Feb. 1, 2009
AUBURN - Two Tigers touched in with NCAA conditional qualifying times, while future and former Tigers posted quick times of their own at the 2009 Ralph Crocker Invitational.
The age-group event, named for former Auburn University distance coach Ralph Crocker, played host to 1,067 participants this past weekend. Competing in the mix were 43 future, current and former Tigers.
Sophomore Micah Martindale earned her second individual NCAA "B" cut of the season, taking first in the 1,650 freestyle. Freshman Jenny VonJouanne took first in the women's 100 fly, recording a new personal top-time.
Freshman Karl Krug earned the first NCAA individual "B" cut of his career, touching in at an even 20.00 for the 50 free. Krug improved his top 50 free time by 6-hundredths of a second to make the cut.
Former Tiger and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Fred Bousquet touched in at 18.74 to win the 50 free. Bousquet was followed by Trinidad and Tobago Olympian George Bovell (19.53) and Auburn graduate assistant Bryan Lundquist (19.60).
Lundquist also recorded a victory in the 100 fly with a time of 47.37.
Incoming freshman Adam Brown won the 100 free with a time of 42.78, a mark that would have earned him a "B" cut of his own. Brown's mark of 19.66 in the 50 free would have given a second NCAA "B" cut. Brown represented Great Britain in the 2008 Olympics, competing in the 4x100 free.
Originally the Orange and Blue Classic, Crocker and former Auburn head coach David Marsh first cooked up the concept for such a meet in 1999.
Crocker lost his battle with cancer in January of 2007. In his honor, Marsh and Auburn Aquatics head coach Jeff Dellenger decided to change the name of the Orange and Blue to the Ralph Crocker Invitational.
"We both agreed that it would be a great way to honor Ralph and keep his name alive," said Dellenger. "A portion of the entry fees go to the Ralph Crocker Scholarship for distance swimmers."
The No. 4/6 Auburn Swimming and Diving teams return to action Feb. 7 in Tallahassee, Fla., against the Florida State Seminoles and the Texas A&M Aggies.