University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Men's Swimming Impressive at NCAA Championships
3/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Hackler, an eight-time All-American, broke his own school record, swimming a 53.47 in the 100-yard breaststroke preliminaries. Hackler, who won the 2002 Big Ten crown, will enter the championship final with the second fastest time, with Texas' Brendan Hansen leading the way (53.25).
Smolinski, a seven-time All-American, posted the fifth fastest 100-yard backstroke preliminary time (47.11). Smolinski, a two-time conference champion in the event, broke his own school record, swimming a 46.85 leading off Minnesota's third place 400-yard medley relay team last night. California's Alex Lim set the preliminary pace with a 46.45.
The Gophers advanced a pair of swimmers in the 200-yard freestyle. Freshman Terry Silkaitis</ a>, who anchored the Gopher 400-yard medley team, swam a 1:35.91 to place seventh. All-American Matt Taylor will swim in the consolation final, after clocking a 1:36.70 preliminary time to place 14th. Florida's Stephen Sioui had the fastest preliminary time, a pool record 1:35.30.
Minnesota sophomore Ryan Plummer placed 13th during preliminary action of the 400-yard individual medley and will compete in the consolation final, after swimming a 3:48.72. Erik Vendt of USC set the pool record in 3:44.41 with the fastest preliminary time.
Friday night's finals will begin at 7 p.m. The sixth-ranked Gophers enter the second day in eighth place with 64.5 points.
2002 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships: Friday's Minnesota Preliminary Results: Event Time Place 200-yard medley relay 1:26.86 6 (Smolinski, Hackler, Lundin, Ong) 400-yard individual medley Plummer 3:48.72 13 Mortimer 3:50.38 19 Urreta 3:55.67 30 100-yard butterfly Krastins 48.02 28 Lundin 48.78 38 Ong 49.11 40 200-yard freestyle Taylor 1:35.91 7 Silkaitis 1:36.70 14 Crook 1:38.51 30 100-yard breaststroke Hackler 53.47* t2 Forrest 55.24 23 100-yard backstroke Smolinski 47.11 5 Bartell 48.37 26 * Minnesota School Record
Players Mentioned
