Helander Helps UU to Runner-Up Finish at Asbury

WILMORE, Kentucky (February 4, 2012) – In the final meet before the Appalachian Swimming Conference Championships, both the Urbana University men’s and women’s swim teams collected runner-up finishes at the Asbury College Invitational. The men were clipped by their hosts from Asbury 606-463, but they finished well ahead of St. Catharine (92) and Bethel (61). The women were also bested by Asbury 887-273, but they took care of Bethel (144), Campbellsville (81) and St. Catharine (5).

Urbana’s men were led by freshman Kim Helander. Helander won both of his individual events and he swam legs on the team’s winning 200 yard free and 200 yard medley relay squads. Helander’s time in the 100 fly trimmed almost 8 tenths of a second off his school record time. He crushed a field of 6 in a time of 49.89, qualifying for the NCAA D-II Championship B-cut for the second time this season. Helander also won the 200 fly. In all, he was a part of 80 of Urbana’s final point tally. Joining him on the winning relay teams were Matt Stover, Brian Hurley and Paul Miller in the 200 medley, and Alex Espinoza, Alex Parks and Miller in the 200 free.

Other individual event winners included Espinoza in the 200 free in a time of 1:48.57, Miller in the 50 free in a time of 22.26, and Stover in the 200 IM in 2:04.72.

Urbana’s women were held winless, but the Lady Knights recorded a pair of runner-up finishes. Breanne Schroeder took second in the 200 free in 2:05.57, and Bethany McNutt in the 200 backstroke in a time of 2:30.30. Schroeder’s time was just 3 tenths off her school record pace. The 200 free relay team of Heather Abdalla, Rachel Kelly, McNutt and Schroeder scored 32 points for their 3rd place finish in a competitive race.

The Blue Knight men matched the school record for wins after the meet. The men currently sit at 12-6 on the season with only the conference championships left. Last season, they earned the distinction of D-II most improved program after a 12-10 season. The women climbed above .500 at 10-9, adding to their school record for wins. The squads are back in action in two weeks in Barbourville, Kentucky for the ASC Championships. [Results]