Swimming: Walker Set to Compete at NCAAs
March 24, 2009 02:38 PM | General
by Grant Dovey for MSNsportsNET.com
March 24, 2009
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men’s swimming and diving team will send senior Michael Walker to College Station, Texas, to represent the Mountaineers at the 2009 NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships from March 26-28.
“Michael has done a great job making the adjustments from last season to this season as far as making the meet,” Coach Vic Riggs said. “He has trained very well since the BIG EAST Championships and his events line-up well him.”
This will be the first trip to the NCAA Championships for the Bridgeport, W.Va., native and he will be swimming in three different events: the 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 breast.
"It's a great honor to represent WVU at the NCAAs," Walker said. "It has always been my dream to compete at this meet and now I am very excited that this day has come."
At the 2009 BIG EAST Championships, Walker broke the school records in all three events. In the 200 IM Walker placed third with a time of 1:46.32 and he placed first in the 400 IM with not only a school record, but a BIG EAST Championship record time of 3:45.45, nearly five seconds faster than the second-place finisher. In the 200 breast, Walker finished in second with a time of 1:55.72.
Nationally, Walker is ranked 50th in the 200 IM, 15th in the 400 IM and 19th in the 200 breast.
“I think that he has a good chance of improving upon his performances at the BIG EAST Championships, which is what he will have to do to get second swims at the NCAAs,” Riggs said.
Last season, Kevin Donohue became the first West Virginia swimmer to ever garner individual All-America honors with his fifth-place finish in the 100 breast. In swimming, the top eight finishers are All-Americans, with 9-16 being honorable mention.
The preliminary rounds will be held in the mornings with the finals being held at night at the Student Rec Center Natatorium. Walker will swim the 200 IM on Thursday, 400 IM on Friday and the 200 breast on Saturday.
"I'm not going into the meet with any great expectations," Walker said. "I just hope to swim fast, have fun and represent not only the University, but the state of West Virginia with pride."
Fans will be able to follow all the actions of the tournament by following this link: http://www.aggieathletics.com/ncaa2009/swimming/men/.
