University of Minnesota Athletics
Holmes Leads Minnesota On Final Day of Minnesota Grand Prix
11/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Mike Holmes won the 1650 freestyle this evening to lead the No. 9 Minnesota men's swimming team on the final day of the Minnesota Grand Prix at University Aquatic Center. Curt Carlson also finished as the runner-up in the 100 freestyle this evening as the three-day competition featuring over 450 athletes concluded.
Holmes touched out Eegan Groome of First Colony Swim Club at the end of a thrilling mile race. Holmes clocked a 15:24.02 to win by just .12 seconds over Groome. Junior Nico Zebley took fourth in 15:40.09 and Michael Daup was sixth in 15:53.13. David Hawker placed 11th in 16:16.10 and Zach Bolin was 13th in 16:22.43.
In the 100 freestyle, Carlson took second in 44.30 behind former Cal All-American Bill Copeland (42.42). Steve Miller was third in 45.57 and Michael Richards was fourth in 45.66. Colin Lee-To managed a fifth place finish in 45.93 while Bolin took seventh in 46.27. Chris Peterson rounded out the final in eighth with a time of 47.01. Dominique Massie-Martel claimed his second consolation final win of the Grand Prix, finishing in 46.44 for ninth while Ray Betuzzi was 10th in 46.49. Mark Solfelt placed 12th in 46.86.
Freshman Karl Burdis led the Gophers in the 200 backstroke, clocking a 1:51.02 to finish fourth while another freshman, Keith Yoho, took sixth in 1:52.27. Josh Griffey took 10th in 1:53.37 and Zebley was 12th in 1:54.81.
Minnesota saw more good things to come when Nadav Kochavi won the 200 butterfly in an NCAA B cut time of 1:46.12. Kochavi will be eligible in January for the Gophers. Alex Wold and Kevin Baseheart also had strong swims, placing second and third in times of 1:49.15 and 1:50.55 respectively. Adam Weis took sixth in 1:53.04 and Richard Hills took ninth in 1:54.37.
To finish the meet, Minnesota took the title in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Bolin, Betuzzi, Carlson and Solfelt finished first in 3:01.18. The Gophers' team of Anthony Portela, Baseheart, Richards and Peterson took second in 3:01.40.
Players Mentioned
