Panthers Compete in ConocoPhillips National Swimming Championships
8/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Swimming
Aug. 18, 2005
PITTSBURGH - Jason Miller (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cumberland Valley), senior co-captain of the men's swimming team, qualified for the 2008 Olympic Trials while he and fellow Panther senior and co-captain Darryl Washington (Aldan, Pa./Penn Wood) competed in the 2005 Summer ConocoPhillips National Swimming Championships in Irvine, Calif., August 2-7.
Miller, a three-time first team All-Big East performer, swam the 100- and 200-meter butterfly and the 200-meter individual medley. He started off the meet with a personal-best performance in the 200 butterfly, swimming a 2:07.2 and dropping nearly two seconds from his previous record, set two weeks prior. In the 100 fly, Miller finished with a time of 55.48 seconds, accomplishing the U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying standard and finishing in 26th place. It was Miller's first Olympic Trials qualifying time. He finished his meet with a personal-best performance in the 200 IM with a time of 2:11.1, six seconds better than his previous record.
"Jason had an outstanding meet," said assistant swimming coach Eric Stefanski, who accompanied both Miller and Washington to the meet. "He showed what hard work and confidence can accomplish at this high level of competition. Jason leaves the meet with an excitement for swimming, that as a captain, he can bring back to his Panther squad and make an immediate impact for this upcoming season."
Washington, also a three-time first team All-Big East performer, competed in the 50- and 100-meter freestyle events. He started the meet with a time of 53.03 seconds in the 100 free, just missing his personal record of 52.47. He finished the meet with a time of 24.22 seconds in the 50 free, just off his personal best time of 23.76 which he performed this spring at the World Championship Trials in Indianapolis, Ind.
"Darryl showed a lot of character throughout this event," said Stefanski. "I think he is on the right path for great successes throughout his senior year and even though his times from these championships were not where we both would have liked them to be, he is learning what he needs to do to be able to accomplish his goals and perform consistently at such a high level of competition."