Miami Swimmers Travel Across Town to Face FIU
Jan. 30, 2009
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming and diving team will be traveling across town to face FIU on Saturday, January 31 at the Bay Vista Aquatics Complex located at the FIU Biscayne Bay campus beginning at 11 a.m. This will also be Senior Day for the FIU Golden Panthers, hosting just their second meet in the newly-renovated swimming facility.
Miami (9-7) is looking to bounce back after a pair of tough losses last weekend in a tri-meet hosted by the University of Maryland. The Orange and Green fell to the Maryland Terrapins (L, 104-183) and the Richmond Spiders (L, 90-188), respectively. However, head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas was very pleased with how her girls swam in a tough environment, as well as against good competition. The `Canes received top performances from several swimmers, as well as securing three season-best times for individual events.
Tiffany Petzold established a personal-best mark in the 1000-yard freestyle, placing third overall with a time of 10:27.24. Ryann Labreche was fourth with a finishing mark of 10:36.23. Sophomore Annika Saarnak picked up the second-best time on the year for the Orange and Green in the 200-yard freestyle coming in second overall with a time of 1:51.09.
Meanwhile the FIU Golden Panthers (2-8) comes into this weekend looking to bounce back from a loss against Florida Gulf Coast on their home-opener last weekend in Miami.
This is the second time this year the two Miami rivals will face each other, with the Hurricanes taking the last outing by a score of 150-68 at the Whitten University Center Pool in Coral Gables back on October 18. UM holds a commanding 8-0 record all-time against the Golden Panthers, having won the last five matches by an average of 91.8 points.
Last time, all UM divers qualified for the NCAA Zone `B’ Diving Championships sweeping the 1- and 3-meter springboard events. The `Canes 200-yard Medley relay squad, comprised of Katie Eason, Dana Hatic, Erin Simpson and Lauren Jacoby, picked up a first place time of 1:50.43 to start off the day’s event.
Ryann Labreche competed in the 200-yard Freestyle for the first time all season as she collected a first place time of 1:54.35.
This is the last dual race for the Orange and Green as their next competition will be at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships in Maryland on Feb. 18-21.
For more information regarding Miami swimming & diving, log on to www.hurricanesports.com. Results will be posted to the website following the event, along with updated season times.
