Miami Swimming Concludes Home Season with CCSU
Jan. 15, 2010
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming and diving team concludes its three week homestand on Saturday, Jan. 16, wrapping up the 2009-10 home season with a dual meet against Central Connecticut State at 11 a.m., housed at the Norman A. Whitten University Center Pool in Coral Gables, Fla.
Miami enters the weekend coming off an incredible tri-meet sweep of opponents Illinois and Nebraska last weekend. The Hurricanes collected a season-best 20 top 10 times in that home meet, including five wins.
In what would be a typical “Senior Day” for the Hurricanes, head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas has brought in a young team during her tenure that is posting better performances each time out in the water. Thus, the `Canes have no seniors on this year’s squad.
One of Shefchunas’ star freshmen on this year’s squad includes Sofia Johansson – winner of five breaststroke races this season, including her last outing against Illinois and Nebraska. Johansson also sports the seventh-best individual time in the ACC for the 100 breast event.
Fellow freshman Christine Anderson recorded a win last weekend in the 500 freestyle – the only of its kind for the native of Chattanooga, Tenn. Anderson took part in the 500 free for the first time collegiately, and pulled off a winning time of 5:01.52 in the race.
Junior Annika Saarnak continues to be a staple for the Shefchunas’ led Hurricanes, turning in two more top 10 performances last weekend – and holding two top 10 marks in the ACC for the 50- and 100 freestyle. Saarnak is the Estonia national record-holder in the 100m freestyle, setting a new record during the European Short Course Swimming Championships in Istanbul, Turkey in December.
This is the second consecutive season that Central Connecticut State visits Coral Gables, with Miami taking a decisive 166-73 victory over the Blue Devils last season (Jan. 17, 2009).
The Hurricanes hope for continued success this weekend as they continue their march towards the upcoming Atlantic Coast Conference Championships, scheduled for Feb. 17-20 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Miami will conclude its 2009-10 dual season next weekend when the `Canes travel to Florida Atlantic on Jan. 22 for a meeting with the Owls in Boca Raton. The meet is scheduled for 5 p.m.
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.
