University Southern California Trojans
Szabados Earns Third Championship Berth at NCAAs
June 21, 1999 | Men's Swimming & Diving
March 27, 1999
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Senior All-American Bela Szabados earned his third championship berth of the meet and sophomore Leonardo Costa made his first finals of his career to highlight USC's final morning of the 1999 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships at the Indiana University Natatorium in Indianapolis on Saturday (March 27).
Szabados swam a USC season best 43.15 in the 100y free, qualifying with the fourth-fastest time. Szabados' time was less than two tenths of a second off of the USC record in the event (42.98, Erik Ran, 1990) and makes him the second-fastest Trojan ever in the event. Sophomore Gabe Woodward will make his point-scoring debut in the same event tonight after earning a spot in the consolation finals in 43.65.
Costa earned his first career NCAA finals berth with a season best 1:43.70 in the 200y back, qualifying seventh overall. Freshman Nick Kaschik also competed in the event, swimming a personal-best 1:46.18 (22nd).
The Trojans' 400y free relay team of Woodward, Demers, senior co-captain Mike Williams and Szabados earned a spot in the championship finals, qualifying with the fifth-fastest time in a season best 2:55.35. USC made only consolation finals in the event last year.
Sophomores Ryosuke Imai and Slawek Richter, both of whom finalled in the 100y breast on Friday, competed in the 200y breast on Saturday, but finished out of the top 16. Imai just missed earning an appearance in the consolation finals, finishing 17th in 2:00.63. Richter swam 2:00.96 (19th).
In the 200y fly, junior Bret Awbrey posted a personal best 1:46.07, qualifying for the consolation finals (10th overall). Sophomore Philippe Demers just missed the consolation cut, his 1:46.87 good for 17th, and senior co-captain Mark Kwok swam 1:49.83 (32nd).
Entering the final night, USC is tied for fourth with 206 points. Auburn leads with 341.5. Defending champion Stanford is second with 297, followed by Texas (289.5), USC (206), Arizona (206) and California (196.5). USC finished in fifth last year with 220 points.
The NCAA Championships conclude tonight. Finals begin at 7 p.m. (EST).
