PIERRE-ANTOINE MEUNIER SETS A BELGIUM NATIONAL RECORD
5/6/2011 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
May 6, 2011
MOLENBEEK, Belgium--University of Pittsburgh junior swimmer Pierre-Antoine Meunier helped lead his 400 medley relay team to a Belgium National Championship and a national record at the 2011 Belgium National Championships on Monday.
"I was really happy to swim with my relay team after going a long time without seeing them," Meunier said. "Boarding a plane right after finals week, mixed with a six-hour time difference and then swimming was a tough experience. However, I was pleased with my times and especially with setting another national record in the 400 meter medley relay."
A Belgium National Champion, Meunier swam a 1:03.46 split in the breaststroke during the relay and assisted in the first-place finish of 3:43.71. That time shattered the team's previous Belgium record of 3:46.33 by nearly three seconds. Meunier joined teammates Pierre-Yves Romanini, Glenn Surgeloose and Yoris Grandjean on the relay.
"Attempting to compete at a national level after stepping off a six-hour flight is nearly impossible to do," Pitt's Head Swim Coach Chuck Knoles stated. "Pierre, however, pulled it off just as he has done all season in difficult situations. He is an emerging champion."
During the meet, Meunier also swam in three individual events, where he placed among the top three in two of the races. On the first day of events, he finished third overall in the 50 breast with a lifetime-best 29.45. Meunier improved upon his fourth-place prelim finish of 30.20 to move into the top three.
On the third day of competition, Meunier placed third in the 100 breast with another personal best at 1:03.84.
In his third individual race of the meet, Meunier swam in the prelims of the 200 breast and was seeded fifth in the finals (before scratching) with a time of 2:23.27. That finish was just shy of his lifetime-best 2:22.91.
In his first season at Pitt, Meunier finished the 2010-11 campaign in stellar fashion when he helped guide the 200 medley relay team to an NCAA provisional time and All-Big East finish at his first Big East Championship. Meunier was also a top-10 finisher in the 100 breast at that conference meet.