Pitt Swimming Produces another All-American in Cooper van der Laan
3/26/2021 8:45:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
GREENSBORO, N.C.—University of Pittsburgh swimming & diving placed its second men's swimmer on the NCAA podium this week at the Greensboro Aquatic Center, making program history in the process.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, junior Cooper van der Laan became the second Pitt swimmer in as many days to secure a top-eight individual finish at the 2021 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. The Australian was eighth-fastest in the preliminary session, qualifying for the championship heat.
Pitt's van der Laan then finished eighth in the NCAA's 100 Breast with a final time of 52.17.
In the process, van der Laan secured his status forever as an NCAA All-American swimmer, joining Pitt teammate Blaise Vera, who accomplished the feat in the 50-yard freestyle on Thursday evening.
Never before has Pitt's program produced multiple men's swimming NCAA All-Americans in the same season, and van der Laan was also the first Pitt men's swimmer to achieve All-America status in any breaststroke event.
Crucially, he also scored 11 team points for the Panthers, positioning the Pitt men's team to finish with one of its best ever at the NCAA Championships with one day left in Greensboro.
Here are Pitt men's swimming & diving's highest-scoring meets at the NCAA Championships:
Sophomore diver Dylan Reed also competed in his second event of nationals this week. Reed finished strong to take 30th place on 3-meter springboard with a total score of 317.85.
The 2021 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships conclude Saturday in Greensboro with another full day of preliminary and final action to determine All-Americans and national champions.
#H2P | #H2oP | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
In the 100-yard breaststroke, junior Cooper van der Laan became the second Pitt swimmer in as many days to secure a top-eight individual finish at the 2021 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships. The Australian was eighth-fastest in the preliminary session, qualifying for the championship heat.
Pitt's van der Laan then finished eighth in the NCAA's 100 Breast with a final time of 52.17.
In the process, van der Laan secured his status forever as an NCAA All-American swimmer, joining Pitt teammate Blaise Vera, who accomplished the feat in the 50-yard freestyle on Thursday evening.
Never before has Pitt's program produced multiple men's swimming NCAA All-Americans in the same season, and van der Laan was also the first Pitt men's swimmer to achieve All-America status in any breaststroke event.
Crucially, he also scored 11 team points for the Panthers, positioning the Pitt men's team to finish with one of its best ever at the NCAA Championships with one day left in Greensboro.
Here are Pitt men's swimming & diving's highest-scoring meets at the NCAA Championships:
- 2016: 22nd, 31.0 points
- 1997: 31st, 25.0 points
- 2020: 24th, 23.0 points (active)
- 2002: 24th, 18.0 points
- 2017: 31st, 12.0 points
Sophomore diver Dylan Reed also competed in his second event of nationals this week. Reed finished strong to take 30th place on 3-meter springboard with a total score of 317.85.
The 2021 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships conclude Saturday in Greensboro with another full day of preliminary and final action to determine All-Americans and national champions.
#H2P | #H2oP | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
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