Miami Swims Past Florida Atlantic, 171-116
Jan. 22, 2010
Boca Raton, Fla. – Head swimming coach Christie Shefchunas earned her first victory at FAU on Friday afternoon, as the University of Miami swimming team defeated Florida Atlantic, 171-116, at the FAU Aquatics Center in Boca Raton, Fla.
The Hurricanes began the day with a victory in the 200 medley relay, using the team of Hannah Kling (leadoff), Sofia Johansson (second), Deidre Novotny (third) and Lauren Jacoby (anchor) to post a season-best time of 1:45.00.
In the 1000-yard freestyle, junior Ryann Labreche touched the wall in second place, turning in a time of 10:37.79. Teammate Gina Mayer finished just behind Labreche in third place, scoring a time of 10:41.52, and Taylor Grenda was fifth (10:47.09).
In the 200-yard freestyle, junior Annika Saarnak finished with a second place time of 1:54.46, and it was Jacoby placing fourth with a mark of 1:56.10. Sophomore Roxanne Meyer won the 100-yard backstroke in a performance of 59.08, and Kling was second with a time of 59.45. Meanwhile, Novotny touched in fourth place at 1:00.78 for the `Canes.
Freshman Sofia Johansson won her seventh consecutive 100-yard breaststroke for UM in a first place time of 1:04.80. For Johansson, she finishes the year winning seven-of-eight 100 breast events in her first year with the Hurricanes. It was Erin Simpson, Grenda and Haley Nicholson going “second-third-fourth” for Miami in the 200-yard butterfly. Simpson led the charge in 2:08.64, with Grenda (2:10.74) and Nicholson (2:11.22) following suit.
Sophomore Hagar Elgendy collected a third place performance in the 50-yard freestyle, turning in a time of 25.20, as Kayla Smith followed in fifth place with a mark of 25.60. Meanwhile, Saarnak continues to thrive in the 100-yard freestyle, pulling away from the competition for her fifth 100 free victory of the year in a time of 52.39. Behind her was Smith in fifth place at 54.51.
The `Canes took first and second in the 100-yard breaststroke, with Meyer finishing atop the pack in 2:05.39 – followed closely by Kling (2:09.41). UM swept the top three positions in the 200-yard breaststroke as Johansson picked up her second win of the day in a time of 2:21.65, with sophomore Dana Hatic finishing second (2:22.69) and freshman Christine Anderson third (2:26.46).
Labreche scored a third place finish in the 500-yard freestyle, touching the wall for Miami in 5:14.02, and teammates Tiffany Petzold (5:14.71) and Grenda (5:17.25) followed in fourth and fifth, respectively.
Saarnak took her second win of the afternoon in the 100-yard butterfly, performing a time of 57.78, while Novotny finished a close second in 58.29. Johansson was fourth for UM at 1:01.06. Novotny came back for a second place mark in the 200 individual medley, collecting a mark of 2:08.99, followed by teammates Anderson (2:14.36) and Nicholson (2:15.57) for third and fourth place.
In the day’s final event, Miami’s 200-yard freestyle relay squad of Saarnak (leadoff), Susan Smiddy (second), Kling (third) and Smith (anchor) charged to a second place finish in a time of 1:40.13 en route to helping UM collect the second straight victory in a dual race over the Owls of FAU.
“I’m extremely proud of the way the girls swam today,” exclaimed Shefchunas. “I’m excited and ready for the ACC’s.”
Friday’s action served as the regular season finale for the Hurricanes who now get prepared for the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championships in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The ACC Championships are set to run Feb. 17-20, and are being hosted by the University of North Carolina at the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium. However, the platform diving competition (men and women) will be housed at the Taishoff Aquatic Pavilion on the campus of Duke University. For more information on the ACC Championships, please visit www.theacc.com.
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.
