NCAA Men’s Swimming Championships : Berkoff Lowers Marks in 100-Yard Backstroke

Harvard’s David Berkoff, who holds the world backstroke record at 100 meters, lowered his American, U.S. Open and NCAA records in winning the 100-yard backstroke Friday at the NCAA Men’s Division I Swimming and Diving Championships.

Berkoff finished in 47:02 seconds. Jeff Rouse of Stanford was second in 48.07, while Cardinal teammate Jay Mortenson, the defending champion, finished eighth in 50.21 as he unsuccessfully sought to become a double winner on the same day for a second consecutive year.

Berkoff had set the former American and U.S. Open record of 47.33 earlier this year and improved on the NCAA mark set by Mortenson in Friday’s preliminaries when he was the top qualifier at 47.38.

Earlier, Mortenson made the first half of his bid to be a double winner with a victory in the 100-yard butterfly in 47.14 seconds.

Sophomore David Wharton of USC also was a repeat champion, becoming the meet’s first double-winner with a victory in the 400-medley race. However, the Olympic silver medalist at 400 meters failed to match his American record performance of 3:42.23 he recorded in winning the event here last year. Wharton, who set an American record in retaining his 200 medley title Thursday, won the 400 in 3:44.69.

Freshman Artur Wojdat of Iowa also became a double winner Friday by taking 200 freestyle in 1:33.82.

In the battle for the team championship, defending champion Texas pulled away by taking the 800 freestyle relay in 6:22.51. That victory gave the Longhorns 347 points. Stanford was second at 277. UCLA was third at 210 1/2 and Michigan was fourth at 208. USC, which was hurt when its 800 freestyle relay team was disqualified in the prelims, was next at 184, followed by California at 175.

Texas’ bid was boosted by Kirt Stackle’s victory in the 100 breaststroke in 54.02.

Pat Evans of Cincinnati gave a consistent performance to win the three-meter diving with 649.55 points.