Courtesy: SIU Athletics
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Four members of the Southern Illinois swimming & diving program are competing for their respective national teams this summer — Ruard van Renen (South Africa), Mykyta Terentiev (Ukraine), Karen Rodriguez (Mexico) and Tomas Peciar (Slovakia).
“To be selected for a National team is a huge honor and we are incredibly proud to have our athletes represent their national teams,” head coach Geoff Hanson said. “It’s an excellent opportunity for Karen, Tomas, Ruard and Mykyta to compete against swimmers from across the globe.”
van Renen, who earned All-American status last season for SIU and was named the Mid-American Conference Outstanding Swimmer of the Year and MAC Freshmen Swimmer of the Year, will compete at the World University Games in Chengdu, China (July 28 – August 8). He will swim in the 50/100/200 Back/Free and Medley Relays.
Terentiev will swim at the European Junior event held in Belgrade, Serbia (July 4-9) in the 50 and 100 Free.
Rodriguez will compete at the Central American Games held in San Salvador, El Salvador (June 23 – July 8). Her events will include the 400 Free/400 IM and 4 x 200 Free Relay.
Peciar will join van Renan at the World University Games and compete in the 200/400/800 Free & 200 Fly. An incoming freshman at SIU, Peciar was the No. 34-ranked recruit in the world for the Class of 2023.
The FISU World University Games is a biannual competition that draws thousands of student-athletes together, making it one of the world’s largest and most prestigious multi-sport events.
“Leading into the Olympic Year (2024 Paris Games), these summer competitions are important stepping stones for our athletes,” Hanson said. “This is a huge step forward for our program to have them represent the Salukis in such prestigious international competitions.”