Spartans Claim Another Event Championship
The University of Tampa swim programs concluded the year in dramatic fashion, earning its second event national championship in the 400 freestyle relay to conclude the championship meet.
INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Tampa men's and women's swim teams concluded the 2015-16 season competing in the 2016 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday at the IU Natatorium. The UT men's squad finished ninth overall with 192 points while the women concluded in 30th with a team score of 17.
The Spartan men earned another individual event championship in the 400 yard freestyle relay, as Martin Hammer, Jordan Augier, Khalid Aldaboos and Jeremy Parker finished the race with a top time of 2:54.07 to add 40 points to Tampa's team score.
Defending its 2015 crown was Queens (N.C.) as both the men's and women's program repeat as National Champions. The Royal women dominated the field, scoring 567 total points, 200 points higher than the second place women's team of Wingate. On the men's side of action, the QC men claimed the championship with a team score of 449 to edge Lindenwood (382.5).
Freshman Makayla Ayers swam in the first event of the day, finishing 20th overall in the 1650 yard freestyle with a time of 17:11.26. Marisa Barton competed in the preliminary round of the 100 free, touching the wall with a time of 51.91 to rank 29th in the event.
The men scored 23 total points in the 100 yard freestyle as Hammer posted a seventh-place finish with a time of 43.80 in the championship final to earn 12 points toward the team score. Senior Parker added another nine toward the team tally earning a ninth-place finish with a time of 43.71 in the consolation final. Fellow senior Augier recorded the two remaining team points for the event, notching the 15th place time of 44.45 to round out the 100 freestyle.
In the preliminary round of the 100 free, Runar Borgen narrowly missed a spot in the final, finishing 17th with a time of 44.43. Wayne Denswil and Aldaboos also swam in the preliminary round, finishing with times of 46.14 and 45.47, respectively.
The Spartans finished the 2016 NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships with a pair of individual event titles as the men's team were national champions in the 200 freestyle relay and the 400 freestyle relay.
Both squads finished the year in the championship meet in Indianapolis at the UI Natatorium.