Dec. 5, 2013
AUSTIN, Texas - The Penn State swimmers posted a number of impressive times in the first day of competition at the highly competitive Texas Invitational. The Nittany Lions had six performances qualify for the NCAA "B" standard.
The Blue and White turned in season-best times in each of the four individual events, which consisted of the 100 butterfly, 500 freestyle, 200 IM and 50 freestyle and also posted its fastest marks in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:19.56 and the 400 medley relay, touching the wall fifth in 3:12.37.
Individually, John Hauser (Pottsville, Pa.) and Shane Ryan (Havertown, Pa.) each produced career-best performances on the opening day in Austin. Earlier in the day, Hauser qualified for the "A" final in the prelims with a personal-best time of 4:21.39, an NCAA "B" qualifying mark. The senior finished seventh in the event by touching the wall in 4:22.42 in the final. The Pottsville native also competed in the 50 freestyle race, setting another personal record with a time of 20.08 in the prelims before finishing 15th in a time of 20.11.
Ryan became the first Nittany Lion in the 2013-14 season to break the 20 second barrier in the 50 freestyle. The sophomore raced to a sub-20 time of 19.94 in the prelims, a career-best mark. Ryan followed it up with a time of 20.03, finishing in 11th place.
Other notable Penn State performers included Nate Savoy (Reading, Pa.), Nick Ankosko (East Brunswick, N.J.) and Sean Grier (Hummelstown, Pa.). All three of the swimmers reached the NCAA "B" qualifying marks in his individual event.
Savoy raced to an 11th place finish in the 200 IM, clocking in at 1:47.51 in the "B" final, his best time of the season. Ankosko placed 14th in the 500 freestyle with a mark of 4:24.58. Earlier in the day the senior qualified for the "B" final by touching the wall in 4:24.52, the senior's top time of the season. Grier raced to a mark of 47.51 in the 100 butterfly prelims, his fastest mark of the year. Grier finished 15th in the event, touching the wall in 48.26 in the "B" final.
The competition continues on Friday, with prelims slated to start at 11 a.m. ET followed by the finals at 7 p.m. ET. The Texas Invitational will wrap up on Saturday with the prelims at 11 a.m. ET and the finals scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET.