Iowa Completes Day One Short Course Nationals

Dec. 3, 2009

FEDERAL WAY, WA- The University of Iowa Men’s swimming team finished its first day at the ConocoPhillips Short Course National Championship in Federal Way, WA. Iowa sent Byron Butler, Max Dittmer, Nick Divan, Paul Gordon, Sean Hagan, Jordan Huff, Zane Hugo, Duncan Partridge, Ryan Phelan and Matt Ryan. After day one of competition the Hawkeyes are in 4th place out of 30 teams with 53 points.

The Hawkeyes started off the meet with the 4×50 free relay. The team of Phelan, Partridge, Huff and Hagan placed fifth at finals with a time of 1:20.62. Nick Divan swam a season best time of 4:27.16 in the 500 free and placed 17th at finals, moving up one spot from prelims. Gordon also swam the 500 free and placed 29th with a collegiate best time of 4:31.31.

Hagan and Dittmer were Iowa’s only swimmers in the 200 IM. Hagan placed 34th at prelims (1:51.71), while Dittmer placed 60th (1:53.75). Partridge placed 16th in the 50 free at finals. He posted a season best time of 20.57. Phelan also swam the 50 free and moved up one spot from prelims to place 17th at finals. He swam a time of 20.48.

Iowa concluded the meet with the 400 medley relay. The team of Dittmer, Hagan, Gordon and Partridge placed 7th at finals with a time of 3:18.83.

The competition continues tomorrow with prelims starting at 11 a.m. central time and finals beginning at 7 p.m. central time.