(INDIANAPOLIS, Ind., March 13) – The McKendree University swimming and diving program completed day one of the NCAA Division-II Swimming and Diving Championships on Wednesday night on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.
 
The Bearcats competed in three events during the first day of competition including the 50, 1000-yard freestyles and three-meter diving events.
 
Sophomore Throstur Bjarnason (Reykjanesbær, Iceland/Fjölbrautaskóli Suðurnesja) competed first in the 1000-yard freestyle, turning in a time of 9:14.62, placing 10th and receiving All-American Honorable Mention honors.
 
In the 50-yard freestyle, sophomore Alexander Skinner (Namibia, Africa/Windhoek Afrikaans Private School) placed fourth with a time of 19.84, receiving All-American honors. Skinner's fourth place finish is the highest individual finish in McKendree history. Junior Matija Pucarevic (Belgrade, Serbia/Sixth Belgrade Grammar School) placed 23rd with a time of 20.37.
 
Freshman Ethan Larson (Anchorage, AK/Paideia High School) scored 401.20 points on the three-meter diving board to place 12th and take home All-American Honorable Mention honors. Larson scored McKendree's first ever diving points at the NCAA Championships.
 
"I was really happy with the comeback I made. Not every dive went as planned but I was able to put my last five dives in really well and gained on the competition," said Larson. "I am really excited for the one-meter event on Friday."
 
The Bearcats will compete in the 200-yard freestyle relay, 400-yard medley relay, 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly on Thursday.