July 28, 2011
SHANGHAI, CHINA -
Former California standout Nathan Adrian, one of the world's top sprint freestylers, placed sixth in the finals of the 100-meter freestyle Thursday (July 28) at the World Championships in Shanghai, China. Adrian, who helped Cal to the 2011 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving team title, was the United States' top finisher in the 100 free with a time of 48.23.
On July 24, Adrian swam the anchor leg (47.40) of the United States' 400-meter freestyle relay that captured the bronze medal in a time of 3:11.96, trailing Australia (3:11.00) and France (3:11.14). Included in Team USA's 400 free relay was Michael Phelps, Garrett Weber-Gale and Jason Lezak.
On the college stage, Adrian approached Matt Biondi-like status for the Golden Bears as he was a three-time national champion in the 100-yard freestyle, a two-time winner of the 50 free and a member of the 2011 NCAA champion 400 free and 200 and 400 medley relays. He was the 2009 and 2011 Pac-10 Swimmer of the Year, as well as the 2011 CSCAA Swimmer of the NCAA championships - all after earning a gold medal as a member of the U.S. 400 free relay at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Adrian will next compete in the 50-meter free at the Worlds on Friday, July 29. Other swimmers with Cal connections competing at the World Championships include graduated senior Martti Aljand (Estonia, 100 and 200 breaststroke), graduated senior Guy Barnea (Israel, 50 and 100 backstroke), graduated senior Damir Dugonjic (Slovenia, 50 breaststroke), senior Martin Liivamagi (Estonia, 200 IM), graduated senior Graeme Moore (South Africa, 100 freestyle, 400 free relay) and sophomore Marcin Tarczynski (Poland, 100 backstroke, 200 IM, 400 medley relay).
Moore swam the lead-off leg (48.15) of South Africa's 400 free relay that placed sixth at the World Championships. Individually Dugonjic, the three-time NCAA champ in the 100-yard breast, placed eighth in the 50-meter breaststroke at the World Championships with a mark of 28.00. Former Cal swimmer Dominik Meichtry (2005-08) was seventh in the 200 free (1:47.02) at the World Championships on July 26 for his native Switzerland.
