March 27, 2014
ESPN3 VIDEO (Friday and Saturday Finals)
AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Notre Dame men’s swimming and diving team opened competition at the 2014 NCAA Championships Thursday morning with a program record set in the first individual race of the meet at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
Senior two-time All-American Frank Dyer broke his own school record in the 500 freestyle, a mark which he set in his preliminary heat at last season’s national championship meet, with a time of 4:17.13 to place 18th overall. The historic swim gave Dyer a sweep of the 50 (19.57), 100 (42.84), 200 (1:33.20), 500 (4:17.13) and 1000 (9:11.93) freestyle school records during the competitive year.
Junior All-American John Williamson was the second Notre Dame competitor in the 500 freestyle prelims, and finished the event with a time of 4:29.57.
The Irish began the day with the prelim round of the 200 freestyle relay. Senior co-captain Colin Babcock, junior All-American Kevin Hughes, sophomore Matthew Buerger and freshman Tom Anderson combined to log a team time of 1:20.93. The 200 freestyle relay was the official NCAA Championship debut for Babcock, Buerger and Anderson in the trio’s first trip to the national championship meet.
Starting in the 200 IM for the second straight season, junior All-American Zach Stephens posted a career-best NCAA finish in the distance with a time of 1:45.52. Stephens’ 2014 time shaved 0.41 seconds off his 200 IM time (1:46.33) at last season’s NCAA Championships at the IUPUI Natatorium in Indianapolis, Ind.
Freshman diver Joe Coumos opened his first NCAA Championships in the 1-meter diving event, narrowly missing the qualifying mark for the evening finals session. Coumos totaled 324.10 points to finish in 19th place.
The second day of the 2014 NCAA Championships is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. (CT) on Friday, with the preliminary round of the 200 medley relay set to open the meet’s second day.
NOTRE DAME AT THE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Day One Preliminary Results:
Frank Dyer
18th – 500 Freestyle (school record 4:17.13)
Zach Stephens
34th – 200 IM (1:45.52)
John Williamson
52nd – 500 Freestyle (4:29.57)
Joe Coumos
19th – 1-Meter Diving (324.10 points)
Colin Babcock
26th – 200 Freestyle Relay
Kevin Hughes
26th – 200 Freestyle Relay
Matthew Buerger
26th – 200 Freestyle Relay
Tom Anderson
26th – 200 Freestyle Relay
–ND–