March 30, 2009

From Navy Sports Information

COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Adam Meyer (Jr., Bethesda, Md.) became Navy's first individual event All-American in 13 years with his fifth-place finish in the consolation final of the 200 butterfly, Saturday night at the NCAA Swimming and Diving Championship in College Station, Texas.

The last Mid to earn All-America laurels in an individual swimming event was Ian Johnston at the 1996 NCAA Championship. A pair of Navy relay teams also garnered the accolade at the 2004 championship.

"This is a great accomplishment for Adam, his teammates and our program," said Navy head coach Bill Roberts. "It has been two years of hard work for Adam to get to this level and we couldn't be happier for him. He deserves so much credit for this, but so do his teammates. He continually pushed them to be better in practices and in meets, and they in turn spurred him on to this achievement."

Meyer advanced to the evening's consolation final by placing 16th in the afternoon trial heats with a time of 1:43.62. That clocking ranks third in school history.

Competing in lane eight of the consolation final, Meyer was in eighth place after the first 50, 100 and 150 yards of the race. However, his time of 26.56 over the closing 50 yards was the only not best in the race, it also was better than half of the swimmers who took part in the championship final of the 200 fly.

Meyer's overall clocking in the consolation final was 1:43.90, which is tied for the fourth-fastest time in school history.

All swimmers who compete in the championship final of an event earn All-America honors, while those qualifying for the consolation final garner Honorable Mention All-America status.

"We knew Adam would be able to finish strong tonight, so we wanted him to make sure he had enough left in the tank to make a move towards the end of the race," said Roberts. "We are very pleased with the time he was able to record tonight."

The first day of the championship saw Meyer miss qualifying for the consolation final in the 200 individual medley by just two-tenths of a second. Though he placed 21st in the trial heats, his time of 1:44.49 broke his own school record by over six-tenths of a second. Meyer followed that performance by recording the second-best time in Navy history in the 100 butterfly Friday.

Also competing in his third event at the championship was Navy's Erik Hunter (So., Placerville, Calif.), who placed 28th in the 1,650 freestyle with a time of 15:16.75. His time Saturday stands second in school history to his own mark of 14:58.72.

Hunter previously posted the fifth-best time in school history in the 500 free and the school's sixth-best clocking in the 400 individual medley over the first two days of the championship.

"To be able to swim in three events at the NCAA Championship as a sophomore is a tremendous accomplishment for Erik," said Roberts. "Just being able to compete at this meet has made him a better swimmer."

While Meyer and Hunter will return to Navy next year, completing his career at the meet was diver Jon Galinski (Sr., Phoenix, Md.). The 10th Navy diver to qualify for the NCAA Championship under head coach Joe Suriano and the first in three years, Galinski placed 28th in Saturday's platform diving competition with a score of 225.45 points.

"Jon had some real highs and lows today," said Suriano. "He saw 20 points deducted from his opening dive because he came down from his arm stand, but then scored 55 points on his next dive. His came up a little short on his third dive and lost a lot of points because of it before finishing very strong on his last three dives.

"We're a little disappointed in tonight, but what a great career Jon has had. It's wonderful that he could end his career by competing at the national championship."

Navy Schedule and Results at NCAA Championship

Thursday

Erik Hunter -- 500 freestyle -- 4:24.27, 43rd place

Adam Meyer -- 200 individual medley -- 1:44.49, 21st place

Jon Galinski -- one-meter springboard -- 262.25, 33rd place

Friday

Erik Hunter -- 400 individual medley -- 3:54.15, 33rd place

Adam Meyer -- 100 butterfly -- 47.60, 39th place

Jon Galinski -- three-meter springboard -- 292.75, 32nd place

Saturday

Adam Meyer -- 200 butterfly -- trials: 1:43.62, 16th place; consolation final: 1:43.90, fifth place

Erik Hunter -- 1,650 freestyle

Jon Galinski -- platform -- 225.45, 28th place