Michael Roka Earns Top-20 National Finish
June 05, 2008 | Swimming
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb rising sophomore Michael Roka turned in a spectacular time recently at the USA Swimming 5k National Championships.
Roka's time of 1:03.41.80 was good enough for a 19th-place finish in the event at the meet. Roka went up against some of the toughest competition in the country, including All-American Fran Crippen of Virginia, who also took home the gold in the event.
Roka, a native of Ft. Myers, Fla., was part of Gardner-Webb's inaugural men's swim team, which began competition during the 2007-08 season. Roka is in the top-10 of GWU's record book in the 500 free (4:55.91), 1,000 free (10:24.32), 1,650 free (17:10.23), 100 fly (1:00.61) and 200 fly (2:14.31). He is also a part of the top-five 400-free relay squad (3:29.08) and the 800-free relay team (7:47.42).
Roka and the rest of the returners, in addition to the talented
newcomers to the squad, look to improve upon the program's
third-place finish at the CCSA Championships a year ago.
