Villanova University

Feb. 17, 2012

Results: PDF | HTML

PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Freshman Jovany Avendano (Paterson, N.J.) and junior Braden Clarke (Chappaqua, N.Y.) each scored team points in the finals of the 100 yard backstroke at the BIG EAST Championships at Trees Pool, as the third day of action concluded on Friday night. Villanova stands in ninth place in the team standings going into the final day of the competition.

The field of swimmers for the preliminaries of the 100 back on Friday morning included 35 competitors and from that group Avendano came in seventh with a time of 49.92, good enough to qualify for the championship final later in the evening. Clarke, meanwhile, was a qualifier for the consolation final after an 11th place showing (50.48) in the preliminary swim.

Avendano wound up with an eight place finish in the finals after producing a time of 50.34 in his second swim of the day. Clarke held his position and placed 11th overall after slightly lowering his time to 50.42 in the finals.

"It has been a very long time since a member of our men's team swam his way into a BIG EAST championship final," Wildcats head coach Rick Simpson said. "Jovany swam in the final heat during the preliminaries with the defending BIG EAST champion and he just ran with him. It was an amazing swim and we are quite proud of him."

Senior Ted Sukramani (Williamsburg, Va.) finished 15th in the 400 individual medley to add additional team points towards the Villanova score. Sukramani secured his spot in the consolation final on Friday morning with a 12th place finish (4:02.87) in the preliminaries. He followed up that result with a time of 4:04.49.

Also contested on Friday was the 400 yard medley relay in which the Wildcats came in ninth with a time of 3:25.08. Avendano led off the relay by swimming his third 100 yard backstroke of the day and he was followed by freshman Roy Sung (Wayland, R.I.), sophomore Ben Smith (Sudbury, Mass.) and junior Scott Thiede (Holmdel, N.J.).

The final day of the BIG EAST Championships meet is Saturday, when preliminary races begin at 10 a.m. The finals take place starting at 6 p.m.

  COMPLETE VILLANOVA RESULTS

Friday at BIG EAST Championships
Trees Pool (Pittsburgh, Pa.)

Men's 400 Yard Individual Medley

PRELIMINARIES
Ted Sukramani 12th of 29 4:02.87

FINALS

Ted Sukramani                   15th                    4:04.49

Men's 100 Yard Butterfly

PRELIMINARIES

Ben Smith                       18th of 45              50.73
Braden Clarke                   19th                    50.85
Kyle Grant                      27th                    51.76
Jason Moyer                     33rd                    52.16

Men's 200 Yard Freestyle

PRELIMINARIES

Russell Paulson                  24th of 45             1:41.90
Scott Thiede                     26th                   1:42.00

Men's 100 Yard Breaststroke

PRELIMINARIES

Roy Sung                         25th of 36             59.76
tony sipala                      26th                   59.83

Men's 100 Yard Backstroke

PRELIMINARIES

Jovany Avendano                  7th of 35              49.92
Braden Clarke                    11th                   50.48
Jason Moyer                      20th                   51.63
Kyle Grant                       21st                   52.15
Chris Tamanini                   25th                   52.88

FINALS

Jovany Avendano                  8th                    50.34
Braden Clarke                    11th                   50.42

Men's 400 Yard Medley Relay

Villanova                        9th of 10              3:25.08
Jovany Avendano                  1st Leg (Leadoff)
Roy Sung                         2nd Leg
Ben Smith                        3rd Leg
Scott Thiede                     4th Leg (Anchor)

Team Standings

Villanova                        9th of 10               99