Miami Wins Three of Four in Five-Meet Invite at Georgia Tech
Nov. 15, 2008
Atlanta, Ga. – Competing against four teams on Saturday, the University of Miami swimming and diving team came away with three wins, including a victory over ACC foe Georgia Tech at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center in Atlanta, Ga. Miami defeated Georgia Tech in dramatic fashion, 147-124. The Hurricanes also defeated Georgia Southern, 183-88 and New Orleans, 186-57. The one loss came to Western Kentucky, 155-129.
Miami (8-4) traveled to Atlanta with high hopes, according to third-year head coach Christie Shefchunas, and they turned those hopes into reality walking away with three wins in four head-to-head matchups on Saturday. For Shefchunas, this was the first ACC opponent that she and her team have defeated in this, her third year at UM.
“This was great for us, winning against Georgia Tech and racing really well today,” expressed Shefchunas afterwards. “I’m really proud of the girls and how they swam today.”
UM sophomore Tiffany Petzold nailed a top five time of 10:39.37 in the 1000 freestyle to start a string of top five times for the `Canes.
But it was Annika Saarnak that swept away the day, taking the top time in the 200 freestyle (1:51.62), while also taking the top mark in the 100 freestyle (52.02).
“Annika really swam well today,” stated Shefchunas. “She went out there determined, and I am so happy for her.”
In the 100 backstroke, it was Britta Boesing capturing a fifth place time (58.73) while Deidre Novotny (59.50) took seventh. Boesing also had a sixth place time of 2:08.47 in the 200 backstroke. Meanwhile, in the 100 breaststroke, it was Dana Hatic, after collecting a season-best time last, took fifth with a time of 1:06.56.
In the 200 breaststroke, a pair of Hurricanes went second and third, respectively, as Dana Hatic (2:25.54) and Eason (2:25.68) took the marks. Redshirt freshman Lauren Jacoby had her season-best time of 5:04.64 in the 500 freestyle. Tiffany Petzold (5:11.63) was eighth, and Ryann Labreche (5:12.00).
Novotny had a fifth place time in the 100 butterfly (57.54) and Lallier (57.83) went sixth for the event.
The 200 butterfly provided a lot of strength for the `Canes as junior Cori Lallier had a second-best time of 2:05.13, as well as Erin Simpson taking sixth with a mark of 2:08.06.
Redshirt junior Kirsten Pomerleau had a time of 24.21 to take second place in the 50 freestyle, as well as Lizzi Torres with a sixth place time of 24.69.
In the 1-meter diving, it was freshman Kelci Bryant earning her first win of the year earning a score of 301.70, while junior All-American Brittany Viola took second place with a score of 282.65. Bryant also had the top time in the 3-meter with a time of 321.30 while Viola was third (295.50).
In the 200 IM, Boesing’s time of 2:07.07 was a winning mark, and Novotny came in third (2:08.69) and Eason finished sixth (2:09.56).
Things wrapped up on the day with Miami taking second place in the 200 freestyle relay (1:37.34). The team of Saarnak, Pomerleau, Torres and Jacoby were the swimmers for the Orange and Green.
“If we can keep this enthusiasm and energy going into the spring, then we’re going to be okay,” exclaimed Shefchunas. “This should give the girls a lot of confidence, but it certainly gives it to me.”
Miami next takes to the water when they travel to Columbus, Ohio to compete in the Ohio State Invitational on Dec. 5-7. For more information, please log on to the official Hurricane website at www.hurricanesports.com.
