Tampa Men’s Swimming Wins NSU Invitational; Women Finish Second
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The University of Tampa men's swimming team finished the four-day Nova Southeastern Invitational as the team champions as the Spartan women were second.
UT's men finished with 1,210 points, topping Florida southern (1,208.5) and Nova Southeastern (848). The women had 1,047 points as Nova's women won with 1,059.5. A total of six men's teams and eight from the women's side are among the competition. The event is being hosted by Nova Southeastern.
Karl Burdis started the finals portion in the 200 Back, finishing fourth with an NCAA B cut time of 1:48.55. Also qualifying for nationals were David Humphrey in the 100 Free (first, 45.13) and Khalid Aldaboos in the 100 Free (fifth, 45.86).
The Spartan duo of Norbert Kovacs and Zane Hranac occupied the top two spots of the 200 Fly, with both achieving an NCAA qualifying cut. Kovacs won in 1:47.56 as Hranac's second-place finish was in 1:49.63.
Tampa finished the race with a second-place showing in the men's 400 Free Relay. The team of Humphrey, Felipe Manzo, Derek Krell and Aldaboos had an NCAA B time of 2:59.80. the sub-3:00 time also marked the best performance for the 400 Free Relay team since the NCAA record holders in 1986 for the Spartans.
In women's action, Tampa swimmers with NCAA B cut times were Heather Glenday in the 1,650 Free (second, 16:52.97), Kylie Piche in the 100 Free (second, 51.29) and Catherine Parker in the 200 Fly (second, 2:05.39)
Alex Hipolito also turned in a first-place finish in the 200 Breast as the Spartan was clocked at 2:23.44.
The Spartan women took first place in the final event, capturing the 400 Free Relay in a time of 3:27.60. The team of Piche, Erin Plachy, Kristine Kassl and Glenday had an NCAA B time.
With several NCAA qualifying and top times at the NSU Invite, Tampa will now turn its attention to the second semester as it opens on Jan. 5 at the Tampa Relays. A live video feed will be available through TampaSpartans.tv.
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