Feb. 20, 2008

EAST MEADOW, N.Y.--One record falls, as the men's swimming and diving team finishes 10th on the first day of the Big East Championships held in Nassau County Aquatics Center, this evening.

Pitt's 200 medley relay team finished third with a school record of 1:29.19. The Panthers on the record-setting team included freshman Andrzej Dubiel (Dzierzoniow, Poland/School of Sport Championships), senior Warren Barnes (Pickering, Ont./Dunbarton) and juniors Adam Plutecki (Zielona Gora, Poland/Zielona Gora), and Patrick Mansfield (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne).

The Panthers eclipsed the 1998 time of 1:29.38, last set by Brian Elko, Devin Meece, Jon Haggerty and Eric Stefanski.

In the first event of Wednesday's finals, the 800 free relay team made up of junior Andrew Kyrejko (West Orange, N.J./The Montclair Kimberly Academy), freshman Alex McLaren (North Saanich, B.C./Stellys Secondary) senior Steve Jackson (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) and Mansfield were disqualified because of an early take off.

Thursday's lineup includes the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free, men's 1M diving and the 200 free relay.

The four days of action at the Big East Championships can be viewed at www.bigeast.org for a one-time fee of $9.95.