Spartans Jarzen and Puskaric Qualify for NCAA Swimming Championships

 

Jarzen makes second appearance; Puskaric qualifies for first time. Photo courtesy of MSU SID.

 

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Michigan State swimming senior Kevin Puskaric and sophomore Jacob Jarzen have been selected to represent MSU at the 2011 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in Minneapolis, Minn., March 25-27. For Jarzen, this marks his second-straight year earning in bid while Puskaric will make his debut at the event at the end of the month.

 

Like 2010, Jarzen has qualified in three events, the 100-yard butterfly, the 100-yard backstroke and the 200-yard backstroke. Puskaric qualified for NCAAs in the 200-yard breaststroke for the Spartans.

 

All of Jarzen’s top marks of the season occurred two weekends ago at the 2011 Big Ten Championships in Minneapolis, Minn., also the site of the NCAA Championships. Jarzen posted a fifth-place time of 46.69 in the 100 fly for a school-record mark. The Jacksonville, Ill., native kicked-off the event in the 400-yard medley relay where he posted mark of 46.69 during the opening leg while swimming the 100 back. Jarzen’s time would have placed him tops all-time in school history, had it not occurred during a relay event. His second individual record of the event was posted in the 200 back when he finished fourth in the event with a time of 1:43.43.

 

Puskaric qualified in the 200 breast after posting a school-record time on Sunday, March 6 at the Ohio State Last Ditch NCAA Qualifier. The Mokena, Ill., native clocked a 1:55.81 to finish first overall in the event and earn his first NCAA bid of his career.

 

Jarzen and Puskaric will now travel to Minneapolis, Minn., March 25-27 for the 2011 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships hosted by the University of Minnesota.