Miami's Saarnak Takes "B" Cut at ACC Championships
Feb. 20, 2010
Chapel Hill, N.C. – Junior swimmer Annika Saarnak claimed an NCAA “B” cut qualifying time on Sat., Feb. 20, as the University of Miami swimming & diving team finished up at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships at Koury Natatorium on the University of North Carolina campus.
Junior Annika Saarnak claimed 13th overall in the 100 freestyle, earning her an NCAA “B” cut qualifying time in the NCAA Championships, as she turned in a time of 50.16 in the finals race. For Saarnak, the time was the second consecutive NCAA “B” cut time for the Estonia native, also claiming a provisional qualifying time in 2009.
In other action, Miami’s Ryann Labreche turned in a time of 17:05.29 in the 1650 freestyle, while teammate Gina Mayer touched the wall at 17:45.79 in the finals.
In the 200 backstroke, Roxanne Meyer finished third in the C-Finals, touching the wall at 2:01.18, and teammate Deidre Novotny finished at 2:03.27 for the Hurricanes. Freshman Hannah Kling ended 2:04.08 in the preliminaries for UM.
Also competing in the 100 freestyle for UM, aside from Saarnak’s NCAA provisional qualifying time, was Lauren Jacoby, registering a time of 51.49 in the finals. She claimed a time of 51.24 in the prelims for UM. Hagar Elgendy also took part, finishing at 52.71 overall.
In the 200 breaststroke, sophomore Dana Hatic posted a mark of 2:18.40, allowing her to finish fourth in the C-Finals, while teammate and freshman Christine Anderson finished sixth in the C-Finals with a time of 2:20.62. Sofia Johansson finished the prelims with a time of 2:26.39.
Meanwhile, in the 200 butterfly, it was Grenda recording a time of 2:06.25, while teammates Haley Nicholson (2:08.31) and Erin Simpson (2:09.27) followed behind.
The 400 freestyle relay was the last event of the day for the UM swimmers, with the Hurricanes picking up ninth place with a time of 3:25.32 behind the swims of Saarnak (leadoff), Elgendy (second), Susan Smiddy (third) and Jacoby (anchor).
Miami finished the ACC Championships in 10th place overall, collecting a total score of 94.5 points through the four-day event.
The University of Virginia claimed its third-straight ACC crown, while North Carolina and Florida State rounded out the top three teams.
A total of nine “A” cuts were hit by ACC student-athletes, guaranteeing them a berth at the 2010 NCAA Championship.
Next week the 2010 ACC Men’s Swimming Championship will take place from Wednesday-Saturday, February 24-27 at Koury Natatorium in Chapel Hill. Live action can be followed on theACC.com from 7-9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
Follow all the 2010 Men’s and Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships action at the official championship website, http://www.theacc.com/championships/10-sd-championship.html.
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.
