Miami Swimmers Trek to Virginia Tech for Tri-Meet
Nov. 6, 2009
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming & diving team travels this weekend to Virginia Tech where they will face the Hokies and Duke in a tri-meet at War Memorial Pool in Blacksburg, Va., on Saturday, Nov. 7. The meet is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
Miami travels to Blacksburg, Va., this weekend for the first time since facing off against the Hokies on Oct. 23, 2004. UM fell in that race, 186-112. That is the only recorded meeting between the two schools in a head-to-head matchup. Miami faced Duke last season in a tri-meet in Durham, N.C., along with Campbell University.
Shefchunas and the Hurricanes will once again be without the services of the diving team providing possible valuable points this weekend. So, the Hurricanes will be solely provided points via swimming, and head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas simply wants her team to produce top times and continue to get better and better each time out.
“Because we don’t have diving to add to our team score, I just want to go in and have some really great performances from everyone,” expressed Shefchunas. “I want the girls to step up against these ACC ladies and go for the win in their races.”
The `Canes are 0-5 on the season (0-3 ACC), but have improved each time out with faster times and experience from what is considered to be Shefchunas’ best team since arriving in Coral Gables–this being her fourth year at the helm. This is the first time this year UM is taking on an all-ACC field at any meet.
According to Shefchunas, this is going to be a way for her team to see where they stand in the ACC early-on in the year.
“I’m really excited to race some of the best in the ACC this weekend,” said Shefchunas. “There are going to be some great matchups this weekend, especially at the top. We’re going to have some amazing races between their top girls and our top girls. It’s going to be a great preview for the ACC Championships in February.”
Junior Annika Saarnak holds the third-best time in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the 100-yard freestyle (50.68), and currently holding the 10th-fastest time in the 200-yard freestyle at 1:51.58.
Teammate and newcomer Sofia Johansson is listed with the fifth-best time in the ACC for the 100-yard breaststroke, producing a time of 1:04.08 in the season-opener for the `Canes as part of the Georgia Tech Quad Meet. Johansson has the eighth-fastest mark in the 200-yard breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:19.58 in her last outing in a tri-race against in-state foes Florida State and Florida Gulf Coast.
As a team, Miami’s 200-yrad freestyle relay team currently holds the ninth-best time in the league at 1:38.04.
“Confidence is going to be the key,” added Shefchunas. “We need to go in believing that we are a great team, filled with talent, and we can step up and be competitive against any team in the ACC. We’ve been putting in some great work and I know the girls are ready. I want to walk out with some great times under our belt and go in confident to the Ohio State Invitational in a few weeks.”
For more information on the University of Miami Swimming & Diving team, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, results and information regarding the Hurricanes Swimming & Diving program.
