Savickas Earns All-America Honors

MINNEAPOLIS -- Keeping his three-year All-American streak alive, junior Arunas Savickas finished 16th in the 200 back Saturday at the 2000 NCAA Men's Swimming and Diving Championships.

Following a disappointing second day when bad luck kept Savickas out of the final in his best event, the 200 free, he rebounded to jump to a 16th place finish in the 200 back. Savickas had competed little in the 200 back this season because of the Cougar's lack of depth in the sprinting events and as a result was not ranked in the top 20 headed into the event. However, Savickas plowed his way into the consolation final with a 12th place preliminary finish which broke his own Lithuanian national record by a full second, and finished 16th in the final to earn Second-Team All-America honors. Savickas has earned All-America honors each year of eligibility, with five total citations. He also came away from the meet with two new Lithuanian national records headed into the country's national championships to be held the second week in April, which he will compete in.

"His time was a second faster than the Lithuanian record, which we're pleased about, and we're glad that he made All-American three years in a row. He did a very good job," said BYU men's swim coach Tim Powers.

The BYU men came away from the record-setting national meet to finish in 33rd place overall, led by Savickas and freshman Aaron Russell's All-American performance on the 1M board. Savickas will continue competition this summer in hopes of repeating on the Lithuanian national team, which will compete in the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.