Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell's Trafton, Warren Compete at Swimming World Championship Trials
7/13/2009 8:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
July 13, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell's Luke Trafton (Bath, Maine/Morse) and Courtney Warren (Montour Falls, N.Y./Watkins Glen), members of the Bison men's and women's swimming and diving teams, competed at the World Championship Trials in Indianapolis, Ind., last week and had strong showings against a competitive field.
Trafton, who qualified for the event with his second-place showing at the Patriot League Championships, swam in the 1,500-meter freestyle on Friday and placed 51st of 61 swimmers in the heats. Trafton clocked a time of 16 minutes, 15.02 seconds. Texas' Jackson Wilcox, who posted the best time in the prelims, took first place in the finals with a time of 15:11.98.
A versatile swimmer, Trafton competed in 11 different events for the Bison in 2008-09. He owns four school records (500 free, 1,000 free, 1,650 free, 400 IM) and ranks in the top 10 in program history in six events. He finished sixth in the 500 free at the 2009 Patriot League Championships and took second in the same event at the ECAC Championships. A three-time First Team All-Patriot League selection, Trafton has won two 1,650 free titles and was the 2008 gold medalist in the 500 free.
Warren earned a berth in the World Championship Trials with a solid performance at last month's Summer Solstice Meet in New Jersey. She swam the 100-meter backstroke in 1:04.69 last Wednesday, finishing 53rd of 70 swimmers in the prelims. Hayley McGregory, a former world record holder in the 100 back, claimed the title by swimming the finals in 1:00.07.
Warren is the Bucknell record holder in the 100-yard backstroke (55.02) and also ranks in the top five in program history in the 50 free (23.36), 100 free (51.39) and 200 back (2:07.17). She had an outstanding junior campaign in 2008-09 when she was a Second Team All-Patriot League selection and posted three top-five finishes at the Patriot League Championships, which were held at Kinney Natatorium. Warren, a three-time All-League choice, did not finish lower than third in the 100 back all season and won the event at the ECAC Championships. Additionally, she placed third in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 free at ECACs.
