CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — The LSU Tigers’ freshman phenom, Ross Buffington, broke two-all time swimming records during competition at last weekend’s 2000 Nike Cup Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C.
“Ross swam very well at the Nike Cup,” said LSU head coach Jeff Cavana. “He broke these records as a freshman and they were nearly 10-years old. He is swimming at a pace to finish among the top 15 in the nation in the event, and that is an outstanding accomplishment for a freshman.”
Buffington, the Washington State Swimmer of the Year last season and a member of the 2000 Junior National team, set two-LSU records in the freestyle-distance events at the 2000 Nike Cup Invitational.
After setting the LSU-record time in the 1000-yard freestyle event earlier in the season versus Alabama, Buffington broke his own school record on Saturday with a time of 9:17.58 in the competition.
He then followed up his record-setting performance in the 1000-freestyle by shattering Bobby Koob’s 10-year old LSU record in the 1650-yard freestyle event with a time of 15:26.98. Koob’s previous LSU record was 15:34.03.
“Ross is a self-motivated and dedicated swimmer,” said LSU assistant coach Lars Jorgensen. “He is very talented and I am proud of his performance this last week at the Nike Cup. We are looking forward to a great season for Ross.”
Six LSU swimmers recorded times at the 2000 Nike Cup Invitational that exceed the NCAA “B” standards. The qualifying members were Buffington, Steve Gluck, Mandy Leach, Donna Leslie, Evan Martinec, and Lindsey Mooney.
Buffington qualified in the 1000-yard freestyle event, Gluck in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 55.90, and Leach set “B” standard times in four different events.
Leach, who competed for Zimbabwe in the 2000 Olympic Games, qualified for the NCAA “B” cut in the 200-yard individual medley (2:03.36), 100-yard butterfly (55.28), 100-freestyle (50.58), and the 200-yard freestyle competitions (1:48.62) during the Nike Cup.
Freshmen swimmers, Leslie and Martinec, each qualified for the NCAA “B” cut this past weekend. Leslie exceeded the standard time 49.26.
The sixth person to qualify was the Lady Tigers’ senior leader Mooney. Mooney finished the 400-yard I.M. with a time of 4:22.76 to exceed the NCAA “B” standard time.
The LSU men’s and women’s swimming teams will next be in action on January 3, 2001, as they travel to Tampa Bay, Fla., to take on both the University of Tampa and Ouchita Baptist in a double-dual meet. The Tigers diving teams will next compete on Dec. 15-16, as they host the Cajun Diving Classic.