University of Minnesota Athletics
Plummer, Roberts Lead Gophers On Second Day of NCAA Prelims
3/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
David Plummer and Jon Roberts qualfiied for the consolation finals to lead Minnesota this afternoon in the second day of competition at the NCAA Championships held at Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash. Minnesota's 200 medley relay also qualified for the consolation final. Tonight's finals take place at 9 p.m. CDT.
Plummer clocked a time of 46.99 in the prelims of the 100 backstroke to qualify ninth for the evening finals. The senior missed the championship final by just .01 seconds. However, he took ninth last year and assured All-America status for all four years in the event. Roberts edged into the consolation final of the 100 breaststroke with the 16th-best time of 53.71. The junior placed sixth in the event while competing for Auburn last year.
Also in the 100 breast, senior Jason Timmer took .44 seconds off his career-best time to finish just out of the consolation final with the 18th-best time of 53.77. He missed the consolation final by just .06 seconds. Timmer's time made him the fourth-fastest in school history. Junior Colin Lee-To took 29th in 54.33.
The Gophers' 200 medley relay team qualified 12th for the finals tonight with a time of 1:27.21. The team consisted of Plummer, Lee-To, Anthony Portela and Michael Richards.
Senior Tyler Schmidt missed the consolation final of the 200 freestyle by just .22 seconds and ended up 19th in 1:35.88. He won the second of six heats in the event. Sophomore Ray Betuzzi posted a lifetime-best 1:36.03 to win the third heat and finish 22nd overall. The time also made him the sixth-fastest performer in school history.
Senior Russ Payne was unable to match his career-best time set at the Big Ten Championships in the 400 individual medley and took 19th in 3:50.73. Senior Mike Woodson took 31st in the 100 butterfly, clocking a career-best 47.89.
The Gophers' 800 freestyle relay is also seeded 10th for the timed finals this evening. They take a time of 6:28.07 into the event.
Players Mentioned
