The Iowa men’s swimming team completed competition at the AT&T Short Course National Championships, finishing fifth out of 53 teams.

Head coach Marc Long said the team would focus on performing well in the relays, and the Hawkeyes did just that.

The 4×200 relay of senior cocaptain Nick Divan, sophomores Paul Gordon, and Duncan Patridge, and freshman Jordan Huff took fifth place in the event (6:37.51).

In the 4×100, Huff, Patridge, Gordon, and sophomore Ryan Phelan placed sixth (2:58.42).

Iowa continued to perform well in the relays. In the 4×50 relay, Junior cocaptain Max Dittmer, junior Sean Hagan, senior Matt Ryan, and Gordon took ninth place in the event (1:31.42).

Freshman Byron Butler continued to show progress in a breakout freshman campaign. Butler swam a collegiate-best time in the 200 backstroke (1:49.20), placing 25th, just missing the 24-man cut.

The Hawkeyes will return to swimming on Jan. 6 at the Winter College Invitational in Daytona Beach, Fla.

— by Patrick Rafferty