Aug. 23, 2007
Chiba, Japan - Penn State junior swimmer Pat Schirk finished fourth in the finals of the 200 backstroke on Thursday night at the Japan International Grand Prix meet. Schirk, who is one of two Nittany Lion swimmers that are participating at the four-day meet, was the top American finisher in the 200 back, touching the wall in 1:58.90.
Schirk was seeded first in the finals after placing first in the morning prelims in 1:58.43. One day earlier, Schirk also placed in the top 16 in the prelims of the 100 back, placing 12th in :55.44, but did not advance on to the finals because he was not one of top three American times in the prelims. Only the top three finishers in the morning heats from each country are allowed to advance at this meet.
Also on Thursday, Kaitlin O'Brien placed 15th in 2:31.19 in the prelims of the 200 breaststroke, which would normally have been high enough to advance but she was also not one of the top three American times in the heats.
The meet will wrap up on Friday with one more event to swim for a Penn Stater, as O'Brien will swim in the 200 IM.