Blue Devil Swimmers Earn National Rankings

Ten Blue Devils to Compete in U.S. Swimming Nationals

Blue Devil Swimmers Earn National Rankings

10/24/2011 2:36:00 PM | Swimming & Diving

By: Duke Sports Information

DURHAM, N.C. - Following a strong showing in the season opener against Maryland on Saturday, several members of the Duke swimming and diving teams earned spots in the national rankings in their respective events.

Junior Ben Hwang posted the nation's top performance in the men's 50 free, clocking 19.84 in a first-place finish at Maryland. Hwang is the only swimmer in the country to have broken the 20-second barrier in the event so far during the 2011-12 season. The Cerritos, Calif., native also won the 100 free competition in Duke's 177.5-121.5 victory over the Terrapins. Hwang's mark of 44.66 in that event currently ranks as the eighth-best performance nationally.

Ten other Blue Devils also broke into the national rankings on the men's side, including graduate student Piotr Safronczyk at ninth in the 100 breast (55.85), as well as sophomore Hunter Knight (No. 13) and junior Jim Zuponeck (No. 14) in the same event. Meanwhile, sophomore Steven Gasparini - who made his first appearance as a Blue Devil Saturday after transferring from Clemson - is ranked in the 100 back, 100 fly and 200 IM.

Two of Duke's relay squads earned top-five rankings nationally, as the winning 200 free relay of Hwang, junior Adam Flur, Safronczyk and senior Ben Tuben is listed second at 1:22.09. Gasparini, Safronczyk, Tuben and Hwang also combined for the third-best 200 medley relay time in the nation at 1:30.05.

The Blue Devil women turned in 14 nationally-ranked performances - including two in relay events - in a 111-186 loss to the Terrapins on Saturday.

Sophomore Christine Wixted was a double-winner for Duke, placing first in the 100 and 200 breast. Wixted's 1:02.26 clocking in the 100 breast ranks fourth nationally and her time of 2:14.92 in the 200 breast is good for third overall. In addition, the Greenwood Village, Colo., native also posted the No. 15 performance while finishing second in the 200 IM (2:04.50).

Senior Rose O'Connor cracked the top 10 in the country in the 1,650 free as she won the event in 16:49.97. O'Connor also posted a mark of 4:55.17 in the 500 free for the 22nd-best performance. Meanwhile, freshman Megan McCarroll had a solid outing in her Blue Devil debut, winning both the 100 back and the 200 back. Her time of 55.82 in the 100 back ranks 14th in the nation, while she is listed at No. 15 in the 200 back with a time of 2:01.05.

Duke also placed two relay squads in the top 25 nationally, with the 200 medley relay of McCarroll, Wixted, senior Steffi Niessl and sophomore Lauren Weaver listed ninth at 1:43.26. Meanwhile, the 200 free relay of junior Francesca Tocci, sophomore Katie Howard, Niessl and Weaver turned in the No. 17 performance with a time of 1:36.06.

The Blue Devils return to action on Saturday, Oct. 29 when they travel to Christiansburg, Va., to face Virginia Tech, Florida State and UNC Wilmington. The meet will get underway at 12 p.m.

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