@CanesSwimDive Tops Princeton 156-144
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Miami won its third dual meet of the season Friday, toppling visiting Princeton 156-144 to open its home schedule in impressive fashion against the reigning Ivy League champions.
The Hurricanes, competing at nearby Gulliver Preparatory School for the swimming portion of the meet, won 11 of 15 total events. Miami completed a sweep of the top three positions in both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving events, held on Miami-Dade College’s Kendall campus.
“It was exciting, another close meet…we seem to find those,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “It was good to see them battle and come up in big places, and get it done.”
First-place finishes included top showings from junior Cameron Davis in the 1000 freestyle (10:15.48), sophomore Ksenia Yuskvoa in the 200 freestyle (1:50.05) and 500 freestyle (4:58.03), junior Christina Leander in the 100 backstroke (55.78) and 200 IM (2:06.05), junior Julia Schippert in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.25), junior Angela Algee in the 200 butterfly (2:00.93) and 100 butterfly (55.67) and freshman Roxanne Yu in the 200 backstroke (2:00.63).
Carolyn Chaney, the reigning ACC Female Diver of the Week, captured first in the 1-meter (320.10) and third in the 3-meter (288.90). Senior captain Kara McCormack finished second in the 1-meter (315.90) while freshman Marcela Maric (297.53) took third.
Maric finished second in the 3-meter, behind Miami’s top finisher Wally Layland (326.18).
Davis set the tone with an early win in one of her signature distance events, while Yuskova edged Princeton’s Nikki Larson (1:50.44) to maintain the Hurricanes’ positive momentum. She would go on to win the 500 freestyle, while Davis took third (5:02.04).
“I thought the way Ksenia swam, she really showed a lot of progression, as far as racing goes. That was really good to see,” Kershaw said.
Algee, who has served as Miami’s top point-getters throughout the early portion of the season, won the 100 fly and was followed by senior My Fridell (56.55), who took third despite swallowing water during the race.
“I knew My was disappointed, but to hear that [she swallowed water] and to see that she was still able to fight through, it was awesome,” Kershaw said.
Miami took second and third in the 100 freestyle, thanks to sophomore Julie Suarez (51.30) and Algee (52.37). Yu and Leander (2:01.02) took the top two spots in the 200 back, while Schippert added a second-place showing in the 200 breast (2:21.84).
“Depth is something we need to continue developing,” Kershaw said. “Our divers are huge for us when it comes down to that. We got 1-2-3 on both boards, which helps tremendously…we have to keep to continue to build our depth, and I know they are working towards it. It’s about continuing to scrape and claw, finishing in fourth instead of fifth.”
Leander delivered one of the most clutch performances towards the end of the meet, capturing first in the 200 IM.
“That was a pivotal moment in the meet,” Kershaw said. “And that’s her third event, not her best event. For her to come through that way was big. I put it on her beforehand, and let her know that it was an important swim. For her to step up and do it, that was really good to see.”
Miami swimming next travels to the Ohio State Invitational (Nov. 20-22) while the Hurricanes divers will travel to the Texas Diving Invitational (Nov. 19-21).
“I really believe that winning is a learning process. You have to lose some to go through that process. We’re kind of moving through that learning process right now,” Kershaw said.
