TCU Swimming Weekend Recap
12/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Dec. 3, 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU men's swimming team enjoyed a very successful weekend at the 2007 USA Swimming Short and Long Course National Championships in Atlanta, Ga., highlighted by seniors Jonathon Berrettini and Scott McCracken, who set three new school records and recorded a NCAA automatic qualifying time, as well as two NCAA'B' times.
Berrettini and McCracken, who combine for 13 event wins and have each contributed to nine relay victories on the season, each broke the all-time TCU record in the 50-free on Thursday. In the preliminary, Berrettini recorded a time of 20.10, while McCracken followed with a time of 20.13, breaking Mischa Sommerville's record of 20.34 set in 1997. McCracken took possession of the record later in the day, earning a time of 19.99 in the finals. Both Berrettini and McCracken earned NCAA `B' cuts with their performances.
On Friday, Berrettini competed in the 100-back event, breaking his own TCU record of 48.90 set at the 2006 Mountain West Conference Championships. In the preliminary event, Berrettini recorded a time of 48.44, and followed with a blistering time of 48.28 in the finals. Berrettini's time of 48.28 tied a MWC record with Arunas Savickas of BYU, who set the mark in 2001.
On the final day of the Short Course National Championships, McCracken competed in the 100-free event, setting a new TCU record of 44.77, which was also formerly held by Sommerville. The record didn't stand for long, as Berrettini clocked a split time of 44.70 to lead the 400-free relay team.
On Sunday, the men competed at the Long Course National Championships, where Berrettini recorded a time of 56.69 in the 100-meter back, automatically qualifying him to be able to compete at the 2008 NCAA Men's National Championships in Seattle, Wash.
Sophomore Josh Bagby also had a solid showing this weekend, setting two new personal-best times. In the 50-free on Thursday, Bagby recorded a time of 20.71, and followed with a clocking of 45.17 in the 100-free on Saturday.
The men's and women's swimming and diving teams will return to action on Dec. 15 when they will compete at the Las Vegas Invite.
Players Mentioned
