TCNJ SWIMMERS CONTINUE COMPETITION AT 2009 NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS; LION MEN INTO TOP TEN IN TEAM RACE

Twin Cities, MN…The College of New Jersey's men's and women's swimming and diving teams continued competition on Friday at the 2009 NCAA Division III men's and women's swimming and diving championships, which are being held at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and run through Saturday night.

TCNJ's men's squad started the day in 12th place having racked up 66 points and by night's end had moved into eighth place with 102 points. 

Junior Myles O'Connor (Santa Monica, CA) posted the third fastest time in the trials of the 100 breaststroke and qualified for the championship finals with his time of 55.12, which broke TCNJ's school record of 55.22, which he set at the 2009 Met Championships in late February. He finished in fifth place in the finals after posting a time of 55.40 to earn his second career All-America honor in the event he finished in third place at the 2008 NCAA Championships.

TCNJ also entered the finals of the 800 freestyle race with the third fastest seeding time of 6:40.07, also TCNJ's school record in the event. In the timed finals, TCNJ would post a 6:39.08 to break the school-record and finish fifth nationally in the event. Competing for the Lions on the relay were rookie Mike Vernoia (Hillsborough, NJ/Immaculata), sophomore Shawn Kircher (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East), senior Mike Molloy (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) and sophomore Tom Medvecky (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway).

In the 200 butterfly race, Medvecky posted a time of 1:52.64 in the trials to stand in 22nd place but did not qualify for the finals.

In the 100 backstroke race, senior Tom Nawrot (East Brunswick, NJ/East Brunswick) was 21st in the morning trials with a performance of 51.43, while senior Mike Molloy (Toms River, NJ/Toms River East) was 24th in 51.67. Junior James VanBiervliet (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) posted a 26th place finish with his time of 51.75 as the Lions did not send anyone back to the finals.