(ROLLA, Mo., Jan. 8) – The McKendree University men's swimming team competed against Missouri S&T on Friday afternoon in Rolla, MO. McKendree fell short to the Miners 94-110. Nonetheless, Fabio Dalu (Cagliari, Italy/Liceo L.B. Alberti Cagliari) set a new pool record in the 1000 yard freestyle, beating the previous record by almost three seconds.
 
In the second event of the meet, sophomore Dalu won the 1000 yard freestyle with a time of 9:22.35, creating some excitement on the pool deck for the Bearcats. Charlie Fraser-Allen (London, England/Highgate Wood Secondary School) followed his teammate by touching second with a time of 9:55.31.
 
Senior Xander Skinner (Namibia, Africa/Windhoek Afrikaans Private School) carried the momentum and captured first place finishes in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:42.11, as well as the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.92.
 
In the 50 freestyle, junior Gregg Lichinsky (West Des Moines, IA/West Des Moines Valley High School) out touched his opponents, securing first place with a time of 21.22.
 
In his second win of the day, Dalu finished with a time of 4:39.50 in the 500 freestyle.
 
To wrap up the meet, the Bearcats defeated the Miners in the 400 freestyle relay. The team of Skinner, Noah Javens (West Lafayette, IN/William Henry Harrison), Fraser-Allen, and Lichinsky finished with a time of 3:06.80.
 
Up next for the Bearcats is their home meet against the University of Indianapolis on Jan. 15^th at the McKendree Metro Rec Plex.
 
*Reminder that the swim meet against Washington University - St. Louis, set for Jan. 9^th, has been cancelled.