Hurricanes Defeat FAU in Swimming & Diving, 129-100
Nov. 8, 2008
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming & diving team used first place finishes in every event Saturday morning/afternoon in order to defeat Florida Atlantic University, 129-100, at the Norman A. Whitten Student Union Pool in Coral Gables, Fla.
The Hurricanes now have a record of 5-3 on the year, and have beaten FAU for the second time in as many tries under third-year head coach Christie Shefchunas.
“For us to sweep ever event is huge because FAU has been a team that’s beaten us quite a bit since I’ve been here,” added Shefchunas before speaking with her team after a huge win. “This really makes me proud.”
As already mentioned, the `Canes took first place in every event on the day, though the last two events did not count in the team scoring.
Things began with a victory in the 200 medley relay as the `Canes swam to a time of 1:48.15. That was followed up with sophomore Ryann Labreche’s first place time of 10:25.25 in the 1000 yard freestyle. That time was more than six seconds ahead of second place competitor Stase Michota who ended with a time of 10:31.09. Tiffany Petzold ended with a fourth place time of 10:41.33.
Sophomore Annika Saarnak had a personal-best time of 1:51.16 in the 200 yard freestyle as she blew past her competitors. In second place for the `Canes was Lauren Jacoby who held a time of 1:54.53 for a season-best mark as well. Fellow `Cane Meredith Hatic rounded out the top five competitors for UM.
“We had a team meeting earlier this week talking about better performance in dual meets,” stated Shefchunas shortly after her fifth win of the year. “And this time the girls really stepped up and did it today.”
In the 50 yard freestyle, the `Canes went the proverbial “1-2-3” as redshirt junior Kirsten Pomerleau raced her way to a 23.95 winning time, while Katie Eason Lizzi Torres (25.07) and freshman Hagar Elgendy (25.14) followed right behind her.
In the 200 IM, senior Britta Boesing finished ahead of the pack with a winning mark of 2:06.56, while fellow Hurricanes Katie Eason (2:09.94), Deidre Novotny (2:10.74) and Cori Lallier (2:11.45) came in with times right behind her.
While the swimmers took a short break for the divers, it was junior All-American Brittany Viola taking first place in the 1-meter diving event with a score of 316.20. She followed that up in the 3-meter event with a mark of 329.25–also a winning score.
Saarnak, a native of Estonia, also had a season-best mark in the 100 yard freestyle as she registered a mark of 51.22, almost two seconds ahead of FAU’s Jonna Nyback (53.25). Boesing had another winning time in the 200 yard backstroke as she had a time of 2:07.61, while Dana Hatic had a career-best day as well.
Hatic, a freshman from nearby Coral Springs, had a time of 2:20.80 in the 200 yard breaststroke, though it was not counted. Hatic’s time was also ahead of Boesing who would have finished in second place.
The Hurricanes have now had a record-setting performance for two or more individuals in either season or career fashion in each of the last three meets. They will have their longest event of the year next weekend when they take on three opponents in a long day of swimming and diving.
The `Canes get back to the pool next weekend when they travel to Georgia tech for a meeting with three other teams including New Orleans, Georgia Southern and Western Kentucky. The meet is scheduled for a noon start on Nov. 15 in Atlanta, Ga.
