Courtesy: Tufts Athletics
MEDFORD, Mass. – Junior Roger Gu, who became the first Jumbo in 37 years to win an NCAA swimming championship in March, recently added another historic Tufts achievement to his resume.
On April 13, Gu became the first Jumbo to swim an Olympic Trials cut while competing in a club meet held at Brown University. He swam the 50 freestyle (long course meters) in 23.12 seconds, which just snuck under the qualifying time of 23.19 seconds.
Not long after graduating from Tufts in May 2020, he will compete at the Trials which will be held in Omaha, Nebraska from June 21-28, 2020. It’s a unique achievement for a swimmer from a Division III collegiate program.
At the 2019 NCAA Division III Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina last month, Gu won the 50 freestyle in a Tufts and NESCAC record time of 19.49 seconds. NCAA’s is timed over short-course yards, while all international meets are competed in long-course meters
Gu notched the Olympic Trials cut while swimming unattached at the Seacoast Swimming – Seekonk season-opener meet.
He was Tufts’ first swimming national champion since Jim Lilley won the 100 butterfly in 1982. In addition to winning the NCAA 50 free, Gu was also the runner-up in the 100 freestyle (43.70). He finished the NCAA meet with five All-American honors and one honorable mention award.
Adam & Abby continuing to do great things in that bath tub at Tufts! Great job Roger
Lov3 th3 D3 r3pr3s3ntation! I thought for a while that the day after D3 nationals they ran a long course qualifier, but it is awesome seeing D3 swimmers make the big meets!
They do so in Olympic years