(DES MOINES, Iowa. – Nov. 15) – The McKendree University men's swimming and diving team was represented by four Bearcats at the Toyota U.S. Open Swimming Championships over the weekend. The group achieved numerous Olympic Trial cuts, NCAA 'A' cuts, and even a new national record.

The championships featured four timed final sessions. During the first session, Fabio Dalu (Cagliari, Italy/Liceo L.B. Alberti Cagliari) swam the 800 meter freestyle, touching the wall at 8:05.98. Dalu scored a first place finish and an NCAA automatic qualifying time (NCAA 'A' cut).
 
The following session, Dalu swam the 400 meter freestyle, finishing with a 3:58.46, a new personal best. Additionally, Gregg Lichinsky (West Des Moines, IA/West Des Moines Valley High School) swam the 50 meter freestyle, touching the wall in second place with a 22.88. Lichinsky not only made an NCAA 'A' cut, but he also achieved an Olympic Trials cut. In the same race, Xander Skinner (Namibia, Africa/Windhoek Afrikaans Private School) placed fourth with a 23.17 and Caleb Law (Anchorage, AK/Robert Service) finished with a time of 23.84.
 
In the third session, Lichinsky swam the 100 meter butterfly. He finished in fourth place in a time of 55.03. Also, Skinner swam the 200 meter freestyle where he placed second with a new personal best time and Namibian national record of 1:52.41.
 
During the final session, Dalu placed first in the 1500 meter freestyle with a time of 15:39.56, achieving another NCAA 'A' cut. Skinner swam the 100 meter freestyle where he placed second with a time of 50.65 and Lichinsky placed tenth with a time of 51.84.