UM Swimming & Diving Set to Host Big 12 Kansas
Jan. 9, 2009
Complete Meet Notes in PDF Format 
| Race Schedule in PDF Format
Coral Gables, Fla. – After breaking for five weeks during the winter break, the University of Miami swimming & diving team gets back in the water this weekend hosting the University of Kansas on Saturday, January 10 at 1 p.m. at the Norman A. Whitten University Center Pool. This is the Hurricanes third home dual race of the 2008-09 year, and the first of the spring portion of the schedule.
The Hurricanes are enjoying an 8-4 record on the year, and hold an impressive 3-1 mark at home in the Norman A. Whitten Student Union Pool. Their only setback came as part of a tri-match with Florida Gulf Coast and ACC member Florida State in the season-opener.
UM has won five of their last six meetings against opponents ranging back to the fall portion of the 2008-09 schedule.
“We are really looking forward to the challenge of swimming against Kansas on Saturday,” commented third-year head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas. “Kansas has a strong program, and it will be great to see the women compete. The team has been training so hard and so well, and I look forward to seeing them mentally challenge themselves and step up to the challenge. I want to see them race like a Hurricane.”
Miami returns on the heels of a great last outing in which they participated in the Ohio State Invitational (Dec, 5-7, 2008) in Columbus. The `Canes posted 17 of the year’s top times in that three-day affair while five swimmers garnered new personal-best performances. Those marks include sophomore Annika Saarnak in the 100 freestyle (50.82) and Britta Boesing in both the 100 breaststroke (1:03.92) and 200 breaststroke (2:17.05). The stroke times were the top times in the Shefchunas era with the Orange and Green.
“After the Ohio State Invitational, I feel this team is at another level,” stated Shefchunas. “We had so many great swims, and I think the women really believe that there’s greatness in this team. I hope to ride that momentum through the spring and into the ACC Championships, and hopefully NCAA Championships.”
Kansas enters Saturday’s meet with a record of 5-2, and competes at nearby FIU on Friday, January 9 at 1 p.m. Danielle Herrmann and Maria Mayrovich are two of the top swimmers for the Jayhawks in the respective events, while the 200 medley relay squad is strong as well.
“The team’s been training so well so far through Christmas training,” explains Shefchunas. “They’ve been working hard, competing against each other in practice and really taking their training to another level as well. They really believe in great things to come this spring.”
As a side note, Miami’s previously scheduled home race against FIU on January 31, set to serve as “Senior Appreciation Day”, will now take place at FIU. Next Saturday’s race against Central Connecticut State, scheduled for 1 p.m., will now serve as the last home event of the year for the Hurricanes.
Admission to the event is absolutely free and everyone is invited to attend. Race programs are available at the scorer’s table located directly behind the diving well. For more information regarding Miami swimming & diving, please locate your internet browser to www.hurricanesports.com.
