OMAHA, Neb. - Rights to the CSU
Bakersfield men's swimming 800 freestyle record were hotly contested by two
Roadrunners on Sunday despite being located halfway across the world from each
other.
CSUB incoming sophomore Mitchell Huxhold (Escondido, Calif., San Pasqual HS) posted a record-breaking time of
8:21.29 in the 800 split of the 1,500 at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. He
finished with a time of 15:52.00 to take 48th place out of 91
swimmers.
Earlier in the day, Gabriel Bertrand
(Fr., Tibro, Sweden, Nykopingssimg Gymnasium) the CSUB broke the record in the
800 while swimming in the Swedish Nationals, but it didn't last very long
before Huxhold pulled off his impressive swim and took it back.
"If there is one event that is hard to swim fast after shaving
three weeks ago to make the cut it is the 1500," said CSUB Director of Swimming
Chris Hansen. "Mitchell proved what a tough swimmer he has become. I am super
impressed with his swim. He has proven he will be a force at the U.S. Open in
August."
Hansen also said he is impressed with Bertrand and noted he is
continuing to swim fast. Bertrand advanced to the next round of the 800, which
he will swim on Sunday night.
On Saturday night in a swim
broadcast on national television, Roadrunner Chris Pipes (Sr., Fresno, Calif.,
Merced College) recorded a time of 23.61 in the 50 free to take 115th
place out of 167 swimmers.
Last night
Chris Pipes had a disappointing 50," Hansen said of the recently-graduated
senior. "He had a bad start and in a 50 that can ruin a race. Chris has a lot
of room to grow and has a lot of work ahead of him if he choices to continue to
swim."
Huxhold's swim was the final race of an action-packed week with
Huxhold, Pipes and Peter Bardessono (Sr., Elverta, Calif., American River College)
all competing with the best swimmers in the country.
"This has been a fun week for CSUB swimming," Hansen said. "We
made people aware of us, got some TV time and swam fast. I am really proud of
all three gentlemen."
Huxhold will return to competition Aug. 7-11 at the U.S. Open in
Indianapolis, Ind., while fellow Roadrunner Fran Cverle (So., Zagreb, Croatia,
Limestone College) will be swimming at the Croatian Nationals.
~www.GoRunners.com~
