Oles finish sixth at NCAA's, Westby third in 200 Breast

Mike Ludwig
March 22, 2008

OXFORD, Ohio - Nelson Westby led through three legs of the 200 Breast final and finished third in the event to lead St. Olaf to sixth place at the NCAA Division III Men's Swimming and Diving Championships, which concluded Saturday night.

Westby, who won the 200 IM and finished second in the 100 Breast earlier in the Championships, had the day's fastest time in the 200 Breast with his 1:59.92 in the afternoon prelims. Staton Island's Pavel Buyanov of Russia overtook Westby in the final 25 yards to claim his second win over the St. Olaf junior. Buyanov touched Westby by a hundredth of a second in Friday's 100 Breast.

The 200 Breast was Westby's 13th swim of the Championships, which included prelim and finals relays.

Westby's prelim time broke the St. Olaf school record by over five seconds.

St. Olaf was 12th in the 400 Free Relay, which consisted of Westby, Jake Koch, Adam Meyer and Nate Bentley.

Koch, Meyer, Westby and David Manley were sixth in Friday's 200 Medley Relay.

Meyer thrust himself into the 200 Back final with his career-best in Saturday's prelims and finished eighth in the evening final.

Meyer was fourth in Friday's 100 Back final.

Contact media relations specialist Mike Ludwig at (507) 786-3834 or ludwigm@stolaf.edu.