Senior Matt McLean became just the fourth male swimmer in University of Virginia history to win an individual national title March 24.

McLean, a Potomac Falls High School graduate, claimed gold in the 500 freestyle at the 2011 NCAA Championships, held at the University Aquatic Center in Minnesota.

“That was for Fran,” McLean said after the race, in memory of former Cavalier Fran Crippen, who passed away in October. “It was a good race for me in a field with a lot of great guys, just really accomplished athletes. It was relatively well-executed and I was very focused on swimming my own race.

McLean won the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:10.15, besting Stanford’s Bobby Bollier (4:13.94) and defending NCAA champion Conor Dwyer of Florida (4:13.94).

“Mark’s big on toughness,” McLean said of Virginia head coach Mark Bernardino. “He’s really expressed that upon me and just told me exactly what I need to do before the race – get out there and do what I was capable of doing, execute, stay calm and have fun.”

Previous NCAA champions from the University of Virginia include Ed Moses in the 100 and 200 breaststroke events (2000) and Shamek Pietucha in the 200 butterfly (1999).

“It was the single most outstanding swim of Matt’s career and culminated with him reaching his dream and earning the title of national champion,” Bernardino said.

“Matt’s execution and patience was just spectacular,” Bernardino continued. “He made his move at about 300 and for the first time in his career he descended the final four 100s of his race. That is something he has worked on and he did it and he is a national champion.”

McLean also produced fourth-place finishes in the 200 freestyle and 1,650 freestyle. He swam a leg on two relays that placed sixth or better, as well.

Virginia finished eighth in the team standings, its highest finish in program history.