Spartans Jarzen and Puskaric Qualify for NCAA Swimming Championships
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Jarzen makes second appearance; Puskaric qualifies for first time. Photo courtesy of MSU SID.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
