School Records Fall on Final Day of Big Al Open
PRINCETON, N.J. — The University of Miami swimming team wrapped up its trip to the Big Al Open on a high note Sunday, with two school records falling on the final day of competition at the DeNunzio Pool.
The Hurricanes swimming team enjoyed a pair of record-setting performances from two freshmen: Alaina Skellett broke her own school record in the 200-yard backstroke (1:56.39) while fellow freshman Annie Kyriakidis set a new Miami record in the 200 breaststroke (2:13.37).
Not to be outdone, sophomore Manon Viguier posted the second-fastest time in the 100 freestyle in school history (49.21) to add another NCAA “B” cut time. Viguier won the “A” final of the event with her impressive finish.
Miami swimmers posted 26 lifetime bests over the course of the weekend, and, competing without the Hurricanes diving contingent, finished in fifth place with 397 points.
“We had a lot of good stuff going on this weekend,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “We’re not perfect, but we’re developing, and I think that’s the key. We’re a young team and we’re a much better team now than we were before we came here.”
Junior Roxanne Yu also qualified for the “A” final in the 200 back and scored points with a fifth-place finish in the night’s top final (1:59.22).
One of several freshmen playing a major role early in their careers at Miami, Kyriakidis won the “A” final of the 200 breast.
“It’s amazing what some of the younger swimmers are doing, how much maturity they’re showing in the midst of everything,” Kershaw said.
Senior Jessica Hurley finished third in the “C” final of the 200 butterfly (2:06.14).
“A lot was accomplished this weekend, like I said,” Kershaw said. “Jess was our only senior here and she showed a lot of leadership. I’m very proud of that, and I can’t wait to have Julie [Suarez] back with us soon.”
Miami’s 400 freestyle relay entry – comprised of Kyriakidis, fellow freshmen Sydney Knapp and Carmen San Nicolas along with Viguier, a sophomore – took fourth in a time of 3:24.33.
The event marked the Hurricanes’ final team competition before the end of the fall semester.
“We’re not where we need to be at the end of the year yet, but we’re not at the end of the year yet,” Kershaw said. “We’ve put ourselves in a position now where we can look ahead and feel confident that we’ll be ready to face some great teams at the ACC Championships and NCAA Championships. We’ll shift our focus towards academics now until the end of the semester, and we’ll have a little break before heading to Colorado for training.”
