Nov. 19, 2009
| Michael Flach |
COLUMBIA – South Carolina freshman Michael Flach turned in the fastest time in the nation so far this year in the 500-yard freestyle to lead the Gamecocks in the first day of preliminaries at the second annual Gamecock Invitational.
Flach, a freshman from Annandale, Va., posted a time of 4:22.78, well under the NCAA `B’ cut time for the Gamecocks’ first provisional time of the season. He defeated last year’s event winner, Chip Peterson of North Carolina, by a full five seconds. It was three seconds faster than the nation’s top time coming into this weekend, a 4:25.56 by Michigan’s Charles Houchin. Peterson also earned a `B’ cut with a time of 4:27.78. Fellow freshman Brooks Ross also advanced to the championship final with a time of 4:35.30, finishing eighth overall.
The Gamecock men will also have half the field in the 200 individual medley championship final with Bobby Cave (1:52.76), Dominique Lendjel (1:53.08), James Crawford (1:53.10) and Andy Atzhorn (1:53.61) advancing. Chris Kelly (1:54.02), Alex Fitton (1:54.08) and Collin Kaden (1:54.94) advanced to the consolation final in the event, while Ryan Connolly (1:56.96) will swim in the `C’ final.
Three Gamecocks qualified for the finals in the men’s 50-yard freestyle, with Armin Hornikel turning in a 21.20 to earn the fifth seed. However, he was forced to scratch for the evening’s finals due to a class conflict. David Livsey (21.27) and Andrew Seiler (21.36) also earned their way into the championship final. Brett Sexton (21.52), Rory Grigull (21.53) and Josh Klotz (21.54) earned spots in the `C’ final.
On the women’s side, senior Sharntelle McLean was third overall in the 50 free with a time of 23.44, earning a spot in the championship final. Bridget Halligan (24.15) and Kristina Delp (24.48) swam their way into the consolation final.
Junior Claire Thompson earned a spot in the 500 freestyle championship final with a time of 4:57.77. Christine Thompson (5:02.40), Meghan Brockington (5:04.08) and Jordan Gibbs (5:04.11) will swim the consolation final. In the 200 IM, Megan Sparks just missed the `A’ final by five-hundredths of a second, earning the ninth seed and a spot in the consolation final with a 2:07.59. Whitney Avers (2:09.74) earned a spot in the `C’ final.
Finals get underway at 6 p.m. at the Carolina Natatorium. Admission is free, and live results are available through sportstiming.com.
