S&D Opens Strong in Preliminary Rounds
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming & diving teams opened up the 2013-14 season in impressive fashion during Friday’s preliminary races at the fourth annual All-Florida Invitational.
Five Hurricane swimmers earned spots in the day’s final rounds with qualifying performances, while both men’s and women’s diving impressed in their respective events.
“The thing that was most exciting was the way the team got behind each other,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “That really helped the freshmen. The leaders rallied everyone, and every time we got up to swim, it was a family effort.”
Freshman Cameron Davis made her debut in spectacular fashion, qualifying for the championship finals in the 500 Freestyle with an eight-place finish in preliminaries. The Sarasota, Fla., native, who figures to anchor Miami’s distance swimming in her first season, touched the wall in a time of 4:52.25.
“It has been obvious that Cameron is a real competitor, so I wasn’t overly surprised to see her start off so well,” Kershaw said. “The biggest testament to her is that she wasn’t satisfied with her swim – that really shows her competitiveness.”
Fellow freshmen Julia Schippert (200 IM) and Angela Algee (50 Freestyle) also made strong debuts, qualifying for the consolation finals in the first competitive event of their collegiate careers. Schippert finished 16th in a time of 2:11.50, while Algee ended her race in 12th place (23.50).
Miami had two other swimmers qualify for the consolation finals of the 50 Free: sophomore My Fridell (23.43, 10th) and senior Katherine Nicholson (23.71, 13th).
The Hurricane divers enjoyed three of the top four finishes in the men’s 1-meter event, including the top two preliminary scores. Redshirt junior Sam Dorman (349.90) and senior Zac Nees (317.30) finished atop the leaderboard, while sophomore Tanner Wilfong took fourth place (273.90). Kara McCormack (305.20) and Thea Vock (292.65) rounded out a strong morning for the Hurricanes, finishing in second and third place in the 3-meter event.
In addition to watching the day’s final rounds, Kershaw said he is looking forward to the relay portion of the night’s events.
“That’s always the most fun – swimming as a team,” Kershaw said. “We also have our divers competing in the finals, so I know we’ll be well-represented. We’ll really be able to come together as complete team.”
