Swimmers Make A Splash At U.S. Olympic Trials
7/3/2012 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
OMAHA, NE- Seven swimmers from the University at Buffalo took part in the U.S. Olympic Trials this past week, with each of them putting forth impressive performances against the Nation's best swimmers. The Bulls had several Top 50 performances, including two swimmers who finished nearly 100 spots better than their qualifying times.
Sophomore Brittney Kuras led the way for the Bulls as she swam in four events at the trials. Kuras had three performances where she finished in the Top 35, including the 50m where she finished 28th with a time of 25.79. Kuras finished in 29th place with a swim of 56.07 in the 100m Free and she finished 34th in the 200m Free at 2:01.59. Kuras, who was the MAC's Top Swimmer this past year, also competed in the 200m IM where she finished 53rd at 2:18.99.
The 50m was Buffalo's best race of the meet as teammate Mallory Morrell, the school record holder in the event, finished in 37th place at 26.92. Morrell came into the event ranked 134th of 157. Also competing on the women's side was Alie Schirmers, who finished 69th in the 200m Breaststroke at 2:36.92. Schirmers finished 50 spots higher than her qualifying time.
On the men's side, Matt Hogan and Mike Dugan each swam in three events. Hogan finished in 116th in the 50m, while Dugan finished that race in 103rd place. Over 165 swimmers took part in the men's 50m race. Hogan finished in 63rd place in the 100m Free with a time of 50.90, while Dugan swam that race in 52.00 to finish 141st. Hogan also took place in the 200m Free where he finished 85th at 1:52.95, while Dugan swam the 100m Fly, finishing 85th at 55.17.
Matt Schwippert had an outstanding meet as he competed in both the 100m and 200m backstroke events. In the 100m, Schwippert finished 54th with a time of 57.03 and in the 200m he finished 34th of 109 at 2:03.19. Schwippert was ranked last in the field entering the 200. UB's Phil Aronica also qualified for the field in the 100m backstroke, but was forced sit out due to injury.
"We had a great meet and swam a lot of best times, while moving up in places in all of our events," said head coach Andy Bashor. "We were competing against the best in the country and in some respects the best in the world and I am so proud of our kids for the way they competed. It was such a spectacular event and an experience that we will remember forever."
