March 7, 2009
AUSTIN - Auburn freshman Max Murphy picked up the first "A" cut of his Auburn career Friday at the Austin Grand Prix, held March 5-7 on the campus of the University of Texas. An additional four Tigers recorded new top-times while former Tiger Fred Bousquet set a new US Open record in the 50m free.
The Tigers now have 22 NCAA automatic qualifying times split between 10 swimmers.
The Grand Prix, hosted by USA Swimming and Texas, featured preliminaries in short-course yardage (SCY) format while the evening finals were swum in long-course meters (LCM).
Murphy hit his automatic qualifying time swimming a converted LCM time of 46.55 in the 100m backstroke. The Flower Mound, Texas native's previous top-time was a 47.82 recorded at the 2009 SEC Championships in Auburn.
A trio of former Tigers topped the field in the 50m freestyle Thursday afternoon as 2008 Olympic silver medalist Fred Bousquet posted a new US Open record for the event, touching in at 21.44. Bousquet was followed by George Bovell (22.01) and Cesar Cielo (22.08), taking second and third.
Sophomore Robert Looney improved his previous "B" cut to a mere three-hundredths of a second shy of an automatic qualifying time, touching in with a 1:58.92 in the 200m fly. The time converts to 1:42.98.
Freshman Genaro Prono hit a new 100 breaststroke top-time of 53.89, converted following the 100m finals on Friday. The 2008 Olympian improved from his previous "B" cut time of 53.94.
Freshman Aaron Middleton touched in with three new top-times in Austin, swimming a 49.27 in the 100-yard fly, a 1:48.46 in the 200-yard fly and a 1:45.66 in the 200-yard back.
Junior Kyle Maese recorded a new top-time in the 200-yard free Friday morning, touching in at 1:37.44.
Auburn returns to action March 13-15 in Knoxville, Tenn., at the 2009 NCAA Diving Zones as junior Dan Mazzaferro makes his first appearance following SEC Championship victories in 3-meter springboard and platform diving.