Feb. 17, 2012
PITTSBURGH – Bill Bass won the 100 fly with the fastest mark in school history and two more program records were set Friday evening at Trees Pool on the penultimate day of the BIG EAST Conference Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships.
The Irish still lead the field with 626 points heading into the final day of competition. Louisville (574.5) is second and Pittsburgh (381) is third among the 10-team field.
Bass went 47.03 in the 100 fly, which was one of three school records on the day, helped him cop a second league title after winning the 200 individual medley on Thursday. Frank Dyer set a school record in the 200 free and the 400 medley relay squad ended the evening with a program-best performance.
Bass’ title-worthy effort was a fraction ahead of West Virginia’s Taylor Camp (47.05).
Tim Kegelman, one of two swimmers ever to advance to the NCAA Championships, previously held the 100 fly record of 47.66 set on Dec. 2, 2004.
Three swimmers advanced to the finals of the 400 individual medley, headlined by a fifth-place finish by Patrick Olson (3:54.28). Colin Babcock (3:55.09) took seventh and Matthew DeBlasio (3:57.30) was eighth.
Dyer notched a school record in 1:34.00 to earn the silver in the 200 free. He was joined on the podium by John McGinley (6th – 1:37.44) and Kevin Overholt (7th – 1:37.98).
The 100 breast featured four Irish swimmers in the final heat, led by Christopher Johnson (53.79) who finished second. Cameron Miller (54.41) was fourth, Babcok (54.53) was fifth and Zachary Stephens tacked on a seventh-place finish in 54.66.
Bertie Nel (49.63) was seventh in the 100 back and was part of the 400 medley relay squad which finished second in 3:12.67 for a school record. Nel led off the race in front of Johnson, Bass and Dyer.
The final day of the league meet begins with Saturday’s preliminary session at 10:00 a.m. (ET). Live coverage will be available at UND.com.
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