SEWANEE, Tenn. – Tiger swimming punched its ticket to the NAIA Championship in all five relays for the first time in program history this weekend at the Sewanee Igloo Invitational.
Campbellsville finished fourth in the annual event at The University of the South.
Chris Telman,
Isaac Lewis,
RJ Harris, and
Tucker Hardin earned three of the NAIA cuts finishing fourth in the 200, 400 and 800 free relays. The team beat the NAIA standard of 1:36.60 in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:31.55; the 400 free relay standard of 3:29.07 with a time of 3:23.09; and the 800 free relay standard of 7:48.03 with a time of 7:33.01.
Tanguy Claisse and
Seth Jones joined Lewis and Telman for the 200 and 400 medley relays, placing third and fourth, respectively. They out-swam the NAIA standard of 1:50.71 for the 200 medley relay in 1:42.80 and the standard of 3:57.53 in the 400 medley relay in 3:48.33.
"It was great to see the relays improve so much and qualify in the 400 free and medley relays, as well as the 800 free relay," said coach
Casey Smith.
Two NAIA B cuts were earned individually by the Tigers. Telman swam the 1650 freestyle in 17:45.55, beating the standard by almost four seconds in fourth place. Lewis placed fifth in the 400 IM in 4:26.81, beating the NAIA standard of 4:31.39.
"The team did so well," said Smith. "We had a great taper leading up to the meet and saw a lot of great swims. I am so proud of them and so proud to be their coach."
The Tigers will return home on Friday, Dec. 2 for a dual with University of the Cumberlands in Powell Athletic Center.