Jan. 7, 2008
IRVINE, Calif. - The UNLV men's and women's swimming teams competed in the UCI/Ayres Sprint and Distance Invitationals this past Saturday on the UC Irvine campus. The Rebel men took first in the distance meet and second in the sprint competition, while the UNLV women were third in the distance and third in the spring meet.
UNLV won two of four events in the distance event on the men's side, beginning in the 1000 free, where Johan Claar set a meet record with a time of 9:12.52, that broke former Rebel Jacint Simon's time of 9:27.46 in 2001. Claar was one of three Rebels in the top three in the event. Tamas Bosnyak was second in the 400 IM in 4:12.13, while UNLV cleaned up in the 500 free, taking the first six places. John Mendoza touched first in the 500, with a time of 4:35.41. UNLV would finish with a score of 218 points, ahead of UC Irvine's 201.
On the women's side in the distance meet, the Rebels scored 111 points for third, behind UC Irvine (166) and Washington State (121). Lara Sreibers turned in two second-place finishes, as she was second in the 1000 free (10:26.39) and in the 500 free (5:06.42). Kim Bonney was the highest finisher in the 400 IM, swimming 4:34.76 to place third.
In the men's spring meet, UNLV took five of the top six in the 200 free, with Johan Claar breaking his meet record from 2006 with a time of 1:41.48 to place first, ahead of teammate Richard Hortness. Jonas Andersson won the 100 breast in 56.35, the 200 breast in 2:07.67and was third in the 200 IM (2:00.85), Hortness claimed first in the 100 free (46.43), Peter Lorring was first in the 100 fly (50.77), Devin Phillips placed first in the 200 back (1:51.38) and second in the 200 fly in 1:53.85. The Rebels finished with a score of 419, behind UC Irvine (586).
Highlights for the UNLV women in the spring meet included a one-two-three sweep of the 200 breast, led by Kim Bonney's 2:21.30 time. Marina Sandback won the 100 free (52.03) and took second in both the 100 fly (58.41) and the 200 free (1:55.51), Megan Hunt Higgins was third in the 100 back (1:00.11), Bonney was second in the 100 breast (1:05.76), and Jenna Neff was third in the 200 back (2:12.83). UNLV would place third with 343 points, behind Washington State (659) and UC Irvine (409).
