Long Beach takes second at SCC finals, qualify nine for state championships

The Long Beach City College men's swimming & diving team totaled 573 points to finish in second place at the 2014 South Coast Conference Championship finals at Mt. San Antonio College. Also, the Vikings have qualified for the State Championships in five individual and four relay events.

The 200-meter freestyle relay team of Cody Haney, Brock McColl, Blake Grove, and Brian Seel captured LBCC's lone conference championship with a time of 1:26.88. But in the 200-meter medley relay, the team of Pinkney, Dustin Boren, Seel, and Grove swam 1:37.36 to set a new school-record with their runner-up finish.

The 400 medley relay team of Pinkney, Lazar Andric, Seel, and Haney was second at 3:39.15 while the 800 freestyle relay team of Pinkney, Grove, Haney, and McColl also took second with a time of 7:08.90.

Along with advancing with three relay teams, Pinkney will also compete in three individual events at the state championships. Pinkney earned a pair of runner-up finishes at the SCC finals in the 100 backstroke (51.88) and 200 backstroke (1:53.85). He also moves on in the 500 freestyle and was fifth with a time of 4:51.62.

McColl will compete on two relay teams at state and qualified in two individual events for the Vikings. McColl took third in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:58.88 and was fourth in the 100 backstroke at 54.10.

Host Mt. SAC won the men's SCC title with a score of 933 points combined with a 7-0 dual meet record. Long Beach was 6-1 in dual meets this season, its lone loss to the Mounties.

The California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Swimming & Diving State Championships are set for May 1-3 at East Los Angeles College in Monterey Park.