Prelims: Day 2 at Men's ACCs

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Virginia men’s swimming team continued competition in the 2010 Atlantic Coast Conference Thursday at Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill, N.C.

The morning session was capped by Virginia going 1-2 in the prelims of the 50 free. School record holder Scot Robison clocked the fastest time, touching at 19.59. He was followed closely by teammate Peter Geissinger, who finished in 19.88. They were two of only three swimmers to go under 20 seconds in the prelims; both marks were NCA ‘B’ times.

Prelims opened with heats of the 500 free, where Virginia earned four spots in the finals. Junior Matt McLean, the defending champion in the event, clocked the fastest time of the morning at 4:17.43. That mark broke former Cavalier Fran Crippen’s pool record of 4:18.20, set in 2003.

“Our distance group was very steady and very much in control of their races,” head coach Mark Bernardino said. “I can’t be more pleased with the job Scot and Peter did. We are in a tremendous battle. It is going to be a three-day meet. We have to hold our own each and every session and that is what we are out to do. We’ll see if we can come in here tonight and win some titles.”

Joining McLean in the 500 free finals will be John Snawerdt (4:20.23), Darren Ankosko (4:20.27) and Taylor Smith (4:20.78), who finished 3-4-5, respectively, in the prelims. All four of UVa’s times in the 500 were NCAA ‘B’ consideration times.

Three Cavaliers earned berths in the finals of the 200 IM, including Matt Houser (1:46.09, ‘B’), Tom Casey (1:46.84, ‘B’) and John Azar (1:46.90, ‘B’). Teammates Tim Hayes (1:48.53, ‘B’) and Tommy Inwood (1:49.65) will swim in the consolation finals.

“We are very pleased with the morning,” Bernardino said. “The only icing on the cake would have been if we would have swum just a little bit better in the 200 IM, we felt as though we done the right preparation to potentially get four athletes in the final heat. But it was a solid morning.”

Finals begin tonight at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast live on ACC Select.