Feb. 17, 2009

Live Results

BOCA RATON, FL- The Florida Atlantic University swimming and diving team is set for the Sun Belt Championships (SBC) this week in Nashville, Tennessee. Events will begin on Wednesday, February 18 with the team conference champion crowned after the last event on Saturday, February 21.

After six months of preparation and competition, FAU's 22 athletes will be competing for individual and team conference titles. Several Owls also will try to improve their times to qualify for the national meet. The FAU women will be seeking their third SBC Championship title within the last four seasons. Western Kentucky University won the team race in 2008 and is the only other team to win a women's SBC Championship trophy.

The women will be led by several freshmen and seniors. Attempting to win a third conference title of their career, Lindsey Alexander and Jennifer Forcht should be near the front of their respective races. Alexander has the team's leading backstroke and individual medley times and Forcht is a 100-yard (57.38) and 200-yard (2:06.62) butterfly specialist. One- and three-meter diver Lauren Harvath is competing in her final conference championship meet. Harvath finished sixth in the one-meter dive in 2008.

Freshmen Jonna Nyback and Ewa Jamborska have made an impact on the swim program in their short time on campus. Nyback could be a strong contender in any of the freestyle sprint events and Jamborska's specialty is in the breaststroke. Sophomore Stase Michota and senior Nicole Samilo will attempt to score in the distance events.

Three FAU freshmen will impact the Owls' standing as they contend for individual conference honors. Mikolaj Czarnecki's 100-yard freestyle (47.81), 100-yard butterfly (49.97) and 200-yard butterfly (1:47.40) should put him near the top of the conference. Csaba Pek is provisionally-qualified for the NCAA National Meet in the 400-yard IM, posting a time of 3:51.87. Pek owns the team's top time in six other events but will have to choose which races in which he would like to focus. Rick Duran picked up on collegiate distance swimming quickly in his first year, and he should score points in both the 500-yard freestyle (4:42.28) and 1,650-yard freestyle (15:59.42).

Duran and sophomore teammate Michael Shimansky (16:03.59) will contend for honors in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Senior Miguel Dorante could be a surprise in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:00.32) and 200-yard breaststroke (2:11.55).

At the 2008 SBC Championships, Missouri State University won the men's conference title, making it the first time in three seasons that Western Kentucky University did not take home the crown. FAU finished in fifth place.