University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Dominate On Second Day Of Ohio State Invitational
12/2/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
The No. 10 Minnesota men's swimming and diving team won six of the eight events at the second day of the Ohio State Invitational at McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. The Gophers lead the 12-team field with 802 points, followed by Ohio State (721.5), Denver (323), Notre Dame (262) and Michigan State (198.5). Russ Payne, Tyler Schmidt, Jon Roberts and David Plummer won individual events for Minnesota this evening.
The evening finals session began with a dramatic finish to the 200 medley relay. The Gophers touched out Ohio State by a hundredth of a second to pick up the win in 1:28.72. Minnesota's team consisted of Plummer, Roberts, Colin Lee-To and Michael Richards. After OSU's time of 1:28.73, the Gopher B team of Jared White, Jason Timmer, Anthony Portela and Matt Engel took third in 1:30.57.
Payne completed a sweep of the individual medley events with an impressive showing in the 400 IM. Payne clocked a lifetime-best 3:48.94 to post an NCAA B cut standard and the win by almost five seconds. Alex Wold was second in 3:53.79 while Josh Griffey posted a career-best 3:56.01 to take fourth.
Three Gophers reached the exciting championship final of the 100 butterfly. For the second time in three events, the race came down to a touch finish. Denver's Garth Summers touched out Minnesota's Mike Woodson by .01 seconds to win in 49.09. Behind Woodson for Minnesota was Engel in sixth (49.86) and Portela in seventh (50.15). Kevin Baseheart took 10th out of the consolation final with a time of 49.96.
Schmidt claimed the title in the 200 freestyle, posting an NCAA B cut time of 1:37.85. Ray Betuzzi was third in 1:38.22 while Curt Carlson posted a career-best 1:38.32 to take fourth. Steve Miller also timed a career-best 1:38.77 to finish sixth.
Roberts had perhaps the Gophers' best swim of the day to win the 100 breaststroke. His time of 54.08 ranks as the third-fastest in school history and easily gave him an NCAA B cut time. His time also set a new meet record. Lee-To was just behind in 54.78 to finish second while Ivan Gutesa finished a solid fourth in 55.73. Timmer rounded out the Gophers in the championship final in sixth (56.14). Mark Solfelt competed in the C Final, placing 19th overall in 59.06.
Plummer dominated the final individual swimming event, the 100 backstroke. His time of 47.75 broke the meet record and easily had him ahead of second place Daniel Novak of Ohio State, who clocked a 49.33. White took third in a career-best 49.54 and Woodson placed sixth in 50.25.
Minnesota cruised to a victory in the 800 free relay with a winning time of 6:31.74. Woodson, Carlson, Betuzzi and Schmidt combined for the win that achieved an NCAA B cut time. Ohio State was a distant second in 6:36.80 while Minnesota's B team of White, Miller, Baseheart and Payne was third in 6:40.38.
In three-meter diving action, Cole Young led the Gophers with a 13th place finish and a score of 297.45. Drew Brown posted a 16th place finish with a tally of 287.85 points.
The Ohio State Invitational concludes tomorrow.
