March 28, 2010

COLUMBUS, Ohio – South Carolina freshman Michael Flach swam the fastest time of his career in the 200-yard butterfly on Sunday as he wrapped up his stay at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships.

Flach, a native of Annandale, Va., finished his final race of the collegiate season in 1:46.71, which was the best of his career and ranks as the third-fastest time in school history. He finished 29th in the preliminary heats and did not advance to the finals. It took a 1:44.52 to advance to the consolation final and a 1:43.22 for a spot in the championship final.

With today marking the final day of the NCAA Championships, the Gamecocks’ swimming and diving season is now complete. South Carolina’s women completed the season with a 3-8 overall record, 1-4 in Southeastern Conference competition and a ninth-place finish at the SEC Championships. The Gamecock women also earned a 39th place finish at the NCAA Championships on the strength of Taryn Zack’s seventh-place showing in 1-meter diving. For the Carolina men, the final record was 4-6 overall, 1-3 against SEC competition and an eighth-place SEC Championships finish.

The next big item for South Carolina swimming & diving will involve an upgrade to the Carolina Natatorium that wil take place over the summer months. Crews will close down the facility sometime in April to replace the pool deck and upgrade the lighting system in time for the beginning of the 2010 season. For all the latest updates, visit GamecocksOnline.com.