Recap | Alex Santiago Receives MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer, Salukis Finish Third Overall

Wednesday, March 6

Carbondale, IL

Southern Illinois University

MAC

Recap | Alex Santiago Receives MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer, Salukis Finish Third Overall

03/10/2024 | 3:30:00 | Swimming & Diving

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By: Elizabeth Cheshire, SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The Southern Illinois men's swimming and diving team finished in third with 657.5 points at the 2024 Mid-American Conference Championship.

"It was a great week for the Saluki Men. This team came together over the season to accomplish many of our final goals. Multiple conference and school records, conference champions individuals and relays, and awards for Outstanding Freshman Swimmer and Most Outstanding Swimmer were all highlights of the meet. Our seniors will be greatly missed and we wish them the very best!" head coach Geoff Hanson said.

Prelims

The Salukis kicked off the preliminary session of the final day with a first place finish in the 200-yard backstroke by Jered Moore with a 1:42.56 finishing time. Next up Alex Santiago had the first place finish for the Salukis in the 100-yard freestyle with a 42.87 finishing time.

The last event in the morning session was the 200-yard butterfly and Jack Khrypunov finished first with a 1:44.68 finishing time.

In the distance (1650-yard freestyle) heats the top finishing Saluki was Ian Marshall with an eighth place finish at 15:51.44.

Finals
Jered Moore kicked off the final session of the championship with a first place finish for the Salukis in the 200-yard backstroke.

Alex Santiago once again set the MAC, program and pool record with a first place finish at 42.42 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle. "Alex Santiago went from an unrecruited walk-on to a likely NCAA qualifier and MAC Most Outstanding Swimmer in three years at SIU. His commitment to the sport and the team is something very special" said Hanson.

Jack Khrypunov gets another first place finish in the 200-yard butterfly with a finishing time of 1:43.16 which is also a MAC record!

To finish off the championship meet the 400-yard freestyle relay group including AJ Terry, Donat Csuvarszki, Jered Moore and Alex Santiago got the first place finish with a 2:53.16!

Awards
Alex Santiago - Most Outstanding Swimmer Award
Benedek Andor - Most Outstanding Freshman Award
Alex Santiago, Jack Khrypunov, Jered Moore, Benedek Andor - All-MAC First Team
Donat Csuvarszki, Nicolas Lanuza - All-MAC Second Team

For the latest updates on the Salukis, follow the team on Twitter (@SIU_SwimDive), Instagram (@SIU_SwimDive), and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SIUSwimDive