Skip To Main Content

California State University at Bakersfield Athletics

Next Event

Loren Gillilan
Mark Nessia/Mark Nessia Photography

Men's Swim & Dive

Gillilan Captures 50 Fly Title

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Loren Gillilan has been unstoppable for the past two weeks.  After breaking the school record in the 100- and 200-yard butterfly events at the Western Athletic Conference Championships, the sophomore CSU Bakersfield swimmer won the 50 fly on Thursday in 21.48 on the opening night of the National Invitation Championships.
 
In the team standings, the Roadrunners certainly opened some eyes as they rank eighth with 161.5 points after the first day of the three-day competition. 
 
"Finishing the night in the top 10 on night one is a great place for us," said CSUB Director of Swimming Chris Hansen.  "We are ahead of some the best schools in the country and are off to a great start.  The men are on fire. Loren winning the 50 fly started off the night with three more top-five finishes in Justice (Kramer), Jake (Chir) and Kris (Rogic). These boys want CSUB to finish in the top five so bad they can taste it.  The 200 free relay of Kris, Loren, Noah (Hickman) and Michael (Hart) finished eighth to score us some points but all four swimmers where little off tonight. The 400 medley relay of Kris, Jake, Loren and Michael finishing sixth with the second-fastest time in CSUB history was great for us.  I'm really proud of the men.  Our top half of our roster can compete with the very best."
 
Gillilan qualified in second in 21.82, but really turned things on in the finals, shaving .34 seconds off of his prelim time to top the podium.  Senior Justice Kramer also had an impressive opening night in Cleveland as he finished fifth in the event in 22.14.  Michael Hart added even more points for CSUB in the 50 fly with a 15th-place finish (22.41). 
 
Gillilan got some help from his teammates to make more history on Thursday night.  He swam the third leg of CSUB's 400 medley relay that finished in the second-fastest time in school history (3:15.28).  Kris Rogic led off the relay with a 48.40 in the 100 back, and was followed by Jake Chir in the breaststroke portion.  Michael Hart anchored the relay to a sixth-place finish. 
 
To begin the finals session, CSUB's 200 freestyle relay squad finished in eighth (1:21.57).  Rogic led off the relay and was followed by Gillilan.  Hart swam the third leg and Noah Hickman anchored the foursome with the top split of the group (20.17). 
 
Senior Jake Chir continued CSUB's momentum in the 50 breaststroke.  Chir qualified fifth, but improved on his time in the finals, touching the wall in 24.90 to finish fourth.  Greg Lee added to the `Runners' haul in the event by finishing 19th in 26.00.  Rogic produced the final top-five finish of the night with a fourth-place finish in the 50 back (22.31).    
 
CSUB had two swimmers score in the 50 free.  Noah Hickman finished 14th in 20.57, while Hart took 19th in 20.95. 
 
The meet continues tomorrow with the prelims beginning at 9:30 a.m. EST.  The finals session starts at 6:00 p.m. EST. 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Jake Chir

Jake Chir

Breast/Free
6' 0"
Senior
Loren Gillilan

Loren Gillilan

Sprints/Fly
5' 11"
Sophomore
Michael Hart

Michael Hart

Breast/Free
5' 10"
Junior
Noah Hickman

Noah Hickman

Sprints/Breasts
5' 9"
Sophomore
Justice Kramer

Justice Kramer

IM
5' 11"
Senior
Greg Lee

Greg Lee

Breaststroke/IM
5' 10"
Senior
Kris Rogic

Kris Rogic

IM/Sprint
6' 1"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Jake Chir

Jake Chir

6' 0"
Senior
Breast/Free
Loren Gillilan

Loren Gillilan

5' 11"
Sophomore
Sprints/Fly
Michael Hart

Michael Hart

5' 10"
Junior
Breast/Free
Noah Hickman

Noah Hickman

5' 9"
Sophomore
Sprints/Breasts
Justice Kramer

Justice Kramer

5' 11"
Senior
IM
Greg Lee

Greg Lee

5' 10"
Senior
Breaststroke/IM
Kris Rogic

Kris Rogic

6' 1"
Sophomore
IM/Sprint
California State University at Bakersfield Athletics loading