Polyakov Sets DII National Record In 500 Free At Frank Elm Invite

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Victor Polyakov set a Division II national record to highlight Day One at the Frank Elm Invitational hosted by Rutgers University Friday night inside the Sonny Werblin Rec Center.
 
Polyakov touched the wall in the 500-yard freestyle in 4 minutes, 20.26 seconds to win that event by 12 seconds over second-place teammate Bradley Strathmeyer (4:32.99). The time was an NCAA DII automatic qualifying time, a Frank Elm Invitational record and a new national mark at the Division II level. In fact, it was also good for a Division I "B" cut time as well.
 
West Chester currently sits in second place after five events at the Frank Elm Invitational with 574.5 points. Only Army is in front of the Golden Rams with 701.5 points. Drexel is third (441) and Villanova is fourth (197).
 
The 500 free was the Golden Rams' top event as West Chester took the top four spots. Jared Haley (4:33.07) and Phil Letcavage (4:36.12) were right behind Polyakov and Strathmeyer.
 
David McCormick (West Chester, Pa./Henderson) won the 200 individual medley in a time of 1:49.88, and the Golden Rams' 400 medley relay team of Michael O'Brien, Bogdan Grebenyuk, Luke Maguire and Polyakov also placed first. West Chester swimmers claimed first place in three of the five finals events on Friday at Rutgers University.
 
Ryan Stahley placed third in the 50 free, touching out in 21.32 seconds, and the 200 free relay began the night with a third-place showing in 1:24.79.
 
Day two of the Frank Elm Invitational takes place Saturday with prelims in the morning at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. Seven more events will take place Saturday night.