Feb. 23, 2008

EAST MEADOW, N.Y.-- Senior Warren Barnes posted the top time of the 200 breast in prelims, as he and three others earned seeds in tonight's finals of the Big East Championships held in Nassau County Aquatics Center. The men's swimming and diving team is third going into the final evening of competition.

Barnes (Pickering, Ont./Dunbarton) heads to the finals as the top seed in the 200 breast this evening. With his best time of the season and a NCAA provisional mark of 1:59.69, Barnes looks to improve upon his fourth-place finish last season and become the first Panther to earn a 200 breast crown since Randy Gertenbach in 2003.

In that same race junior Adam Plutecki (Zielona Gora, Poland/Zielona Gora) swam with Barnes, touching for second at 1:59.92. Barnes and Plutecki were the only two to record times under two minutes, and two of three recording provisional marks in the race.

Swimming in the 200 breast consolation is senior Jared Martin (Richmond, Va./Nova), who turned in a 2:05.22 for 12th and junior B.J. Conklyn (Stroudsburg, Pa./Stroudsburg), who touched 16th at 2:07.62.

All six of Pitt's divers scored in the top 16 of the 3M board, and four were invited back for tonight's finals. Leading the Panthers with a second-place finish in prelim, Senior Jeremy Stultz (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Hills) recorded 375.85 points. Stultz has won the 3M diving crown twice in career and would be just the second Panther to earn it three times.

Placing fourth with 352.05 points was junior Alex Volovetski (Brandon, Fla./Armwood). Rounding out the top eight were freshmen Collin Forner (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) and Jason Erdeljac (Meadville, Pa./Meadville) with 296.10 and 288.75, respectively. Freshman Charlie Hauser (Latrobe, Pa./Greater Latrobe) and Zane McLain (York, Pa./Dallastown Area) posted scored of 268.25 and 229.30 for 12th and 16th place.

Three Panthers are set to swim in the consolation heat of the 200 back, after posting top-16 times in prelims. Placing 10th with a 1:50.61 finish, freshman Andrzej Dubiel (Dzierzoniow, Poland/School of Sport Championships) will lead the pack. Senior Steve Jackson (Moon Township, Pa./Moon Area) trailed slightly for 11th at 1:51.20, while freshman Alex McLaren (North Saanich, B.C./Stellys Secondary) touched at 1:52.21 for 15th.

Senior Patrick Mansfield (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade-Julienne) garnered a 12th-place finish in the 100 free at 46.29, and will swim in the consolation race.

In the 200 fly, two Panthers earned a spot in the consolation race. First, junior Andrew Kyrejko (West Orange, N.J./The Montclair Kimberly Academy) placed 12th, while senior Chris George (Jacksonville, Fla./The Bolles School) held on for 15th. Sophomore Geoff Morgan (Cornwall, N.Y./Cornwall Central) just missed 16th by a hundredth of a second and will be an alternate this evening.

Recording a top-25 time was junior Jonathan Buchanan (Beavercreek, Ohio/Beavercreek) in the 200 back (1:55.29).

Other top 30 finishes included freshman Matthew Hershey (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley) in the 200 back (1:57.42) and junior Andrew Burkey (Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport Area) in the 100 free (47.52).

The Big East Championships conclude with the finals of the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 1650 free, men's 3M diving and the 400 free relay.

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