From Washington University Athletics

The Washington University in St. Louis men's swimming and diving program earned eight first place finishes to take the team title at the Illinois Wesleyan University Invitational Saturday evening.

The WashU men's team had eight first place finishes and tallied 167 points to beat runner-up Augustana University by 53 points.

Sophomore Kevin Van Cleave raced to first place finishes in the 500 freestyle and 100 breastroke with times of 4:47.35 and 1:00.20, respectively.

Seniors Michael Lagieski and Justin Morrell both triumphed in two events apiece. They swam with juniors TJ Dawson and Ross Brown to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:26.44, while Morrell won the 50 freestyle (21.75) and Lagieski secured first place in the 200 individual medley (1:56.19). 

Junior Ryan Nathenson posted a season-best score of 219.20 to win the three-meter dive, while senior Andrew Ellison raced to first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:46.88. Freshman Alex Bird rounded out the men's first place finishes with a victory in the 100 butterfly with a time of 52.75.