RALEIGH- As a chance to ease back into competition mode in 2016, select members of the NC State men’s swimming and diving team will travel to Austin, Texas, to race in the Arena Pro Swim Series. The meet will run Friday through Saturday inside the Lee & Joe Jamail Swimming Center on the University of Texas’ campus.
The Arena Pro Swim Series is an event sponsored by USA Swimming, consisting of seven meets throughout the country over a span of eight months. This meet gives the select members of the Wolfpack a chance to compete in a long course pool (50m) to help prepare them for the 2016 Olympic Trials.
Preliminaries will begin at 10 a.m. ET, while finals will commence at 6 p.m. ET. The top 32 swimmers in each event during the preliminary sessions will advance to the finals, with the exception of the 800m and 1500m freestyle races.
Holloway’s Statement
“We’re at the point in the season now where we’re learning more about where we are heading into a resting period, and anytime you can get some extra long course racing during an Olympic year is always a great opportunity,” said head coach Braden Holloway.
“This meet we’re only taking our men, as the women just finished up an awesome weekend in Florida. The guys love Austin and love competing down there, and this weekend will provide a good benchmark for where we are, especially for our long course preparation. With the Olympic Trials approaching, many of our guys are starting to prepare as the qualification process will begin in April in several countries.
“Overall, we’re looking forward to a good team trip and are excited for one more chance to compete in a long course pool in a championship-type setting.”
Schedule of Events
Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
100 Freestyle
200 Breaststroke 100 Butterfly |
400 IM
200 Freestyle 200 Backstroke 50 Freestyle |
200 Butterfly
100 Breaststroke 100 Backstroke 200 IM 800 Freestyle 1500 Freestyle |
Last Time Out
Last weekend the No. 17 women’s swimming and diving team improved its regular season record to 8-1 after sweeping its tri and quad meets in Florida. The Wolfpack defeated Florida International, 160-126, and topped Kansas, 161-119 on Friday, then earned a 208-88 win over Liberty, defeated Florida Gulf Coast, 169-139, and triumphed over Central Connecticut State, 207-89.
The meet marked the first time in the 2015-16 season that a team has defeated Florida Gulf Coast in its home territory.
Swimming news courtesy of NC State Swimming & Diving.