Mid-American Conference: Day One

YPSILANTI, Michigan, March 4. THE Eastern Michigan men’s swimming and diving team kicked off the 2010 Mid-American Conference Championships in grand style as it crowned two individual MAC Champions and built up a 16.5-point lead after day one, Thursday, March 4, at the Michael H. Jones Natatorium in Ypsilanti, Mich.

In the first event of day one finals, the 200 free relay, new MAC affiliate member Missouri State, claimed victory with a B-cut time of 1:21.37. EMU sported a slight edge going into the third leg, but fell to fifth as an end result with a time of 1:22.34.
Alex Reinhardt of Miami turned in a B-cut time of 4:26.34 to win the 500 free while EMU’s Troy Esentan and Dave Stefl took fourth and sixth, respectively. Esentan touched the wall in 4:30.85, just getting edged out by Matt Kruse of Southern Illinois. Stefl finished in a time of 4:32.89.

After two events complete, Missouri State held a six-point advantage over host EMU, which tallied 66 points. Southern Illinois was third with 65 points followed by Miami (64), Buffalo (47), Ball State (31) and Evansville (24).

In the 200 IM championship final, host Eastern Michigan was represented by three freshmen, one of which was Jacob Hanson who gave EMU its first MAC Champion with a B-cut time of 1:49.26. Following closely behind was EMU’s Matt Lifka, who turned in a third place time of 1:51.34. Tyler Capen finished seventh for the Eagles and propelled EMU into the lead by 11 points with a total of 114 through three events.

The Green and White were crowned its second champion of the meet when junior Justin Griggs swam to a swift time of 20.09 in the 50 free. They were narrowly denied a third straight finish in the one meter dive finals when freshman Andrew Saunders was nipped by Miami’s Jimmy Beres, who finished with a score of 326.05. Saunders took second with a score of 324.75. Fellow freshman Jeffrey Craig turned in a mark of 301.90 for fifth place. Shawn Gancarz took second in the consolation one meter while Chris Alberty and Kevin Douglas finished closely behind in fourth and sixth places, respectively.

The night’s final event, the 400 medley relay, was by far the closest event of the night as 14-hundredths separated first and third places. EMU’s foursome of Hanson, Scott Murphy, Griggs and Matt Zavislak entered the final leg with a slim edge on Missouri State and Buffalo, but the Bears edged out the win with a time of 3:17.02. The Eagles were second at 3:17.08 while the Bulls turned in a time of 3:17.16.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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