Swimming Wraps Up Successful Kansas Invite
TOPEKA, Kansas – The Miami Hurricanes swimming team capped a successful weekend at the Kansas Invite Sunday afternoon, finishing the event in third place with 537 points.
The Hurricanes finished behind the host Jayhawks and Iowa State but topped four other teams in an impressive trip to the Midwest.
“Really good meet for the Hurricanes,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “Our best midseason team invite ever, I think, but especially considering that we weren’t a full squad. The people that were able to get to come and to perform really did a great job.”
Even more than just the times and results, Kershaw said he was encouraged by the attitude of his swimmers over the course of the three-day meet.
“The environment and the energy they created among each other, and the trust they showed in their teammates and in the process of the season…all the standards of excellence we’re working on, I think they really came to light here and that really led to some really great performances,” he said.
At the top of the list was junior captain Sydney Knapp, who was one of two Hurricanes selected to the all-invitational team. Sophomore Zorry Mason was also selected as an all-invitational swimmer.
Among Knapp’s best performances of the weekend included the top time in the 50-yard freestyle (23.11) and a second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle (1:48.52).
“No question that Knapp was the performer of the meet for us,” Kershaw said. “It really came together for her, and I’m really happy for her because I know she’s made a lot of sacrifices along with the rest of her teammates. She got her first U.S. Open cut, so we add another person to that list, which was great to see.”
Knapp ended her weekend on a high note with the number one finish in the 100-yard freestyle (49.88), just ahead of teammate Carmen San Nicolas (50.24), who took second.
“Certainly fun today to get first and second in that 100-yard free,” Kershaw said. “Sydney and Carmen are a couple of the rocks of our program, and to see them get that moment was really gratifying.”
Senior Claire McGinnis had the third-fastest time in the 1,650-yard freestyle (17:05.73) and Alaina Skellett scored points with a time of 1:58.52 in the 200-yard backstroke – the fourth-best time in the ‘A’ final.
In her final individual event of the weekend, Mason posted a time of 2:15.53 in the 200-yard breaststroke for a third-place finish.
“Certainly not every performance was what we wanted, but even in those moments, the team showed great, great attitude and great characteristics,” Kershaw said. “That’s what leads to great meets. It was super exciting and a great step forward for the program.”
The Hurricanes closed the weekend with a second-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay, with San Nicolas, Knapp, Mason and Skellett touching the wall in a time of 3:21.98 – just behind a meet-record time from Kansas (3:21.72).
“I think the freshmen learned a lot, and the sophomores – who have already learned a bunch – learned even more,” Kershaw said. “And now we have more work to do. We’ve identified some areas that we need to get better at, and I think everyone’s hungry to get back at it. Lot of good training ahead, U.S. Open in there as well and I think that sets us up for a great end of season.”
