Saturday, November 06, 2004

Valparaiso University's men's swimming and diving team finished in fourth place at the Eastern Illinois Invitational held in Charleston, Ill. over the weekend.

The Crusaders scored 297.5 points, well ahead of Butler's 204. Eastern Illinois won the meet with 755.5 points, followed by IUPUI with 471 and Lincoln with 470.

Travers Smith (Huntley, Ill./Huntley H.S.) opened with a third place finish in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:50.61.

David Peterson (Schererville, Ill./Highland H.S.) then turned in his first of three top-two finishes with a runner-up effort in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:58.74. Peterson also was second in the 400 IM with a mark of 4:18.68.

Smith finished runner-up in the 100 back with a time of 54.98 seconds, while placing third in the 200 back (2:00.33).

Peterson then concluded the meet with Valpo's only other top-five finish, winning the 200 breaststroke by more than a second and a half with a time of 2:13.34.

Valpo will return to dual meet action this Friday hosting Lewis at 6 p.m. at the Athletics-Recreation Center pool.