BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The CSUB men's swimming and diving team heads back to Houston this week, competing for the third consecutive year in the Conference USA Championships, hosted by the University of Houston. Action begins Wednesday, Feb. 24 and concludes Saturday, Feb. 27 in the CRWC Natatorium.
For the Roadrunner's this year's meet will no longer just be about recording personal best times, but rather, competing for individual conference titles and CSUB program records.
“This year is exciting because it's the first year where we are going to compete with the top tier teams,” said Head Coach Chris Hansen. “Last year we went after PR's, which we accomplished, but we couldn't touch the top three programs. This year we have guys who can complete for individual event titles and as a team we will be right in the mix to finish as high as second.”
On the men's side of the meet, the Roadrunners will face Southern Methodist, Hawaii, East Carolina and North Dakota. While Hansen calls SMU “untouchable” in terms of team scoring, he also feels that second through fifth place are all up for the taking between four closely competitive programs.
Expected to lead the charge are juniors Chad McKenzie and Matt Parsonage, along with freshman Jake Priest. McKenzie holds CSUB's top times (this season) in the 100 breast (55.68), 200 breast (2:02.10) and 200 IM (1:52.26). His 200 breast time is also currently No. 4 on CSUB's all-time list.
Parsonage holds the team's second fastest marks in the 50 free (21.01), 100 fly (49.66) and 100 breast (57.21), while he also holds a season-best 46.86 in the 100 free. Priest has the Roadrunners' top time in the 400 IM (3:58.19) and also has the second fastest times in the 200 fly (1:54.75), 200 breast (2:08.92) and 200 IM (1:53.58).
Senior Malcolm Reid will also look to chase down school records in the 50 free and 100 free, where he holds season-best times of 20.99 and 45.52, respectively. Luka Leskur placed third in the 100 back and fourth in the 200 back at the C-USA Championships one year ago, and looks to improve upon those finishes this season.
“We have a number of guys who have a chance to win events,” said Hansen. “I also think that our 200 medley relay team of Luka, Chad, Matt and Malcolm is going to open some eyes that first night, and has a good chance to break the school record.”
In recent weeks, Bakersfield has been without the services of distance free swimmer Keenan Natyzak due to a shoulder injury. His status is being called day-to-day, but Hansen plans to have the sophomore test the waters in either the 800 free relay or 500 free and “see what happens.”
Additional Roadrunners expected to step up this week are junior Jay Jones and freshmen Mark Silvius and Vance Elmore, along with senior distance free competitor Adam Pawlowski and diver Bryce Ogden, who will compete in the one and three-meter springboard and one platform event.
“Adam is the only member of our team who has been here all four years and I am really looking forward to him swimming fast,” said Hansen. “He's done a great job as a leader this year.”
