Gastrointestinal illness hits venue on eve of NCAA Division I men’s swimming and diving meet

19 people sick prior to NCAA men’s swimming

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The NCAA has delayed the start of the NCAA Division I men’s swimming and diving championships at Ohio State after 18 athletes and one coach from three schools became sick with a gastrointestinal illness.

An Ohio State spokesman said in an e-mail sent late Wednesday night that the meet’s start would be pushed back 24 hours until noon on Friday. It will now end on Sunday instead of Saturday. Team coaches were notified of the NCAA’s decision at a meeting on Wednesday night.

Dr. Chris Kaeding, Ohio State’s head team physician, said earlier Wednesday night that it was a viral infection resulting in nausea, vomiting and diarrhea but no fever which had affected the 19 people. The NCAA would not release the names of the schools or athletes involved.

On the eve of the scheduled start of the meet, Ohio Dept. of Health officials had investigated and approved the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion on the Ohio State campus for use.

“We are not sure what caused it but it did not come from the pool facility, or host venue,” said Kaeding, who believes the illness should run its course in 24 hours. “We are taking extra measures of additional cleansing of the pool.”

Ben Jay, a senior associate athletic director at Ohio State, said discussions were held with the NCAA and the meet’s sanctioning body was aware of the situation.

Officials were looking into whether the athletes were sick when they arrived at the pool and then spread the illness at practice. They are also trying to determine if all three teams were in a common place prior to the outbreak. The three afflicted teams were staying at different hotels. No one knew for certain if they arrived on the same flight.

“We believe they were sick before they came to Columbus,” added Kaeding, who said the first cases of the illness were reported Tuesday night. “I feel pretty comfortable we don’t have new cases.”

The sick were treated at Ohio State University Medical Center and then released. None were hospitalized, and all are expected to compete.

NCAA and Ohio State officials were working on tickets and refunds.