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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Virginia has qualified 12 swimmers for the 2009 Men’s NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships, set for March 26-28 in College Station, Texas.
Sophomore Matt McLean is seeded first in both the 500 and 1650 freestyle events after clocking times of 4:10.00 and 14:35.12, respectively, which are the fastest times in the nation to date this season.
Taylor Smith joined McLean with automatic cuts in the 500 and 1650 free events, while senior Pat Mellors (400 IM) and Scot Robison (200 free) had previously qualified for the national meet at the ACC Championships. Virginia’s 400 and 800 free relay teams also received automatic berths into the meet.
They will be joined by seniors Ryan Hurley, Lee Robertson and Pat Reams; juniors John Azar and Eric Olesen; sophomore John Snawerdt and freshmen Peter Geissinger and David Karasek.
Virginia’s 12 qualifiers are the most among ACC teams. The Cavaliers are coming off their second consecutive conference title and the school’s 10th in the past 11 years.
The Cavaliers qualified in every relay at the NCAA Championships including the 200 medley relay, 400 medley relay and 200 free relay, in addition to the 800 free relay and 400 free relay which had previously qualified after clocking A cuts at the conference meet last month.
An impressive six swimmers will compete in the 200 free, including McLean (who is seeded fourth) and Robison (sixth). Azar, Karasek, Smith and Snawerdt will also swim in the event.
The Cavaliers placed 15th at the 2008 NCAA Championships, finishing with 69 points. McLean was the highest finisher a year ago, placing fourth in the 500 free. The 800 freestyle relay team also recorded a fourth-place showing.
2009 NCAA Qualifiers
Event, Qualifying Time
John Azar, Junior
200 IM, 1:45.32 (B)
200 Free, 1:34.79 (B)
200 Breast, 1:56.77 (B)
400 Free Relay
800 Free Relay
Peter Geissinger, Freshman
50 Free, 20.01 (B)
100 Fly, 46.85 (B)
200 Medley Relay
200 Free Relay
400 Free Relay
Ryan Hurley, Senior
100 Breast, 53.75 (B)
200 Breast, 1:55.13 (B)
200 Medley Relay
400 Medley Relay
David Karasek, Freshman
500 Free, 4:23.18 (B)
200 Free, 1:35.77 (B)
800 Free Relay
Matt McLean, Sophomore
500 Free, 4:10.00 (A)
200 Free, 1:32.80 (A)
1650 Free, 14:35.12 (A)
400 Free Relay
800 Free Relay
Pat Mellors, Senior
200 IM, 1:46.24 (B)
400 IM, 3:44.65 (A)
Eric Olesen, Junior
100 Back, 46.89 (B)
200 Back, 1:44.03 (B)
200 Medley Relay
400 Medley Relay
200 Free Relay
Pat Reams, Senior
200 IM, 1:46.16 (B)
100 Fly, 46.83 (B)
200 Fly, 1:43.51 (B)
Lee Robertson, Senior
50 Free, 19.97 (B)
100 Fly, 46.62 (B)
200 Fly, 1:44.52 (B)
200 Medley Relay
400 Medley Relay
200 Free Relay
Scot Robison, Sophomore
50 Free, 19.47 (B)
200 Free, 1:33.05 (A)
100 Free, 42.89 (B)
400 Medley Relay
200 Free Relay
400 Free Relay
800 Free Relay
Taylor Smith, Sophomore
500 Free, 4:15.19 (A)
200 Free, 1:36.40 (B)
1650 Free, 14:45.00 (A)
John Snawerdt, Sophomore
500 Free, 4:16.41 (B)
200 Free, 1:36.83 (B)
1650 Free, 15:09.58 (B)