UM Swimmers Set for Home-Opener against Maryland
Jan. 1, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming and diving team will open the 2010 calendar year with its home-opener on Saturday, January 2, playing host to ACC opponent University of Maryland at the Norman A. Whitten University Center Pool at 11 a.m.
Miami has had almost a month between races, utilizing time to practice and train for the schedule ahead. The `Canes last event was at the Ohio State Invitational on December 4-6 in Columbus. UM head coach Christie Shefchunas, in her fourth year at the helm in Coral Gables, and her team is excited about the chance to open the calendar year at home.
Saturday’s meet serves as the first of three consecutive home events for the Hurricanes. They host Illinois and Nebraska in a tri-meet on January 8, followed by a dual meet with Central Connecticut State on January 16.
Miami has had several individuals place high honors on the year thus far, including junior Annika Saarnak, who recently competed in the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Istanbul, Turkey – representing her home country of Estonia. In the process, she posted a new national record for Estonia in the 100-meter freestyle.
Saarnak owns two top-five times in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle. She owns three of the Hurricanes top times across three events, including a mark of 56.43 in the 100-yard butterfly. Additionally, she holds four of the top-five marks in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, while owning all five top marks in the 200 free.
It’s been Ryann Labreche supplying the top times in the 500- and 1000-yard freestyle.
Newcomer Sofia Johansson and sophomore Dana Hatic have two of the league’s top-10 times in the 100-yard breaststroke, with Johansson recording a league fourth-best performance of 1:03.08 during the OSU Invitational.
Maryland serves as the first ACC opponent to visit the Whitten University Center Pool since Florida State traveled to Coral Gables in the home-opener for the `Canes last season (October 4, 2008). Maryland won the coveted Terrapin Cup Invitational in its last outing, thanks to a flurry of solid individual and relay performances. Maryland boasts a 5-1 record, including a 2-1 slate in ACC play.
Admission to Saturday’s event is free.
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.
