University of Minnesota Athletics
Plummer Enjoys Career Meet At Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational
6/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Minnesota All-American swimmer David Plummer led a contigent of current and former Golden Gopher swimmers at the 2008 Mutual of Omaha Swimvitational at the Qwest Center in Omaha, Neb. Plummer won the 200-meter backstroke and placed second in the 100 backstroke. The event featured many of the nation's best swimmers in hopes of a final tuneup for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials later this month at the same pool.
Plummer showed that he will be a factor at the upcoming Olympic Trials, bettering his career-best times in both backstroke events. He claimed first in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:01.22, besting the second-place finish of Cory Chitwood (2:02.03). The 14-time Gopher All-American led wire-to-wire in the event. In the 100 back, he finished second to Michael Phelps with a career-best time of 54.82. Phelps touched in 53.42 but Plummer did defeat former NCAA champions Matt Grevers (Northwestern) and Ben Hesen (Indiana).
Senior All-American Jon Roberts posted a strong third-place finish in the 100-meter breaststroke in 1:03.29. Henrique Barbosa of Brazil won in 1:01.90. Roberts also managed a 12th-place finish in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.50).
Former Gopher All-America Zach Wood was the other Gopher to reach a championship final, placing eighth in the 200 butterfly in 2:06.71. He also took 43rd in the 100 fly (57.12) and 47th in the 200 free (1:55.64).
Minnesota's relays enjoyed success, highlighted by a third place finish in the 4x100-meter medley relay. Plummer, Russ Payne, Dan Berve and Steve Miller combined to clock at 3:50.28. The 4x100-meter free relay of Miller, Matt Engel, Michael Richards and Payne took fourth in 3:28.69.
Junior Nico Zebley posted a 12th-place showing in the 1500-meter free in 16:16.33 and a 22nd-place mark in the 400-meter free in 4:05.26. Payne posted a 12th-place finish in the 200 individual medley in 2:08.60 and a 22nd-place finish in the 400 IM in 4:38.89. He also took 25th in the 100 backstroke (58.89) and 36th in the 100 fly (56.86).
Senior Josh Griffey had top-20 finishes in the 200 IM (19th, 2:10.07) and 400 IM (17th, 4:37.13) while Richards had a 22nd place finish in the 50 free (23.41). Miller placed 28th in the 50 free (23.59) and 42nd in the 100 free (24.41).
Former All-American Dan Berve swam several events, finishing 37th in the 100 fly (56.91), 31st in the 200 back (2:14.17) and 31st in the 100 back (59.26).
Players Mentioned
