University of Minnesota Athletics
Three Gophers Earn Runner-Up Honors At Grand Prix
11/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming & Diving
Curt Carlson, Kevin Baseheart and Michael McBroom made runner-up finishes Sunday on the final evening of competition at the USA Swimming Grand Prix at University Aquatic Center. They matched the best individual finishes by the Gophers during the three-day event. Minnesota posted 21 championship finalists over the course of the championship.
Carlson clocked a solid NCAA B-cut time of 44.04 to take runner-up honors in the 100 freestyle. He placed behind California Aquatics' William Copeland, who finished in 43.60 and just ahead of 2008 British Olympian and former NCAA champion Simon Burnett (44.18). Carlson finished a strong meet where he posted NCAA B-cut times in each of his three individual events. Junior Michael Richards won the consolation final in 45.42 to place ninth while sophomore Zach Bolin finished 15th in 46.00. In the C Final, Matt Papenfuss took 18th in 47.18, Goran Majlat placed 19th in 47.42, Jacob Kittilstad placed 21st in 47.73 and Mark Solfelt was 22nd in 47.43.
McBroom had a gutsy effort in the 1650 freestyle, holding off Michigan's Adam DeJong by .76 seconds to take the runner-up finish. USA National Team member Michael Klueh of Longhorn Aquatics took first in 15:01.25. Nico Zebley placed 10th for Minnesota in 16:00.07 while Matt Benecki was 11th in 16:02.30. Michael Daup took 14th in 16:06.72.
The Gophers had their most productive event of the night in the 200 butterfly with three finalists. Kevin Baseheart finished second to Michigan's Dan Madwed in 1:49.34 while Alex Wold was just behind in third with a time of 1:49.69. Nadav Kochavi also finished seventh with a time of 1:54.83. In the consolation final, Richard Hills dropped more than three seconds off his prelim time to finish 11th in 1:54.99.
Sophomore Karl Burdis was Minnesota's top finisher in the 200 backstroke, winning the consolation final in 1:51.31. Freshman Sean Nesheim took 14th in 1:56.21 and Zebley was 15th in 1:56.56.
The Gophers finished the night with a second place showing in the 400 freestyle relay with an NCAA B cut time of 2:59.50. Minnesota's team of Carlson, Baseheart, Richards and Wold turned in a 2:59.50. Michigan clocked a 2:58.24 to take the title. Carlson posted an impressive 43.99 to open the relay for the Gophers. The Gophers B team of Burdis, Ben Griggs, Conor Murphy and Ivan Gutesa placed fourth in 3:07.86.
Minnesota will take next week off prior to the Ohio State Invitational during the first weekend of December.
Players Mentioned
