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Olympians Clean Up As American Record Falls At NCAA Swimming

Mar 23, 2001

COLLEGE STATION, Texas - It was an Olympic reunion in Texas, as several collegiate swimmers capitalized on their Sydney experience to win NCAA titles at the 78th NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships. Texas senior Nate Dusing dropped the first American record of the meet and then helped the Longhorns break the American record in the 400y medley relay.

Dusing and junior Tommy Hannan, Texas and Olympic teammates, went 1-2 in the 200y IM with Dusing posting a 1:42.85 to break Greg Burgess' 1993 American record of 1:43.52. Hannan touched in 1:43.87, followed by Stanford freshman Mark Rogan in 1:44.57. Rogan represented Austria at the 2000 Olympic Games.

Dusing ended the night with a hand in another American record as he, Brendan Hansen, Hannan and Ian Crocker shattered the mark in the 400y medley relay with a 3:05.37. Crocker was also on the Olympic team with Dusinhg and Hannan, while Hansen was third in both breaststrokes at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials. The old record was almost two seconds slower at 3:07.28, set by Stanford in 1995.

The top four spots in the 500y free went to 2000 U.S. Olympians. Southern Cal freshman Klete Keller came from behind to catch Michigan senior Chris Thompson in an exciting 500y free race. Keller touched in 4:14.67 with Thompson just .04 behind. USC sophomore Erik Vendt and Texas senior Scott Goldblatt came in at 4:16.13 and 4:16.41 to complete the Olympic quad.

"The only time I felt worse in the 500 was this morning," Keller said. "Coming back from the Olympics to here has been hard. I took the longest break I've ever had and to come off an emotional high and not be training as hard, I'm happy I did the time that I did here."

"I thought I had won. I don't know how he out-touched me," Thompson said. "I knew it would be tough. He's the American record-holder and Olympic bronze medallist in the 400, so he was the heavy favorite. I guess what comes around goes around. I got the bronze by a touch at the Olympics and I lost here by a touch. It's my senior year and I haven't won an NCAA title yet. I'm really wanting one. Hopefully I can make it happen in the 1650."

Word on the deck was that the 50y free title belonged to Cal sophomore, Anthony Ervin, defending NCAA champion and Olympic gold medallist, but someone forgot to tell Stanford senior Anthony Robinson. Robinson won the event in 19.15 with Ervin taking second in 19.23. The 200y free relay earlier in the night was a good indicator of how this event would shake out with Robinson splitting a 18.78 to Ervin's 18.85. South African Olympian Roland Schoeman was third in 19.29.

Stanford took the first relay of the meet with Randal Bal, Anthony Robinson, Jeff Guyman and Bobby O'Bryan swimming the 200y free relay in 1:16.83. Tennessee and Texas A&M followed.

Texas hit big in diving points, which could prove to be crucial in the team race. Junior Troy Dumais won the one-meter diving event with his brother Justin taking fifth.

At the end of day one, defending champion Texas led the team race with 185 points, followed by Stanford (170), Tennessee (114.5), Southern Cal (85) and Auburn (83).