Swimming & Diving Concludes Day 1 at SMU Classic
LEWISTON, Texas – The University of Miami swimming & diving team wrapped up its first day of competition at the SMU Classic Friday night at the Westside Aquatic Center.
Competing in a loaded field, the Hurricanes finished the first day of action in fifth place with 109 points.
“I’m really proud of the way we competed tonight. Everybody dove in and raced very aggressively,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “That led to some great in-season times. In many cases, they ended up going times that are right on their championship times.”
The Hurricanes opened the night’s finals with a fifth-place finish in the 400 medley relay, with junior Roxanne Yu, freshman Annie Kyriakidis, freshman Alaina Skellett and senior Julie Suarez finishing in a time of 3:44.57.
Senior diver Wally Layland took second in the 1-meter, Miami’s top individual finish, with a score of 259.15 – just behind Molly Fears of Louisville (260.00).
“Wally came through huge for us on the boards tonight and earned our highest finish of the night,” Kershaw said. “Given the fact that she has had limited training opportunities this fall, it shows what a warrior and competitor she is.”
Kyriakidis followed up with a sixth-place showing in the “A” final of the 400 IM (4:25.43) while fellow freshman Laurynn Harvard took sixth in the “B” final of the same event (4:43.82).
“The team is really doing a great job of creating the right atmosphere and their support of each other is amazing,” Kershaw said.
Sophomore Manon Viguier ended up in fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:48.50) “A” final, while freshman Carmen San Nicolas took fifth in the “B” final (1:51.08).
Suarez (23.60) competed in the “A” final of the 50 free while freshman Sydney Knapp (23.69) touched the wall in fourth place in the “B” results of the same event.
Skellett, one of five freshmen to compete for Miami over the weekend, ended the 100 fly in a time of 55.97 before Viguier’s time of 57.44 in the “B” final.
Junior Roxanne Yu (56.19) and Skellett (55.28) both swam the 100 backstroke, while Kyriakidis (1:03.88) and Harvard (1:06.69) both earned Miami some points in the 100 breaststroke.
Miami’s entry in the 800 free relay, comprised of Suarez, Viguier, Knapp and San Nicolas, finished in 7:27.04 to cap the night’s action.
The Miami Hurricanes continue their run at the SMU Classic on Saturday from the Westside Aquatic Center.
“I look forward to seeing how our team responds tomorrow,” Kershaw said.
