Dec. 5, 2007

BALTIMORE, MD - Sophomore John Thomas (Montrose, CO/Montrose) was named the Men's Division III National Collegiate Swimmer of the Week on Wednesday. Thomas helped lead Johns Hopkins to a third place finish in the Nike Cup Invitational hosted by Kenyon College.

Thomas broke two individual Hopkins records and was a part of two record-breaking relay teams at the Nike Cup. In the 800 Free Relay, he swam the third leg as Hopkins posted a DIII A qualifying time of 6:45.34 while finishing second. He swam the second leg of the 200 Free Relay, which posted a DIII B time of 1:23.20 and finished third. Thomas then won the 100 Back with a pool and school record of 49.37. He broke the school record by more than one second.

In the 400 Medley Relay, Thomas swam the first leg as Hopkins set a pool record with a DIII A time of 3:22.96. He also swam the first leg of the 200 Medley Relay team. That team also posted a pool and school record DIII A time of 1:31.38. Thomas followed that with a win in the 200 Back. His time of 1:48.94 was not only a DIII A time, it was also a pool and school record. The Blue Jays closed out the day with a second place finish in the 400 Free Relay. Thomas swam the third leg as Hopkins set a school record with a DIII A time of 3:02.21.

Hopkins is done for the remainder of the calendar year and will return to action on January 12 when Rowan visits Baltimore for an 11:00 am meet.