Distance Standout Roger Kriegl Commits To Duke

Roger Kriegl of the Conejo Simi Swim Club has given his commitment to swim for Duke University in the fall of 2015.

I chose Duke because it’s a rapidly improving program with great potential for big things in the future. I look forward to contributing to these successes.

Kriegl’s success has mostly come in the distance events where he’s already qualified for high profile meets including the U.S. Olympic Trials. Kriegl has two trials cuts in total coming in both the long course 1500m freestyle and 400m IM.

While his long course times are the ones to boast about, Kriegl can also bring a lot to a short course pool. With a 15:12.58 personal best in the 1650 and a 4:26.06 best time in the 500, Kriegl will have the potential to truly establish himself as the team’s go-to distance man.

Kriegl’s best times 

• 400 free LC/ 500 free SCY – 3:59.58, 4:26.06
• 1500 free LC/ 1650 free SCY – 15:32.11, 15:12.58
• 400 IM LC/SCY – 4:26.99, 3:58.49

Aside from his individual contributions, Kriegl has the potential to be a factor on the 4×200 freestyle relay. Kriegl has been 1:39.46 in the 200 yard free – it took a 1:37-mid to make a young Duke 800 free relay last year – and he dropped three seconds in that event alone as a junior. In fact, that’s the only event in which he posted a best time in the second semester of the school year; the same goes for his summer, where the 200 long course meter freestyle was his only lifetime best swim.

The freestyle and IM groups (the latter currently spearheaded by star Michael Miller) have been bolstered in a big way this fall for the Blue Devils. Hong Kong import Miles Williams is very similar on scale to Kriegl; as is Daichi Matsuda is Kriegl minus the mile plus the butterfly events.