Courtesy: DSPics.com Rathgeber swam the 200 IM in 1:45.61.

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. - Senior Geoff Rathgeber opened the 2008 NCAA Championships Thursday with an All-America finish in the 200 IM, taking sixth in the event with a time of 1:45.61.

This is the second straight season that Rathgeber had an All-America performance in the 200 IM, as he took 11th (1:45.37) in last year's meet in Minneapolis, Minn.

Rathgeber, who is making his third trip to nationals, tied for seventh in the 200 IM preliminaries earlier Thursday at King County Aquatic Center with a mark of 1:45.00.

The senior earned 13 team points with his sixth-place finish in the finals. Darian Townsend of Arizona won the 200 IM, grabbing the wall in 1:42.72.

Rathgeber, a seven-time Ivy League champion this season, will also compete in the 400 IM Friday and in the 200 breaststroke Saturday during the three-day competition at the NCAA championships. Rathgeber is a 21-time Ivy champion during his career and was the 2008 recipient of the Philip Moriarty Award as the Most Outstanding Swimmer at the EISL Championship, as well as the Harold Ulen Award for most career points.

Junior Eric Lynch competed in the 500 freestyle event earlier Thursday in the preliminaries, touching the wall in 4:24.03 for 35th. Lynch will swim again Saturday in the 1650 freestyle. Classmate Bill Jones will see his first action at nationals Friday in the 100 fly and will compete again Saturday in the 200 fly.