Poised to Strike: Four Tigers qualified for the NCAA Championships at the James E. Martin Invitational Sunday. The national championship meet is scheduled for March 27-29 in Federal Way, Wash. JD Schein / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
The Auburn men’s swimming and diving team took advantage of a small meet Sunday to send four qualifying swimmers to the NCAAs.
Sunday’s event, the James E. Martin Invitational, was a last-chance meet for swimmers to qualify for the 2008 NCAA Championships.
The University of Florida, Florida A&M, Clemson and Georgia had swimmers attempting to make their times.
In the short course pool, Luke Weniger, a senior, swam an A-cut time of 47:00 for the 100-yard fly. He also earned a B-cut time for 200-yard free with a time of 47:75.
Cesar Cielo, a junior, and NCAAs 2007 Swimmer of the Year, made a fourth A-cut qualifying time of 46:23 for the 200-yard freestyle. The time also ranks him third all-time at Auburn for that event.
Many swimmers who touched in with B-cut qualifying times have a likely chance to compete at the NCAAs.
Michael Silva, a sophomore, made a B-cut qualifying for the 50-yard free with a time of 20:15. Jonathan Hiett, a sophomore, made B-cut for 100-yard breast with a time of 54:62. Andrew Mitchell made a B-cut time of 1:45:66 for 200-yard fly, as well as the 200m free with for a time of 55:39.
Cody Kauffman, 20, from the University of Florida, placed an A-cut time for the 400m IM with a 15:38:14.
Also from Florida, Dustin McLarty swam an A-cut qualifying time of 4:21:78 for the 100m fly.
In the long course pool, Pascal Wollach, a sophomore, made A-cut in the 200m backstroke with a time of 56:77. This is one of his best times and is practice for his return home for the Canadian Olympic Trials during April 1-6.
“I’m relieved,” Wollach said. “I’ve been close all year, and I finally got it with this last chance. To go into the NCAAs with some of my best times, I couldn’t ask for anything more than that.”
Robert Looney, a freshman, also made an A-cut time for his 200m fly with a time of 1:58:70; more than three seconds faster than the required placing time. That time also ranks him second all-time at Auburn.
“It feels great, and it’s a huge relief, for sure,” Looney said. “There’s a lot of pressure involved, but it’s a great feeling to be on the team.”
“Today was a real good day for the Auburn men’s swimming team with the A-cuts from Luke Weniger, Robert Looney and Pascal Wollach,” coach Richard Quick said. “Of course, Cesar Cielo swam an outstanding time in the 100 fly that is now the sixth-best in the country. All those swims were real big swims for us and is kind of the first step for us in reaching our goals at the NCAAs.”
Cielo has now qualified for four NCAA events: the 50 free, 100 free, 100 fly and the 200 free. He is only allowed to swim three individual events with additional relays he will participate in.
“I swam the long course a full second faster,” Cielo said. “I’m trying not to get too excited. If I get too excited, sometimes it’s not good.”
Cielo is close to beating the record of his coach, Brett Hawke. Hawke holds the record for the fourth fastest 50 free time.
“I remember last year I missed the semifinals for the championships by two hundredths of a second, and he was making fun of me the whole time,” Cielo said. “But this year I’ve got him.”
Cielo described his relationship with his coach as good friends, but he has highest respects for him as a coach when touching on the upcoming Olympics and the training involved.
“I’m actually also focusing on the Grand Prix Ohio, as well,” Cielo said. “That could be one of the best meets of my life. These next couple weeks should be the best of my career. I’m excited to go fast.”
The men’s 2008 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships will be held at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash. from March 27-29.
