March 27, 2009
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COLLEGE STATION, Texas - Sophomore Kohlton Norys claimed the first 100 backstroke title in school history, setting the pace for a strong Auburn showing on day two of the 2009 NCAA Championships. Auburn relay set another US Open Record while junior Kelly Marx and sophomore Adam Klein set new school records as the Tigers edged closer to the Texas Longhorn's top-spot.
"Our guys stood up everywhere we needed them today," co-head men's coach Brett Hawke. "Texas won the first day and we won today. It will come down to who wants it the most in the final day.
"We had some huge swims tonight. It was great to see Kohlton Norys win our first individual title. Our medley relay did a great job. Tomorrow will be a tough day, but we are looking forward to it."
The championships are a three-day meet held, March 26-28, at the Texas A&M Student Rec Center Natatorium in College Station, Texas.
Auburn entered Friday night with 141 points, trailing only Texas with 171. The Tigers cut that lead to just a six-point margin heading into Saturday's final round of competition. Texas (348) and Auburn (342) lead the pack followed by Stanford (298.5), California (239) and Arizona (229).
The Auburn 200 Medley Relay team of Jared White (20.97), Michael Silva (23.36), Matt Targett (19.66) and Gideon Louw (18.37) swam to a new US Open and NCAA record time of 1:22.36 to surpass the previous record set by the same lineup in Friday's prelims. The victory marked the seventh 200 MR title in Auburn history and the fourth in five years.
The Auburn win paired with a fifth-place Texas finish cut the Longhorn lead down to 199-181. However, Texas picked up a quick 12 points on the Tigers with a sixth-place finish in the 400 IM. The Tigers were unable to earn a top-16 spot in prelims.
Junior Tyler McGill led the Tigers with a second-place finish in the 100 fly, setting a new Auburn record of 44.63 in the process. Senior Logan Madson took third with a new career-best time of 44.99. Seniors Jakon Andkjaer (46.25) and Matt Targett (46.67) placed 13th and 16th, respectively.
The Tigers took a total of 38 points from the 100 fly, cutting the Texas lead to 225-219. Stanford trailed close behind with 204. However with the 200 free finals came a spike in the Texas lead. Auburn did not find their way into the Friday night finals while the Longhorns, a traditional power in the 200, stacked the A final. Texas earned 56 points from four entries, extending their lead to 62.
Sophomore Adam Klein set a new Auburn record in the 100 breast finals, hitting the wall in 51.60 for a second-place finish. Junior Michael Silva also hit a new career best time of 52.09 to touch in sixth. The Tigers picked up 30 points for their efforts, cutting the Texas lead down to 35. Stanford now rested in second after taking fourth in the event.
Norys captured the first 100 backstroke title in school history hitting the wall in 45.26. The Visalia, Calif., native edged out Cal's David Russel by .04 seconds to take the win. Placing fourth with a time of 45.43 was junior Pascal Wollach followed by sophomore Jared White in sixth, touching in at 45.95.
"I knew it was a close race and when I turned at the 50," said Norys. "I saw someone ahead of me. I just tried to get my hand there first. It was great having two other teammates with me in the race, because we practice and train together. It was nice to win my first individual Gold Medal. It was a proud moment to be up on the awards stand in the top spot. "
Auburn earned 48 points in the 100 back, retaking second place and trailing Texas, 305-297. Stanford was in third with 265. Only 3-meter springboard finals and the 800 FR remained on the day's itinerary.
Kelly Marx set a new Auburn record off the 3-meter springboard, earning a 454.85 as the Auburn divers looked to chip away at the Texas lead. Dan Mazzaferro placed 11th overall after a third-place consolation finals finish. Auburn earned 26 points and now led Texas, 320-308. Stanford trailed in third with 266.5.
"Kelly played the game extremely well," said Auburn head diving coach Jeff Shaffer. "What I mean by that is that through SECs and Zones, he has stayed focused and under control. He has taken it one dive at a time and no one has been better. I believe this is the most competitive diving event in NCAA history and he finished second to an Olympian."
Marx shattered the previous record of 427.80 set by Steve Segerlin on Feb. 3, 2007. The Longhorns only qualified one diver into the 3-meter consolation finals, allowing the Tigers to take the lead if only for a moment.
"I am speechless," said Marx. "I was excited when I finished second in the preliminaries, but to do it here tonight and set a school record is incredible. It has been hard this year, but I feel like I am peaking at the right time. I have taken it dive by dive and the consistency has paid off."
Although the Tigers won the 2009 SEC Championship in the 800 Freestyle Relay, Texas held the upper hand. The Auburn relay team of Will Dove (1:35.76), Gideon Louw (1:36.47), Pascal Wollach (1:35.56) and Tyler McGill (1:34.07) hit the wall in 6:21.86 for an eighth-place finish. The Longhorns won the event, setting a new US Open record and taking a slim six-point advantage into day three.
Action resumes Saturday at noon CST with prelims in the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 400 FR and platform diving.
For live results, visit http://www.aggieathletics.com/ncaawsimstats.html. Also, the 2009 NCAA Championship Central website can be accessed via http://www.aggieathletics.com/ncaa2009/swimming/men/index.html.
2009 NCAA Championship Notes
US Open Records
Andkjaer, Louw, Norys, Targett - 200 FR - 1:14.08
Wollach, Klein, McGill, Targett - 400 MR - 3:01.39
White, Silva, Targett, Louw - 200 MR - 1:22.58
NCAA Records
Andkjaer, Louw, Norys, Targett - 200 FR - 1:14.08
Wollach, Klein, McGill, Targett - 400 MR - 3:01.39
White, Silva, Targett, Louw - 200 MR - 1:22.58
Auburn Records
Pascal Wollach - 100 back - 44.90
Andkjaer, Louw, Norys, Targett - 200 FR - 1:14.08
Marx - 1-meter - 386.80
Wollach, Klein, McGill, Targett - 400 MR - 3:01.39
Tyler McGill - 100 fly - 44.63
White, Silva, Targett, Louw - 200 MR - 1:22.58
Adam Klein - 100 breast - 51.80
Marx - 3-meter - 454.85
2008-09 Top Times
Andkjaer, Norys, Scheren, Louw - 200 FR - 1:15.42
Jakob Andkjaer - 50 free - 18.83*
Robert Looney - 500 free - 4:19.93*
Logan Madson - 200 IM - 1:44.06*
Jared White - 50 free - 19.38*
Kohlton Norys - 50 free - 19.49*
Pascal Wollach - 100 back - 44.90*
Wollach, Klein, McGill, Targett - 400 MR - 3:01.39
White, Silva, Targett, Louw - 200 MR - 1:22.58
Tyler McGill - 100 fly - 44.63*
Logan Madson - 100 fly - 44.99*
Adam Klein - 100 breast - 51.80*
Michael Silva - 100 breast - 52.09*
Kohlton Norys - 100 back - 45.13*
Jared White - 100 back - 45.51*
*- Denotes career best.