Cambridge, MA--Freshman Brian Younger (St. Louis, MO/Kirkwood HS), the 1993 Ozark Swimmer of the Year and one of the top distance recruits in the country, has begun his Harvard career in grand style.
Younger placed second to world record-holder Tom Dolan of Michigan in two events and competed strongly in three others as the Harvard men's swim team captured the Harvard Invitational on Sunday. The Crimson topped 13th-ranked Florida, top-ranked Michigan, Yale, and Boston University in the three-day event at Blodgett Pool.
In the 500 freestyle, Younger challenged Dolan throughough before settling to second, 4:24.75 to 4:26.07. It was a similar outcome in the 1650 free, where Younger was clocked in 15:16.72, behind only Dolan's 15:10.43. Younger took fifth in the 400 individual medley (in which Dolan holds the world mark), sixth in the 200 freestyle, and seventh in the 200 backstroke.
Those results helped Harvard to 832.5 points, ahead of Florida's 792, and Michigan's 783. Yale (356.5) and Boston University (321) closed out the scoring.
Harvard (2-0), the three-time defending Eastern Campions, began the year with dual victories over Columbia and Army and Younger played a big role in both of those decisions. He had first-place finishes in the 1000 free and the 400 IM against the Lions, and took first in the 200 and 500 free versus the Cadets. The Crimson's next meet is on Sunday, December 18, against Auburn (at Sarasota, FL).
Younger, a 1994 graduate of Kirkwood HS, was a member of this year's U.S. National Team and swam in the 1993 Olympic Festival. He is the son of John and Pamela Younger of St. Louis.