March 30, 2007
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. - Two days after narrowly missing the qualifying standard for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200 backstroke, Navy's Kevin Mukri (Sr., Silver Spring, Md.) achieved a trials-cut time in the 100 backstroke, Friday at the U.S. Swimming Spring Championship in East Meadow, N.Y.
Needing a time of 57.99 to qualify for next year's trials in the 100 back, Mukri posted a clocking of 57.40 in Friday morning's trial heat session to become the third member of the Navy swimming program to qualify for the trials.
Mukri will be joined at the Olympic Trials by 2006 graduate Joe Smutz in the 50 freestyle and current Navy freshman Mallory Dietrich (Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) in the 100 breaststroke.
In addition, Mukri's time placed him sixth overall in the trial heats, which advanced him into Friday night's 'A' final in the event. Two days after finishing in eighth place in the 200 backstroke championship final, Mukri would record a time of 57.55 in the 100 back final to place sixth.
"I'm very excited," said Mukri afterwards. "To think I will be attending the trials as a competitor is a great thrill."
"This was a great day for both Kevin and our program," said Navy men's head coach Bill Roberts. "To not just achieve an Olympic Trials cut time twice in one day, but to also qualify for his second final of this meet are wonderful achievements and we all congratulate Kevin on what he has accomplished."
Harvard graduate David Cromwell would win the final with a time of 55.12.
Mukri ended the day by swimming the anchor leg of Navy's third-place finishing 400 freestyle relay team. He was preceded in the relay by Christopher Jenkins (Jr., Chicago, Ill.), Joe Unruh (So., Orinda, Calif.) and Frank Komadina (Fr., Gilbert, Ariz.).
"Overall we are pleased with the times we have posted at the meet," said Roberts. "Our relay team put up a Senior Nationals qualifying time tonight, so it was an exciting day for everyone."
The Navy women's team placed 14th in its 400 freestyle relay.
The five-day meet being held at the Nassau County Aquatics Center comes to a close Saturday with Navy swimmers competing in the 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle and 400 medley relay.
Navy Individual Event Final Results for Friday
Men
100m Backstroke
Kevin Mukri - 57.55 - 6th in 'A' final
Navy Individual Event Trial Heat Results for Friday
Women
100m Backstroke
Thuy-Mi Dinn -- 1:10.46 -- 8th in heat, 78th overall
400m Freestyle
Tara Chapmon -- 4:32.34 -- 1st in heat, 73rd overall
100m Breaststroke
Mallory Dietrich -- 1:14.76 -- 6th in heat, 31st overall
100m Butterfly
Mallory Dietrich -- 1:04.91 -- 5th in heat, 53rd overall
Men
100m Backstroke
Kevin Mukri -- 57.40 -- 3rd in heat, 6th overall
Billy Vey -- 1:00.65 -- 4th in heat, 42nd overall
100m Breaststroke
Kevin Kysiak -- 1:06.93 -- 6th in heat, 30th overall
Ari Molina -- 1:08.02 -- 8th in heat, 44th overall
Friday's 400m Freestyle Relay Results
Navy Women -- 3:59.39 -- 3rd in heat, 14th overall
Kelly Zahalka, Tara Chapmon, Sarah Dorenkott, Thuy-Mi Dinh
Navy Men - 3:32.70 - 2nd in heat, 3rd overall
Christopher Jenkins, Joe Unruh, Frank Komadina, Kevin Mukri
Saturday's Navy Schedule
200m Individual Medley -- Kelly Zahalka ... Christopher Jenkins, Adam Meyer, Billy Vey
50m Freestyle -- Thuy-Mi Dinh, Sarah Dorenkott ... Frank Komadina
400m Medley Relay -- Navy women ... Navy men
