BAKERSFIELD, Calif.-- The 2015-16 CSU Bakersfield swimming and diving teams are well into their seasons and, with the midseason winter break upon them, a small group of the Roadrunners are gearing up for the 2015 AT&T Winter National Championships.

“I'm excited to bring some swimmers to this year's Nationals,” said Chris Hansen, Bakersfield's Director of Swimming. “We haven't been to the meet since my first year when we brought some guys to Atlanta. Having the meet on the East Coast is not convenient for us. Once it was announced that it would be in Washington this year, we jumped at the opportunity to attend.”

Hansen is prepared to take six of his 'Runners to jump into the pool with some of the world's top talent. Five men have qualified for the Winter Nationals for CSUB -- Lovre Soric (200 back and IM), Bryce Timonera (100 back and fly), Mihael Vukic (50 free and 100 fly), Chris Salcido (100 free), and Owen van Krimpen (400 free) -- while Dylana Milobar will represent the women in the 100 breaststroke.

CSUB's student-athletes will be in the presence of multiple Olympic gold medalists including Missy Franklin, Michael Phelps, and Natalie Coughlin. Besides the events that the CSUB swimmers have qualified for, they will also be swimming time trials in other events.

“The meet is a long course meet,” said Hansen. “It is a preparation for people to get ready for this summer's Olympic Trials. Some of the fastest swimmers in the world will be in attendance. It's also the second hardest meet in America to qualify for, besides the Trials.”

The US Winter Nationals will be held in Federal Way, Wash. from Dec. 3-5 at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center. Results as well as a live webcast of the entire meet can be found here while NBC will televise competition from the Winter Nationals on Sunday, Dec. 6, from 1-2 p.m. (ET). Full recaps of each day of competition for the 'Runners will be posted at the end of the day.

~GoRunners.com~