MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (December 5, 2015) – West Virginia University senior swimmers Andrew Marsh and Max Spencer both earned Olympic Trial cut times in their respected events to conclude the third and final day of the 2015 AT&T USA Swimming Winter National Championships in Federal Way, Washington, on Saturday.
Results
The Mountaineers reached multiple milestones to wrap up the three-day USA Winter Nationals meet. Two Olympic Trials cut times were achieved, lifetime bests were set and a new team record was set, all accomplished in long course meters at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center.
“Today was probably our best day,” said coach Vic Riggs. “We either had lifetime best times or unrested best times. Andrew’s swim-off in the 100 freestyle was impressive, and he dropped 0.7 seconds in his 100 free to get a new Olympic Trials cut and team record. Max did a great job both in prelims to get his second swim and tonight in finals to earn his first trials cut.”
Senior Jay Hickey and junior Nate Carr started the morning prelims for the Mountaineers in the 200 meter backstroke, while Marsh and senior Ross Glegg raced in the 100 freestyle. Spencer and Carr competed in the 200 breaststroke and sophomore James Koval raced in the 1,500 freestyle.
Marsh posted a 26th-place finish in the 100-meter freestyle to earn an Olympic Trials qualifying time of 50.50. The school-record time gave Marsh the Olympic Trials qualifying time by 0.11 seconds.
Spencer advanced to the C finals in the 200 breaststroke and swam to a third-place finish, 19th overall, with a 2:18.28 to earn an Olympic Trials qualifying time. He advanced to the finals after a prelim time of 2:19.27 to place 20th.
Hickey and Carr both touched the wall in 2:06.91 to finish tied for 33rd in the 200-meter backstroke. Glegg finished the 100 freestyle in 101st with a time of 53.52.
The competition ended with the 1,500-meter freestyle, where Koval touched the wall in 30th with a time of 16:21.31.
The Mountaineer swimmers take a month break before hosting Pitt on Saturday, Jan. 3 at the WVU Natatorium, while the WVU divers travel to Indianapolis, to compete at the USA Diving Winter Nationals from Dec. 15-20.
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow the team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Swimming news courtesy of West Virginia Swimming & Diving.