Dec. 4, 2015
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa men’s swimming and diving team is in second place with 251 points following the first day of the 2015 Hawkeye Invitational at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center Natatorium.
“It is one of those things where we are starting to come on, but I think there is another level we can take it to,” said UI head coach Marc Long. “It’s important that we come together as a team here and get there. As a team, we would like to improve on some areas still.”
Iowa opened Friday’s finals with a runner-up finish in the 200-free relay. Senior Jackson Allen, junior Jackson Halsmer, freshman Jack Smith, and junior Brandon Farnum touched with a time of 1:19.58, posting the ninth-fastest time in program history. Allen’s leadoff split of 20.28 is a career-best.
The Hawkeyes posted a win in the 400-medley relay. The quartet of Kenneth Mende, Roman Trussov, Jerzy Twarowski, and Smith finished with a time of 3:10.83. Mende’s split of 47.92 in the 100 back is an NCAA “B ” cut time.
Iowa also got “B” cuts from Smith and Allen in the 50 free. The duo tied for third place with a time of 20.14 seconds. Mende brought home a fourth place finish in the 200-IM, touching in 1:49.81.
The Hawkeyes excelled in the diving well on the opening night, finishing with the top four places on the 3-meter springboard. Junior Brandis Heffner won the even with a season-best score of 366.90 — an NCAA Zone mark.
Senior Andrew Hull was the runner-up with a 346.25, senior Addison Boschult was fourth with a score of 328.85, and freshman Will Brenner was fourth with a 309.25.
“It has been exciting to see a lot of the little things we have been working on in practice start to come together.” said diving coach Todd Waikel “I have to give a shout out to Brandis, he has been working on his performance at meets. He has been training hard at practice and tonight he came out and had a personal best. Overall I am pleased; it was a great first day.”
Day two of the Hawkeye Invitational begins Saturday at 10 a.m. (CT).
