in a new season-best time with a 14th-place finish at 1:45.07. The time is over four seconds better than the previous high which came during the Emory Invitational at 1:49.54. The time boosts the group to 12th in the country.
Taylor's men's side of Seth Hughes, Andrei Roman, Ivo Kunzle, and Chad Andoljsek also notched a new season-best time in the event, matching the women's leap with a four-second better mark at 1:29.48. The time bumps C-N from 31st to fourth in all of Division II swimming.
Hughes turned in a top-eight finish for C-N and a new season-best in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 48.49 seconds. The time is currently good enough for sixth amongst D2 swimmers. The time on the dot would be good enough for a B standard at the Division I level.
First-year swimmer Andrei Ungur also turned in a new season-low time in the event with mark at 49.32 seconds, a full second better than his previous best. Ungur jumps up to 12th in the nation after previously sitting right outside the top-25.
During C-N's time trial for the 200 freestyle relay, the foursome of Kunzle, Hughes, Jonny Goss, Andoljsek earned the top time in the country at 1:20.60 which also clips the national qualifying standard that sits at 1:21.25 in the event.
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 28
1. Tennessee, University of, Knox 848
2. University of Pennsylvania 480
3. Duke University 429
4. Pennsylvania State University 410
5. University of Denver 404
6. Carson-Newman University 119
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 28
1. Tennessee, University of, Knox 920.5
2. Duke University 716
3. Pennsylvania State University 391.5
4. University of Denver 364
5. University of Pennsylvania 188
6. Carson-Newman University 98
The final day of events will begin with the preliminary swims tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. followed by the finals at 6:00 p.m.
