College Station, TX (March 23) – Georgia Tech sophomore Tomonori Tsuji was the Yellow Jackets’ top performer on the second day of the competition at the NCAA Swimming Championships March 23, as he set a new Tech school record in the 100-yard breaststroke. The three-day event is being held at Texas A&M’s Student Recreation Center Natatorium in College Station, Texas.
Tsuji opened his first appearance in the NCAA meet by finishing 22nd in the 100 breaststroke prelims with a time of 54.98 seconds. The time bettered Tsuji’s own school-best mark of 55.04 seconds at the ACC Championships on February 21-24. Fast times continued to be the norm at the meet, as Brendan Hansen of Texas set a new pool record of 52.35 in the 100 breast, which was the day’s top time.
The Jackets’ other NCAA competitor, sophomore Shilo Ayalon (Kfar Hanassi, Israel), competed in his second event of the meet and joined Tsuji in the top 30. Ayalon finished his preliminary heat with a time of 3:56.52 in the 400-yard individual medley to place 28th. Michigan’s Tom Sicilano had the best time of the day in the 400 IM, as he also set a new pool record with a time of 3:40.77.
The meet will conclude on Saturday, with the final day of competition as Ayalon, who is seeded ninth, will swim the 1650 freestyle, while Tsuji will compete in one of his best events, the 200-yard breaststroke.
