CSI's Andrey Tarasov is CSI's lone representative at the NCAA Division III National Championship

College of Staten Island junior swimmer Andrey Tarasov made his most important start of the year this morning, when he got  to swim his marquee event at the NCAA Division III National Championship at the Conroe Natatorium in Shenandoah, Texas.  Tarasov participated in his signature event, the 100-yard Breaststroke, this morning, coming in 25th overall in the field with a time of 57.39.

Optimism was high for the junior coming into the event, as Tarasov qualified for nationals via his seed time of   56.53, putting him in the Top 10 in the nation in that category.  In order to make it into tonight’s final heat, that then awards medals and a national championship, Tarasov would have had to place in the top 16, but his time in the pool wasn’t enough to advance him.

St. Olaf College’s Colby Kubat won the event this morning with a time of 55.46, beating Stevens Tech’s Simon Jarasunas’ by almost a tenth of a second.  Tarasov, one of 32 overall in the field, tied Claremont’s Bradley Perfect for 25th place. 

On Wednesday, Tarasov participated in the 200-yard Individual Medley event, coming in 46th out of the total of 52 swimmers in the event.  His secondary event, his time of 1:54.58 was outstanding and his personal best.

Tarasov is not finished yet.  The junior will compete in the 200-yard installment of the Breaststroke tomorrow morning.  Tarasov is currently seeded 29th out of the 32 swimmers in the event, with a seeding time of 2:06.18.  Williams College’s Paul Dyrkacz currently has the top seed time of 1:59.68.  Again, Tarasov will be looking for a top 16 finish for the chance to participate in Saturday evening’s medal heat.