FEDERAL WAY, Wash. ? Freshman diver Stephen Andrews topped the University of Kentucky one-meter diving record on his way to a fifth place finish and All-America status to lead the UK men?s swimming and diving team to a first-day finish of 15th place at the NCAA Championships.
Andrews secured a top-eight finish in the preliminary round with a score of 330.85, but the freshman came back to the finals on a mission. He improved two spots in the standings to fifth overall and went on to score 380.55 points, a new school record. The previous record was held by Clayton Moss and stood at 379.90. Andrews? finish on the one-meter board is the best since Mario Rodriguez also earned All-America in 2004.
The first-year diver was the best finisher as an individual for the Wildcats and his fifth place standing helped guide the Blue and White to 20 points in the first day of action and 15th place overall. Arizona stands in first having scored 137 points to open up the national meet.
Also adding to the scoring was the 400-medley relay team consisting of junior Shane Eliason, senior Will Vietti, junior Warren Grobbelaar and freshman Tyler Reed. The quartet improved from a 15th place prelim time to take 14th overall in the event with a season-best time of 3:12.36, just shades off of the UK record. Eliason headed the race in the backstroke leg with a split time of 49.44. Vietti followed in the breaststroke leg touching in 53.61. Grobbelaar took the butterfly leg and clocked in 46.63. Reed anchored the race on the freestyle stroke and brought Kentucky?s time in a split of 42.76. Grobbelaar earns his fourth All-America honorable mention distinction and Vietti his second. Eliason and Reed are first-time All-America honorable mention winners with the 14th place finish.
Kentucky qualified for the consolation race in the 200-free relay, but an early jump disqualified them from the race and additional points.
Action resumes today at noon Pacific Time, or the equivalent of 3 p.m. Eastern Time with the second day of preliminary qualifying.
Complete coverage of the UK swimming and diving team can be found by visiting www.ukathletics.com.
