March 30, 2006

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - After a successful opening day at the USA Swimming Championship, five members of the Navy swimming program took to the water for events Thursday at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash.

The day began for the Navy contingent with Joe Smutz (Sr., Marriottsville, Md.) placing 73rd in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of 2:03.34. One day earlier Smutz had placed sixth in the 50-meter freestyle.

Kelly Zahalka (Fr., Richmond, Va.) followed by recording a time of 5:10.79 to place 62nd in the 400-meter individual medley. The event was the first of two the freshman will swim in at the meet.

The day of competition was closed by seeing Navy's 800-meter freestyle relay team place seventh in its heat and 16th overall with a time of 8:02.16. Billy Vey (Fr., Huntersville, N.C.) started the relay, with Smutz second, Alex Oldenkamp (Fr., Coppell, Texas) swimming the third leg and Mike Linn (Sr., Newhall, Calif.) hitting the water for the anchor leg.

"Today was not our best day, but a lot of that had to do with the events we swam in today," said Navy assistant coach Adam Kennedy. "The team we brought is geared more towards the shorter events as opposed to the 200 free and the 800 freestyle relay. Even with that, we were very pleased by the times we saw out of our guys today."

In the team competition at the championship, the Navy men's team ranks 19th with 24 points.

Friday's schedule for the Mids includes Linn competing in the 100 fly, Jennie Spencer (Fr., Smithburg, W. Va.) racing in the 100 backstroke and Navy's relay squad competing in the 400 freestyle relay.

"Our best events are ahead of us over the next two days, so we will have opportunities to score a lot of points Friday and Saturday," said Kennedy. "To be able to score points on each of the four days we compete at a national meet would be a great accomplishment."

The championship concludes Saturday.