Bree going all out to improve his record

ANDREW BREE is looking to further improve his Irish 200m breaststroke record at the NCAA Championships which begin in Long Island, New York, today.

Bree, who twice lowered the record at the National Aquatic Centre on his way to a silver medal for Ireland at the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Dublin last December, swims for the University of Tennessee at the US collegiate championships this weekend.

It is a meet where records traditionally tumble and Bree, a former Irish Examiner National Junior sports star, is hopeful of beating his 2:08.02 mark at the Nassau County Aquatic Centre.

“I’m really looking forward to the meet,” the Down native said.

“The 200m breaststroke is my main event and I’m looking to improve my Irish record. I want to break through the 2:08 barrier.”

The 6ft 6ins swimmer is the second fastest qualifier in a 35-man field. The favourite for the event is Brendan Hansen from the University of Texas, attempting to win the 200m for the fourth year in a row, though Bree believes the event to be wide open.

“It’s a fast meet and a very tough field. There are a lot of top class guys in there and any one of eight guys could win it. And winning is definitely just as much a target as swimming a fast time.”

In addition to the 200m breaststroke, Bree, a UT team co-captain, is entered in the 200m individual medley and 100m breaststroke as well as being a member of three relay teams.

Majoring in psychology, Bree, 23 last week, is looking to improve on his 10th place in the 100m and 24th in the 200m a year ago, albeit achieved just weeks after his return from a broken ankle.

“The first two years at the NCAA’s were more or less learning experiences,” he said, “and I was pretty pleased with the way it went last year, considering the injury. So this is my final meet for UT and I’m really looking to make an impression this time.”

The NCAAs is a high-class meet with plenty of Olympians on show, including Bree, who swam for Ireland in the 2000 Games in Sydney. The Irishman, though, pinpointed two standout performers for the weekend.

“I’ll be looking out for Ian Crocker of Texas. He beat Michael Phelps last summer and is capable of big things as is George Bovell from Auburn University, who have some really good freestylers as well. It’s a special meet, always very fast and the hype is intense. And you never know, there are always some upsets at the NCAAs.”

Bree will not be the only Irishman in action this weekend. Dubliner Steven Manley, who broke six Irish national freestyle records last summer, swims for the University of Kentucky in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle.