By: Julia Haber ~Staff Writer~

Members of the Xavier swim team competed in the AT&T Winter Nationals this past weekend in Atlanta, Ga. The team had several top performances throughout the four-day-long meet.

This event is not a team competition but rather a chance for individual swimmers invited to the meet. The times recorded act as a qualifier for further events with U.S. swimming.

The individuals who were invited to the tournament posted several personal bests. In the 100m fly, graduate student Knox Hitt placed among the top 24 swimmers, finishing in eighth place with a time of 49.12. Sophomore David Bundell also competed with a strong time of 49.87.

The men also had top performers in the 50m free, the 100m breast and the 100m back.

In the 50m free, senior Rodrigo Suriano placed 26th with a time of 20.85, and Hitt placed 37th with a time of 21.25.

In the 100 breast stroke, sophomore Michael Pettinichi had a time of 55.87 and placed in the top 30 swimmers.

Lastly, in the 100m back, sophomore Sam Johanns swam a time of 50.22, and sophomore Nathan Runyon placed with a time of 50.08.

Runyon also competed in the 200m back stroke with sophomore Chase Baldwin, and they finished with times of 1:52.51 and 1.53.53, respectively.

The team had two solid relay races in the 800m free and the 200m free as well.

The 800m relay, which consisted of Suriano, Baldwin, Johanns and Hitt, finished with a time of 6:47.78.

The 200m relay team consisting of Suriano, Johanns, Bunnell and Hitt finished seventh with a time of 1:22.57.

The team’s next meet is Jan. 6 at IUPUI in Indianapolis. The team has four more meets in the season before the Big East Championships in late February.