March 4, 2004
LONG BEACH, Calif. - The Arizona State men's swimming team continued competition at the Pac-10 Championships on Thursday night where they stand in 5th place with 123 points with two days of competition to go. Senior All- American Nick Brunelli placed fourth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 19.71 to notch ASU's highest individual finish of the meet so far.
Brunelli's time of 19.64 in the morning prelims was a season-best and just shy of his personal best by six-hundredths of a second. ASU had three swimmers in the consolation finals of the 50, with freshmen Rich Crowder (20.47) and Pat Fleming (20.67) in 15th and 16th respectively and senior Wiley Wallace in 18th (20.70). Sophomores Tom Hickman (20.99, 21st-place), Brett Meconis (21.21, 22nd-place) and A.J. Blusiewicz (21.31, 23rd-place) also swam in the 50 free final round.
In the 500 freestyle, sophomore All-American David Kolozar led the way with a 12th-place finish (4:28.93) after a season-best in the prelims of 4:27.69. Junior Jeff Barrett placed 18th after touching the wall in 4:32.34.
The 200 IM saw two Sun Devils competing in the bonus consolation finals with junior Joey Clements placing 22nd (1:51.68) and sophomore Leonardo Martins finishing just behind him in 23rd (1:51.89).
In the day's lone relay event, the quartet of Brunelli (19.82 split), Crowder (19.90), Fleming (20.48) and Barrett (19.69) recorded a season-best 1:19.89 to place fourth in the event.
Action continues tomorrow at the Men's Pac-10 Swimming Championships with the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 400 medley relay. Prelims are at 11 a.m. with finals beginning at 6 p.m. Standing after day two are as follows:
1 Stanford 285
2 California 258
3 Arizona 201
4 USC 171
5 Arizona State 123
6 Washington 98