Miami Travels to Houston for Two Meets in Two Days
Nov. 4, 2010
Complete Weekend Meet Notes in PDF Format 
Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming and diving team gets back to the waters this weekend traveling to Houston for two meets against Rice (Fri., Nov. 5) and the University of Houston (Sat., Nov. 6). The meet against Rice is set for 4 p.m. (CST), and the meet against the University of Houston will be at Noon (CST).
Miami (2-1) has had just less than two weeks off since its last meet, splitting a tri-meet against Florida Gulf Coast (W, 174-126) and Atlantic Coast Conference opponent Florida State (L, 179.5-120.5) in Tallahassee, Fla. UM swimming head coach Christie Shefchunas saw positive progression from the `Canes in that meet, and has been looking forward to this weekend since that time. In that meet, UM swimmers established six season-best times.
Shefchunas, now in her fifth year at the helm of the program in Coral Gables, is no stranger to the “Lone Star State” after spending time as a top assistant coach at SMU, located in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, prior to arriving at UM.
Miami is led by a number of different swimmers in a variety of events this year, using newcomers and sophomores for the top performing time in nine of 14 individual events. In relay events, newcomers and/or sophomores account for seasonal top times in all five events the `Canes have participated in on the campaign.
University of Kentucky transfer junior Kelsi Hall (Yorktown, Ind.) holds the top four times in the 50-yard freestyle, while fellow transfer junior Whitney Stephenson (Grass Valley, Calif.) – coming to UM from Southern California – holds the top two times in the 200-yard freestyle, the top five marks in the 100-yard backstroke, and the top two performances in the 200-yard backstroke.
Senior Annika Saarnak (Pühalepa, Estonia) holds the top four times on the season in the 100-yard freestyle; in addition to top five performances in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly. Saarnak serves as leadoff in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay, and swims the third leg of the 200- and 400-yard medley relay.
Continuing to show positive results from last season’s heralded recruiting class is sophomore Sofia Johansson (Ramlösa, Sweden), holding the top time on the year for UM in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. She anchored the 200 free relay squad that holds the season’s best time (1:39.45) in the event during the All-Florida Invitational in Gainesville in early October.
There will be no diving events at the meet against Rice, with diving at the University of Houston uncertain at this point.
Upon returning from a two-meet trip in Houston, the Hurricanes will take two weeks off before traveling to Atlanta for the annual Georgia Tech Invitational being held Nov. 19-21.
For more information on the University of Miami swimming & diving program, 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.
You can also keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports.
