Swim / Dive Posts Best Finish Ever at SMU Classic
DALLAS – The Miami Hurricanes wrapped up their weekend at the SMU Classic with their highest finish ever at the annual meet hosted by the Mustangs at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center.
Led by high-point diver Mia Vallée, who won both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboard, Miami finished in fourth place with 240 points at the two-day event.
“It was a really good, energetic weekend,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “It was another really good step for the program. I think it’s a testament to the work we’ve been putting in and a testament to the progress we’re making as a program.
“The team was really invested in this meet and were really excited about their performances.”
In all, the Hurricanes posted one school record, two NCAA ‘B’ cuts, five individual performances that cracked Miami’s top-10 all time marks and 12 lifetime bests by the eight swimmers in attendance.
Vallée was Miami’s top performer on the weekend. A day after winning the 1-meter with a score of 313.10, Vallée cruised to a first-place showing on the 3-meter. The third-year diver finished with 328.30 points to top second-place finisher Allie Klein (302.85) of Michigan.
“I’m super happy for Mia and proud of Mia getting another ‘W,’” Kershaw said. “She was the high point diver of the meet and was a big reason for our success this weekend.”
Veteran swimmer Carmen San Nicolas had two performances crack Miami’s all-time top-10 list: her showing in the 200-yard freestyle was fifth-fastest in school history, as was her showing in the 100-yard freestyle.
Her 200-yard freestyle time marked her first NCAA ‘B’ cut ever.
“I’d like to give a special shoutout to Carmen,” Kershaw said. “It was her fourth SMU Classic and by far her best meet of her life. The NCAA ‘B’ cut meant so much to her, and she was so proud of the team’s performance as a whole.”
Newcomer Danika Huizinga posted the sixth-fastest time in Miami history in both the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard backstroke, while freshman Giulia Carvalho posted the eighth-fastest time in program history in the 100-yard freestyle.
Kershaw said that despite only a portion of the team being in attendance, the impact of the entire group was felt over the course of two successful days.
“The whole team was with us. We had the team back home and I’m just really proud of the entire program,” Kershaw said. “I’m looking forward to a lot more. We have a lot more work to do and are looking forward to getting right back to it, and I know the team is too.
“We’re back to work and have to get faster from here.”
