March 29, 2008
Day 3 Preliminary Results
Platform Preliminary Results
FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Auburn's Cesar Cielo did not wait for the finals to start breaking records in Saturday's preliminary session of the 2008 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships as he opened the day by breaking how own NCAA and U.S. Open record in the 100 freestyle.
Action in the meet continues at 9 p.m. CT with the final-day events. On the slate are the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, platform diving, 1650 free and the 400 free relay. The meet is taking place at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.
Auburn qualified five swimmers, two divers and a relay for the final night of the three-day meet.
Cielo, already owner of three NCAA titles this year, won the 100 free preliminary with a time of 41.12, breaking his own NCAA and U.S. Open record of 41.17. Senior Alexei Puninski followed in a tie for fourth place, clocking a 42.42, and will join Cielo in the championship final.
Also swimming in the 100 free were Scott Goodrich (45th, 44.50) and Steve Scheren (44.63).
Next to qualify for Auburn was freshman Adam Klein as he clocked a 1:57.47 in the 200 breast, earning the final spot in the consolation final as he finished 16th overall. Michael Silva also competed in the 200 breast prelim, finishing 33rd with a 2:01.43.
Two more Tigers qualified for the consolation finals in the 200 butterfly. Freshman Andrew Mitchell led the duo, finishing 11th with a time of 1:44.29, a mark that ranks fifth all-time at Auburn. Right behind him was sophomore Tyler McGill, placing 12th with a 1:44.60.
The only other individual event on the morning's schedule was the 200 back. Freshman Kohlton Norys and sophomore Pascal Wollach both swam, though neither were able to advance to finals. Norys led the way, finishing 18th with a time of 1:43.77, a time that ranks eighth all-time at Auburn. Wollach came in 28th with a time of 1:45.14.
In the platform diving, sophomore Dan Mazzaferro scored a 387.00 to finish fourth and advance to the championship final. He will look to win Auburn's sixth platform title in a row.
Sophomore Kelly Marx will also get to perform a second list of dives as he finished 12th in prelims with a score of 336.80, earning a spot in the consolation finals.
In the final event of the meet program, the 400 freestyle relay, Auburn finished third in the preliminaries with a time of 2:52.26. The team of Puninski, Scheren, Norys and Cielo will return to the pool tonight, attempting to defend Auburn's title in the event.
Fans can follow the meet this week with live stats at www.ncaaswim.com/men08/. A live video Web cast will also be available by going to www.SwimmingWorldMagazine.com.
2008 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships
Day 3 Auburn Preliminary Results
200-Yard Backstroke
18 - Kohlton Norys - 1:43.77
28 - Pascal Wollach - 1:45.14
100-Yard Freestyle
1 - Cesar Cielo - 41.12
T4 - Alexei Puninski - 42.42
45 - Scott Goodrich - 44.50
47 - Steve Scheren - 44.63
200-Yard Breaststroke
16 - Adam Klein - 1:57.47
33 - Michael Silva - 2:01.43
200-Yard Butterfly
11 - Andrew Mitchell - 1:44.29
12 - Tyler McGill - 1:44.60
24 - Robert Looney - 1:45.84
26 - Jordan Anderson - 1:46.71
400-Yard Freestyle Relay
3 - Puninski (42.89), Scheren (43.59), Norys (43.06), Cielo (42.72) - 2:52.26
Platform Diving
4 - Dan Mazzaferro - 387.00
12 - Kelly Marx - 336.80