Swimming Wraps Up Impressive Weekend at SMU Classic
CORAL GABLES, Fla. — The University of Miami women’s swimming team wrapped up an impressive weekend at the SMU Classic Saturday evening.
The Hurricanes totaled four NCAA ‘B’ cut times, five marks that cracked the top-10 individual performances in program history and several notable showings by the eight swimmers in attendance.
“The weekend was very productive,” head swimming coach Andy Kershaw said. “A lot of good things to come out of this meet. Everyone had some really good moments, and everyone had some moments of challenge and moments where we can identify some things to improve on moving forward, which is also great.”
Veteran Talia Bates, who delivered a standout career at Florida before transferring to Miami for her final season, posted an NCAA ‘B’ cut time in the 100-yard freestyle.
Bates’ time of 49.11 was the third-best in school history and capped a dominant weekend for the newcomer. Bates’ time of 200-yard freestyle on Friday night was an NCAA ‘B’ cut time and the second-best time in school history.
“I think we took a major step forward being able to do that work at the beginning of the week and follow it up with a meet like we had…our team was feeling some of the work we’ve been putting in in the weight room, and to go as fast as they did was great. We should be very confident about what’s to come.”
In addition to Bates, Giulia Carvalho delivered an NCAA ‘B’ cut time in the 100-yard butterfly while Emma Shuppert did the same in the 100-yard backstroke. Shuppert’s time was the third-fastest in school history.
Mary Kate Kelley’s time of 1:59.65 in the 200-yard backstroke was the eighth-fastest in school history, while Bates’ time of 22.87 in the 50-yard freestyle Friday was the seventh-fastest in school history.
Miami’s 800-yard freestyle relay team finished in an impressive early-season time of 7:14.20.
“I was really happy with our team’s energy,” Kershaw said. “Not just the people who were here, but we were feeling so much from the team that was home. Encouragement from them, messages from them…it was great to see.”
The Hurricanes continue their season on Sat., Oct. 21 against Northwestern and Southern Illinois in Evanston, Ill.
