INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Sophomore Jack Saunderson of the Towson University men's swimming program has qualified for the 2017 NCAA Division I Men's Swimming and Diving Championships. The national meet will be hosted by Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) at the IU Natatorium in Indianapolis, March 22-25.
 
Saunderson recorded a pair of NCAA 'B' cuts to qualify for the 200-yard butterfly and be invited to compete in the 100-yard butterfly.
 
This is the first time in Saunderson's career that he has qualified for the NCAA Championship. He is just the second member of the men's program to be selected to the national meet and the first to qualify in the butterfly.
 
Aaron Krause competed at the 2003 NCAA Division I Championship in the 100- and 200-yard backstrokes. Krause finished 23^rd in the 100-yard backstroke trials and 25^th in the 200-yard backstroke prelins.
 
Saunderson holds the 26^th seed for the 200-yard butterfly with an entry time of 1:43.05. A total of 42 swimmers will compete in the event trials, which takes place on Saturday.
 
He earned his 200-yard butterfly entry time of 1:43.05 at the 2017 Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Open Swimming & Diving Championships. His time was a school record and ECAC meet record. Saunderson became just one of two Tigers to win an individual event at the ECAC Championships. Krause did so three times in his career, including most recently in 2004.
 
He is seeded 48^th for the 100-yard butterfly with an entry time of 47.01. He will be one of 55 swimmers competing in the event trials, which takes place on Friday.
 
Saunderson earned his 100-yard butterfly entry time of 47.01 at the 2017 Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Swimming & Diving Championships. His time was a school and conference meet record.
 
Saunderson was named the 2017 CAA Outstanding Male Swimmer of the Meet for his performance at the 2017 CAA Swimming & Diving Championships. Saunderson won seven medals, set five school records, two conference meet records and posted a pair of NCAA 'B' times to help Towson finish third overall at the conference meet.
 
A total of 235 swimmers from 50 different schools qualified for the national meet. Diving competitors are determined at the NCAA Zone Diving Championships.
 
For more information about the 2017 NCAA Men's Division I Swimming and Diving Championships, click here.