Hawkeyes Lead the Way at Tampa Relays

Jan. 7, 2010

Complete Results in PDF Format

TAMPA, FL – The University of Iowa men’s swimming team competed at the Tampa Relays Wednesday afternoon at the UT Swimming Complex in Tampa, FL. The Hawkeyes, racing with two squads in each of the 10 relay events, captured first place nine times and swept first and second-place honors in five events.

Iowa racked up 208 points to finish first in the three-team field. Host University of Tampa (146) placed second ahead of Indiana University at Pennsylvania (52).

“I like the way we approached this meet,” said Head Coach Marc Long. “The relays gave us a chance to race during a very intense training period. It was a nice opportunity to keep ourselves warmed up as we approach the Big Ten Championships next month.”

The Iowa quartet of sophomore Paul Gordon, senior Nick Davin, senior Brian Farris and freshman Jordan Huff kicked off the relays with a first-place finish in the 800-yard freestyle (7:12.20). The Hawkeyes finished eight seconds ahead of second-place Tampa and nine seconds before the third-place team of freshman Pawel Gilski, freshman Andy Ahlberg, freshman Patrick Weigand and senior Jake Moore (7:21.68).

Iowa swept first and second place honors in the 400-year medley. The first-place winning team of junior Max Dittmer, junior Sean Hagan, freshman Byron Butler and sophomore Duncan Partridge swam away from the competition with a time of 3:38.63. The Hawkeye quartet of junior Bryan Hill, senior Matt Ryan, freshman Mitch Shanahan and freshman Kevin Moran touched out at 3:47.01 to finish second.

The Hawkeyes finished one-two in the men’s closest finish of the day, the 500-yard freestyle scramble. Iowa’s trio of Divan, Weigand and Farris (5:09.26) touched out just two seconds ahead of rival teammates, Ahlberg, Moore and Gilski (5:11.38).

Iowa will enjoy two weeks of training before returning to the water at Northwestern Jan. 23 at 11 a.m.