Dec. 2, 2011
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The 10th ranked University of Iowa men’s swimming and diving team hosted the first day of the Hawkeye Invitational Friday night at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Pool. The Hawkeyes are facing Denver, first ranked Michigan, Notre Dame, Washington State, Wisconsin-Green Bay and Wisconsin-Milwaukee in swimming, while the divers are also facing Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota State. After one day of competition, Michigan leads the Invitational with 280.5 points and Iowa is currently in second with 208 points.
The 200 free relay team of Ryan Phelan, Paul Gordon, Duncan Partridge and Jordan Huff kicked off the first final session of the Hawkeye Invitational with excitement. The team went head-to-head with Michigan’s ninth nationally ranked relay team (1:20.47). Phelan led off the relay with a time of 19.77, which is just off his best time of 19.75. Gordon and Partridge built off Phelan’s led and Huff anchored the relay to a first place finish with at time of 1:18.81. The time marked a new meet and pool record.
Manuel Belzer placed fourth overall in the 500 free with a time of 4:24.64. His time marks an NCAA `B’ qualifying time. Patrick Weigand came in eighth in the event, touching the wall in 4:28.90.
Later on in the competition, Tyler Lentz recorded a season best time of 1:48.71 in the 200 IM to place fourth overall. Lentz’s time marks an NCAA `B’ qualifying time. Kyle Noser placed ninth overall in the event with a time of 1:50.67, while Byron Butler came in 13th (1:50.69).
Iowa had three swimmers place in the top eight in the 50 free. Phelan posted a second place finish with a time of 19.84. He finished behind Michigan’s Evan Gregg (19.99). Gordon finished fourth with a time of 20.09 and Partridge finished right behind in fifth at 20.24.
Hawkeye diver Osvel Molina had a successful day on the three-meter spring board. He compiled a personal best score of 324.65 to place third overall. He finished behind Minnesota divers Turner Eckstrom (346.70) and Michael Ross (332.10).
The Hawkeyes wrapped up the first day of competition with the 400 medley relay. Dustin Rhoads led off the relay and set a new school record in the 100 back with his time of 48.55. The previous record was held by Matt Smith (48.60) and was set in 1993. Rhoads teamed up with Gordon, Grant Betulius and Partridge to place second overall with a time of 3:17.74.
Iowa will continue competition tomorrow. Prelims will begin at 10 a.m. and finals are set to start at 6 p.m.