Feb. 22, 2001
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -
The Northwestern men's swimming and diving team dove into the pool for the first day's prelims at the Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis, Minn. today. In three events, 18 season best time's were posted by the Wildcats, including two school records.
Kellan O'Connor broke the 200 individual medley record in a time of 1:48.07 and is seeded second going into tonight's finals. The previous record of 1:49.90 was set in 1995 by Andy Brown. Freshman Tony Swanson will also swim in the 200 IM finals tonight. His prelim time of 1:48.22 seeds him third for tonight's race. Both O'Connor and Swanson's times met the NCAA qualifying B standard in that event.
Senior captain Steve Steketee swam a 20.35 in the 50 freestyle, which breaks his own school record of 20.53 set in 1999. He will swim tonight to gain team points for the 'Cats.
Also swimming tonight will be Mike Shue in the 500 freestyle. His prelim time of 4:25.27 met the NCAA qualifying B standard.
Tonight's order of events are as follows: 200 freestyle relay, 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 1-meter diving, 400 medley relay.
Wildcat Finishes in Prelims:
500 freestyle - Mike Shue 4:25.27 (10th), David Hersh 4:30.35 (24th), Tommy Lockman 4:31.26 (26th), Dan Williams 4:36.40 (40th), Shelby Clark 4:36.51 (41st), Steve Henry 4:43.33 (47th), Chris Carey 4:49.29 (29th).
200 individual medley - Kellan O'Connor 1:48.07 (2nd), Tony Swanson 1:48.22 (3rd), Mark Hamming 1:50.40 (18th), Aaron McCracken 1:54.27 (41st), Geoff Urquhart 1:55.83 (47th), Jeff Blatni 1:58.38 (53rd), Arturo Sosa 2:05.44 (55th).
50 freestyle - Steve Steketee 20.35 (10th), Nick Barnes 20.61 (23rd), Adam Kennedy 20.65 (26th), Jason Merchant 21.30 (45th), Trevor Fort 21.87 (59th).