East Carolina University
Gamecock Invitational
Pirates Conclude Competition At Gamecock Invitational
November 23, 2008 | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 23, 2008
COLUMBIA, S.C. --- The East Carolina men's and women's swimming and diving teams concluded competition at the 2008 Gamecock Invitational this weekend with some of the most outstanding individual performances in school history. Over 90 personal best times were set by ECU swimmers during the three-day meet.
Freshman Kelsey Brosi made her way into the ECU record books in four events with personal best times in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle and the 100 and 200-yard backstroke, which all rank among the school's all-time top 10 times. She qualified for the finals of the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke, while also qualifying for the U.S. Short Course Nationals in the 50 Free.
Brosi was one of 11 Pirate swimmers to record an ECU all-time top 10 mark. Freshman Caitlin Marsilli joined the record book in the three events with Jackie Jones, Jenna Stewart, Amanda Duncan, Jonathan Bailey and Travis Stauder each etching their names in two events.
Duncan, Jones and Stewart also qualified for the women's short course championships as did Bailey and Thiago Cavalcanti on the men's side. Cavalcanti, Duncan, Jones and Stewart each qualified for multiple events for the short course championships.
Duncan recorded the Pirates' best finish of the weekend by placing second in the 100-yard butterfly. Cavalcanti placed third in both the 200 and 500-yard freestyle as did Bailey in the 1650-yard freestyle. Stewart earned a top five finish in the 50-yard freestyle coming in fourth, while Jones also earned a fourth-place finish in the 200 IM.
Freshmen divers Meghan Coyne and Katie Yamamoto each qualified for the NCAA Zone Championships on the one-meter board. Yamamoto placed fourth in the super finals, while Coyne also reached the finals competition. Senior Matt Larson reached the finals competition in both the men's one-meter and three-meter diving competition.
A total of 16 Pirate swimmers and divers moved from the preliminaries into the finals of their respective events.
"This was one of the best and fastest meets I've been a part of," said Pirate coach Rick Kobe. "Our kids swam very fast and were able to achieve marks that qualified them for both and NCAA Regional and U.S. Short Course National Championships. I'm extremely proud of our performances this weekend."
