Swimming and diving: Seniors defend titles

  • Published
  • By Nick Arseniak
  • Assistant sports information director
OKLAHOMA CITY (AFNEWS) --  Air Force seniors Chris Knaute and Paul Parmenter successfully defended their titles in the 500-yard freestyle and 200 individual medley events at the 2007 Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships Feb. 22 at the Oklahoma City Community College Pool. 

The Falcon men's team sits in third place while the women's team is in eighth place after day two action.

Brigham Young University continues to lead the way in the men's action with 279 points. The University of Nevada Las Vegas follows with 251 points and Air Force sits just behind the Rebels with 248 points. Utah (200.5), Wyoming (199) and Texas Christian University (167.5) round out the rest of the men's competition.

On the women's side, BYU also leads the way with 327 points. Utah sits in second with 236 points, followed by Wyoming with 212 points. UNLV (209), Colorado State (171), New Mexico (122), TCU (119), Air Force (78) and San Diego State (63) round out the rest.

Knaute won his third-consecutive 500 free title with a time of 4 minutes 23.90 seconds. Sophomore Bryan Avery swam the fifth-fastest time in academy history with a time of 4:31.26 and placed 10th. Freshman Sean O'Keefe swam the eighth-fastest academy mark, placing 12th with a time of 4:32.52.

Parmenter won the 200 individual medley for the second-straight year with a time of 1:49.44. The Falcons fared well as a team in the 200 individual medley, as seniors Justin Lapin and Nick Burton contributed with third and fourth place finishes. Lapin swam a 1:50.14 and Burton swam 1:50.57.

"I was very pleased with how we swam today," said Rob Clayton, the men's team head coach. "We are right in the hunt for the title and look to having a great third day in hopes of catching BYU."

Senior Ryan Moss was the Falcons' top swimmer in the 50 free, placing seventh with a time of 20.89. Senior Nick Uzelac placed 15th (21.11) and junior T.J. Cowling placed 16th (21.13).

Freshman David Arlington represented the Falcon divers well, placing fourth in the men's three-meter dive with 290.45 points. Senior Brady Lindberg took 10th, freshman Kyle Van Valkenburg 13th and freshman Brian Wilhite 16th.

The Falcon men finished fourth in the 200 free relay. The group of Knaute, Burton, Parmenter and Moss teamed to swim a time of 1:22.94.

On the women's side, sophomore Jane Hwang led the way with a seventh-place finish in the 200 individual medley. Hwang was close to her career best with a time of 2:06.55.

The 200 free relay team placed eighth. The group of Laken Stogner, Lindsey Kirchhoff, Lauren White and Hwang teamed to swim a time of 1:38.15.

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