FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- Alexey Belfer and Chris Ford will represent the Stags swimming program this weekend as they will travel to Greensboro, N.C. to compete at the 2022 Toyota US Open which is hosted by the Greensboro Aquatic Center. The event runs four days beginning with the 800 freestyle and the 800 freestyle relay starting things on Wednesday. Belfer will compete in the 50 freestyle which begins on Thursday while Ford will compete in the 200 breaststroke on Saturday. Trials begin at 9 am with the finals slated for 6 pm each day. 

Ford, who was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) Student-Athlete of the Week earlier today, has enjoyed a solid start to his 2022-23 season. In his last dual meet against Marist, the senior picked up a pair of victories in a dual meet versus the Red Foxes, winning the 100 breaststroke and the 200 breaststroke and also swam for the Stags as part of the 400 medley relay and the 200 free relay. Ford won the 100 breaststroke with a time of 58.37 and followed up with a winning time in the 200 breaststroke (2:08.99). 

Belfer comes off an impressive run at through the Terrier Invitational, a three-day event that took place November 18-20 on the Boston University campus. He put forth the top finish for the Stags when he took second place in the 100 freestyle on Sunday afternoon. He completed the distance in 45.27 to earn the spot in the standings. He also competed that day as part of the 400 free relay which garnered sixth place among competitive teams that included Boston College, Boston University, Georgetown University, University of Massachusetts, and Northeastern. Belfer also competed in the 50 freestyle as well as the 200 and 400 medley relay events earlier in the Invitational.

The Greensboro Aquatic Center has hosted many national-level competitions, including TYR Pro Swim Series meets, NCAA Championships, the 2020 Toyota U.S. Open and more. The long-course meter competition is expected to consist of hundreds of athletes, including members of this year's U.S. National Team, National Junior Team, 2020 U.S. Olympic team and 2022 FINA World Championships U.S. roster.