CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami swimming team enjoyed a sparkling day at its first chance meet hosted at the Whitten University Center Pool Saturday afternoon.
The day was highlighted by four performances that cracked the Hurricanes’ top-10 record books, four NCAA ‘B’ cut times and 20 of 30 swims that were lifetime bests for Miami swimmers.
“Our team mentally had the confidence to do it and really trusted the whole process, trusted that they could perform in a big window of time,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “I’m super proud of the mentality they came with today and how much energy they were able to create on their own.”
Freshman Karolina Hajkova posted the ninth-best time in Miami history in the 100-yard freestyle (50.31) and the second-best time in the 100-yard backstroke (53.69). Junior Roxanne Yu improved her fourth-place time in the Miami record books to 1:57.41 (from 1:57.60) in the 200 backstroke while freshman Alaina Skellett moved into sixth place in UM history in the 100 butterfly (54.62).
NCAA ‘B’ cut times included sophomore Manon Viguier’s showing in the 100 free (49.43), Yu’s aforementioned performance in the 200 back, Hajkova’s time in the 100 back and Skellett’s time in the 100 back (53.74).
Among the Hurricanes who posted career-best times were freshman Chandler Sensibaugh (200 fly, 100 breast), freshman Sydney Knapp (100 free, 100 fly), freshman Annie Kyriakidsi (100 free), freshman Carmen San Nicolas (100 free, 200 free), junior Sydney Story (100 free, 100 fly), freshman Jackie Kleinsorgen (50 free, 100 free, 200 free), junior Katie Sickinger (100 free, 200 IM), as well as Yu and Skellett.
Kershaw was encouraged by his team’s strong showing at the first chance meet, held the week before the ACC Swimming & Diving Championships in Greensboro, N.C. (Feb. 14-17).
“The team is really riding a lot of confidence right now,” Kershaw said. “I can’t wait to see when the energy of this team is added to the energy of the ACC Championships. I think our best is still to come next week.”