The Gustavus men’s swimming and diving team is in second place after the first day of the MIAC Championships, which are being held at the University of Minnesota Aquatics Center in Minneapolis. The Gusties, who scored 214 points, trail first place St. Olaf, who tallied 232 points. Matt Stewart had big day for the Gusties as he won the 500 freestyle for the third consecutive year in a MIAC record time of 4:26.78. Stewart broke the 20-year old record of K. Casson of St. Olaf at 4:27.57.
The Gusties made their biggest mark of the day in the 500 free where Stewart captured the title and three other Gustavus swimmers finished in the top five. That group included Whitaker Davis who placed third in a time of 4:35.79, Skylar Davis, who finished fourth in 4:38.50, and John Rice, who placed fifth in 4:41.87.
Gustavus also had a strong day in the relays as the 200 free relay team of Tyler Wakefield, Clem Auyeung, Dave Pearson, and Matt Stewart finished second with a time of 1:23.76, and the 400 medley relay team of Paul Kirihara, Billy Shultze, Stewart, and Wakefield also placed second in a time of 3:25.62.
Josh Seaburg and Dave Pearson also swam well in the 200 individual medley as Seaburg placed fourth in a time of 1:55.03 and Pearson finished fifth in a time of 1:55.32.
In the 50 freestyle, Clem Auyeung and Tyler Wakefield placed fifth and sixth, respectively. Auyeung posted a time of 21.22, and Wakefield was an eyelash behind him with a time of 21.24.
The Gusties will continue to battle for their seventh title in the past eight years tomorrow with prelims in the morning and finals in the evening.