Feb. 25, 2006

Results

Cleveland, Ohio- A collection of fine finishes, highlighted by All-Horizon League Second Team showings from Stefan Staev and Kris Simos, were produced by the UIC swimming & diving team at Friday's finals of the 2006 Horizon League Championships at Cleveland State's Busbey Natatorium.

With one day left in the title meet, UIC remains in striking distance. On the men's side, the Flames rank third behind Cleveland State and Wright State with a team tally of 474.5, while the UIC women remain in fourth with a 332.5.

Staev picked up his second consecutive runner-up finish in the league 100-yard breaststroke finals, swimming a 57.15 to finish just behind Wright State's Rafael Candido (57.00).

Simos swam a career-best 49.51 in the 100 butterfly finals to take second in the event. Senior Ari Bernstein was not too far behind, placing fifth with a 49.95.

The men's 200-yard freestyle finals provided prime points for the Flames as LeRoy Stevens (1:41.01), Sean Dawson (1:42.99) and Blake Booher (1:43.44) turned in a 5-6-7 finish.

For the women, Jessica Darud once again proved to save her best for the finals as the junior swam a 58.91 to place fourth in the 100 backstroke, her best placing in the event at the league championships to date.

Bill Hare's 52.18 in the men's 100 backstroke earned the senior fifth in the event, followed by Adan Jimenez (52.46) in sixth.

In the men's three-meter diving finals, Ryan Fitzer (279.60) led the way at sixth place for the Flames, followed by Mark Pappalardo (273.05) in seventh.

The quartet of Stevens, Jimenez, Bernstein and Dawson capped off the night with a school-record 6:50.37 in the 800-yard freestyle relay to place close third, just behind Wright State's 6:50.02.

UIC will start the final day of the Horizon League Championships at Saturday morning's preliminary races.