March 26, 2009

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – South Carolina’s Kyle Cormier finished 38th in preliminaries of the 200-yard individual medley in his first event of the 2009 NCAA Men’s Swimming & Diving Championships at Texas A&M University. The senior touched the wall in a time of 1:45.91.

Cormier’s time was the third-fastest of his career, and as such, the third-fastest performance in school history as the Pensacola, Fla., native holds the school record in the event. His only two faster times came in February at the SEC Championships in Auburn, Ala. Cormier was the only Gamecock athlete to compete at the championships Thursday.

Nicholas Walkotten will join Cormier in competition Friday as the pair of Gamecock swimmers will compete in a combined three events. Cormier will swim his best event, the 200 freestyle, while Walkotten will compete in both the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke. Prelims get underway at 1 p.m. (ET), with finals to follow at 8 p.m. (ET).