Top Story Archive

Coughlin, Becks Lead Cal to Upset Over #3 Arizona
January 27, 2002

BERKELEY, Calif., Jan. 26. The number 6-ranked California women's team (5-1) handily defeated No. 3 Arizona, 135-108, this afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

Coach Terri McKeever's Golden Bears won seven of the meet's 13 events and were led by sophomores Natalie Coughlin and Danielle Becks, who won two individual events each. Coughlin and Becks had won three individual races yesterday in Cal's win over Arizona State.

Coughlin, 2001 NCAA Swimmer of the Year, won the 200 free (1:48.96) and 500 free (4:44.61) -- an event she rarely swims in competition. Her time in the latter race was a Spieker Aquatics Complex record, topping the time of 4:44.91 set by Stanford's Janet Evans -- the American-NCAA record-holder -- on Feb. 16, 1991 during the Stanford dual.

Cal's school record is 4:41.12 by Lisa Myers from the prelims of the 1987 NCAA Championships in Indianapolis.

Coughlin is now 20-0 in Pac-10 dual meet races durin g her two-season career in Berkeley.

Becks won the 50 (23.48) and 100 frees (50.66) for the second-consecutive day.

Other Cal winners included senior Alice Henriques in the 200 back (1:58.70), who had gone a pr 1:57.6 against Arizona yesterday; and junior Staciana Stitts in the 200 breast (2:13.66). Da Bears also captured the 400 medley relay (3:43.72, Henriques, Stitts, sophomore Natalie Griffith, Becks).

Arizona was led by Artemis Daphnis, a Greek Olympian, who won the 1000 free (pr 9:57.58) and the 400 IM (pr 4:17.57). Wildcat diver Claire Febvay also won both the one-meter (271.88) and three-meter diving competition (264.53).

The Bears will travel to Los Angeles next weekend to face Pac-10 foes USC on Friday, Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. in the McDonald's Olympic Pool; and UCLA on Saturday, Feb. 2 at 1 p.m. at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center Pool.

Rupprath, Baker Set World Records, Benko Smashes American Record on Final Day of World Cup
January 27, 2002

By Phillip Whitten

BERLIN, Jan. 27. THE 2001-2002 World Cup Tour ended with a bang, not a whimper, today in Berlin as two world records, an American record and an Asian mark werew iped out in a frenzy of speed. It was a fitting conclusion to the tour which saw global standards fall at almost every one of the nine stops, spanning four continents.

Germany's Thomas Rupprath lowered his own short course 100 meter butterfly record to 50.10, bring ever closer the first sub-50 second 100 meter fly. The German speedster had taken the world mark to 50.26 last Dec. 14 in winning the event at the European Championships in Antwerp. Australia's Geoff Huegill whose record (50.44) Rupprath had broken last month was second today in 50.84.

The game of Musical Chairs to own the world mark for the women's 50 meter breaststroke continued today, when Britain's Zoe Baker recaptured the record she had twice lowered earlier this month. Baker's 30.31 took the mark away from Sweden's Emma Igelstrom, who clocked 30.43 in Stockholm four days ago. Igelstrom was second today in 30.64.

The world record in the 50 breast has been broken seven times in the past seven weeks.

Lindsay Benko came ever-so-close to setting a third world mark when she swam history's second fastest 400 meters freestyle. Benko's 4:00.30 just missed the world mark of 4:00.03, set by Costa Rica's Claudia Poll on April 19, 1997. The time lopped more than two full seconds off Benko's own American record of 4:02.44 set at the Short Course World Championships in Athens in March 2000.

South Korea's Chul Kyu Han clocked an Asian record 14:54.38 in winning the 1500 free by more than 11 seconds. The time sliced a second off the time Han had recorded last week. He remains the only Asian swimmer to have broken the 15 minute barrier.

In other highlights, Ed Moses did not break a world record, but he still won the 100 breast in 57.67 seconds, the third fastest time in history (he has the two faster times), fending off a strong challenge by Ukraine's Oleg Lisogor and Russia's Roman Sloudnov, who tied for second in 57.86.

France's Simon Dufour won the 200m backstroke (1:54.14), beating Croatia's Gordan Kozulj, the co-world record-holder.

Britain's Mark foster took the 50 free, the event in which he holds the world record, in 21.51 seconds, handing the USA's Jason Lezak a rare defeat. Lezak was third in 21.65, right behind Algeria's Salim Iles (21.63).

The 200 IM fell to South Africa's Theo Verster, whose 1:57.49 just beat Italy's Massi Rosolino and the USA's Ron Karnaugh.

In women's highlights, Slovakia's Martina moravcova, who yesterday set a world mark in the 100 fly, just kept rolling today, winning the 100 free (53.67) and 100 IM (1:00.48).

Olympic champ and WR-holder Yana Klochova, Ukraine, breezed to victory in the 400 IM, as her 4:31.86 was five-and-a-half seconds ahead of European champion Nicole Hetzer of Germany.

The USA's Haley Cope scored an impressive victory in the 100m back, clocking 59.19 seconds, three-tenths ahead of Germany's Antje Buschschulte.

China's Qi Hui, the WR-holder, won the 200 breast (2:21.31), Denmark's Mette Jacobsen took the 200 fly (2:07.92), and WR-holder Anna-Karin Kammerling of Sweden won the 50 fly (26.06).

No. 3 Texas Men Tops 19th-Ranked Aggies 167-125
January 26, 2002

COLLEGE STATION, Texas--The No. 19 Texas A&M men’s swimming and diving team dropped a 167-125 decision to the third-ranked Texas Longhorns at the Student Rec Center Natatorium on Saturday afternoon.

Despite losing both relays, the national champion Longhorns captured 12 of the 14 individual events to push themselves to 4-1 on the season as well as their lone conference win.

“I feel like we competed really well today,” said A&M head coach Mel Nash. “In the past Texas has come in here and swam some of their top guys in off events and still done well against us, but we have raised our talent level to the point that, for the most part, our best swam against their best in their best events and we were still competitive.”

The Aggies got off to a fast start by claiming first and third in the 200-yard medley relay. The foursome of Riley Janes, Nik Tate, Robbie Taylor and Matt Rose swam a season-best NCAA provisional time of 1:28.60 to beat the Longhorns by over half a second.

Texas came back to finish first, third and fourth in the 400 individual medley to even up the team race at 18 points apiece.

The Longhorns then proceeded to win five straight events before A&M sophomore Matt Rose captured the 50 freestyle in a season-best NCAA provisional time of 20.24.

Following the 50 free, NCAA Diver of the Year Troy Dumais beat A&M senior Jesse Even for first in the one-meter springboard 377.40 to 284.25.

Senior Patrick Kennedy was A&M’s other individual winner, taking the 200 backstroke title in a near-season-best time of 1:46.82. Kennedy and Rose were were the only A&M’s swimmers to be triple winners on the day.

Texas finishd the meet by winning the last five individual events, before dropping the 400 freestyle relay to the foursome of Rose, Kennedy, Janes and Dan Blanchard who clocked a season-best, NCAA provisional time of 2:58.17.

The Aggies (7-2, 1-1) will travel to Dallas this Friday in order to face No. 17 Southern Methodist in their final dual meet of the season. Following that dual, A&M will host the Big 12 Swimming & Diving Championships at the Student Rec Center Natatorium on Feb. 20-23.

SMU Edges Cougars in UH's Final Home Meet of Season
Blocker, Pakhalina Win Individual Events for Cougars

January 26, 2002

HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Houston swimming and diving team ended its 2002 home schedule Saturday with a 136-99 loss to SMU at the UH Natatorium.

Sophomore diver Yulia Pakhalina extended her event winning streak to 29 straight, and freshman Vicki Blocker captured first place in the 200-yard backstroke for the Cougars, who fall to 2-10 in dual meets this season.

SMU captured first place in both relay events and seven swimming events to take the win. The Mustangs also took advantage of five events, in which they placed 1-2.

Saturday's meet marked the final home appearance for four Cougar seniors. Agustina Foglietta, Stacey Ebeling, Elissa Nelson and Linda Osborne each played integral roles in the success of the Cougar swimming and diving program during the last four years.

Pakhalina, who has never lost a collegiate diving event, continued her dominance Saturday on both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards. The Penza, Russia, native won the 3-meter competition by nearly 130 points and was tops in the 1-meter event by a 104-point margin.

Blocker was the only Cougar swimmer to win an individual event. The Spring native posted a time of 2:09.98 to win by just more than one second.

Elissa Nelson (1000-yard freestyle), Lucile Turpin (200-yard butterfly), Augustina Foglietta (500-yard freestyle) and Corrie Phares (200-yard breaststroke) each posted second-place finishes in their respective events.

The Cougars wrap up their regular season with a 4 p.m. dual meet at Texas A&M on Friday in College Station, Texas. From there, the team heads to Indianapolis, Ind., to compete in the first-ever Conference USA Championships on Feb. 17-19.

Rice Falls to Texas A&M, 151-104
January 26, 2002

HOUSTON -- Texas A&M won nine events and took advantage of outnumbering Rice competitors 23-9 to pull out a 151-104 dual meet victory in swimming action Saturday at the Rice Pool.

Freshman Lauren Hill won two events -- the 100 and 200 breaststroke -- for the Owls, and WAC Swimmer of the Week freshman Corrie Kristick won the 500 free.

Competing against four Aggie teams, the Owls took second in the 400 medley relay to lead off the meet. Rice sophomore Jackie Corcoran edged teammate Kristick to win the second event, the 1000 freestyle, in 10:11.45, more than five seconds faster than the Owls' previous season-best time.

Texas A&M freshman Danielle Townsend won the 50 and 100 freestyle, marking the first time all season that junior Mandy Mularz did not win either the 50 or 100 freestyle in a dual meet. Mularz finished second in both races.

The Owls fell to 2-3-1 on the season, while Texas A&M improved to 7-4 in dual meets. Rice next travels to Baton Rouge, La., to face LSU, Louisiana-Monroe, and Florida State on Feb. 2.

Cal Drubs Arizona
January 27, 2002

BERKELEY, Calif., Jan. 26. MAKING a strong bid to move into the No. 2 spot in the polls behind No. 1-ranked Stanford, Coach Nort Thornton's Golden Bears (5-1 and No. 7 nationally going in), splashed past No. 9 ranked Arizona, 130-95, this afternoon at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

The Bears thus completed a weekend sweep of the desert schools, having blasted Arizona State yesterday at Spieker.

Cal won seven of the meet's 13 events, with six different Golden Bear swimmers winning individual events.

Individuals winner for Cal included juniors Joe Bruckart in 200 free (1:38.41) and Anthony Ervin in the 50 free (19.74 over Roland Schoemann's 19.86); seniors Bayani Flores in the 200 IM (1:49.70) and Mattias Ohlin in the 200 back (1:47.85); sophomore Alex Lim in the 200 fly (1:46.90) and freshman Caleb Rowe in the 200 breast (2:01.15).

Cal also won the 400 medley relay (3:17.92) with the team comprised of Lim, Daniel Kim, Ohlin and anchor Duje Draganja.

Arizona was led by freshman Aram Kevorkian, who captured titles in the 500 free (4:29.02) and 1000 free (9:23.61). Roland Schoemann won the 100 free (44.27), while senior diver Omar Ojeda won the one
and three meter competition with scores of 379.05 and 364.28, respectively.

Georgia Beats Georgia Tech, 151-85
January 26, 2002

ATHENS, Ga., Jan. 25. THE 13th-ranked Georgia men’s swimming and diving team won 10 of the first 11 events to top Georgia Tech 151-85 Friday night at Gabrielsen Natatorium. The Bulldogs improve to 3-3 on the year and have won 36 straight meets against the Yellow Jackets.

"The kids did a great job," said head coach Jack Bauerle. "This was a great win for our team. Robert (Margalis) got us going in the 1,000. We were a lot faster tonight than we were two weeks ago against Texas, and we are going to have to be faster tomorrow (against Tennessee) if we want this to be a (close) meet.

"Tech brought the best out of us tonight," added Bauerle. "I think they were a little flatter than expected. They also have two meets this weekend."

In the second event of the night, freshman Robert Margalis posted a season-best time of 9:10.79 to win the 1,000-yard freestyle. Scot Davis finished third (9:24.48), while Miguel Mendoza finished fourth
(9:27.82).

Nicolas Kintz led a 1-2-3 finish in the 200-yard freestyle with a winning time of 1:40.87, followed by Brandon Cover in second (1:42.01) and Peter Osborn in third (1:43.78).

Georgia claimed the top two spots in the 50-yard freestyle as senior Jason Gagnon finished first with a winning time of 21.01, while freshman Scott Gardner placed second with a season-best time of 21.13.

Despite having one relay team disqualified, the Bulldogs took first and third in the 400-yard medley relay. The foursome of Peter Osborn, Matt DuBois, Brian Scannell and David Fleischman touched the wall first in 3:22.81.

Randy Lam kept the victories coming with a first-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley. Margalis took second, while Brent McAuliffe finished third. Lam picked up his second win of the night with a
first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:50.26. Scannell took third in 1:51.07.

Marc Lindsay clocked in a season-best 1:46.74 in the 200-yard backstroke, followed by Osborn in third (1:50.56). Matt Brado and Gardner teamed for a 1-2 finish in the 100-yard freestyle. Brado touched the wall in 45.71, while Gardner registered a season-best 46.78 for second place.
"Randy did a great job, and Robert did too,' offered Bauerle. "Lindsay had a nice backstroke."

In the diving well, freshman Todd Avery tallied 321.52 points to win he 3-meter diving event. Kris Daugherty took second, followed by Colby Carter in third. The Bulldogs again posted the three highest scores in he 1-meter, this time Daugherty took top honors followed by Avery in second.

Georgia will be back in action tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 26, as the Bulldogs face SEC foe Tennessee in the final dual meet of the year. Action begins at 1 p.m.

"(Tomorrow) there are 13 events and if we win seven, then we have a hance. If we win six, we don’t,"said Bauerle. "Tennessee is a great team. That’s why they are ranked No. 4 in the country."

#9 SMU Defeats Cross-Town Rival TCU
January 23, 2002

DALLAS, Jan. 23. THE No. 9 SMU women's swimming & diving team dominated cross-town rival TCU Wednesday night at Perkins Natatorium, defeating the Horned Frogs 136-63.

SMU won nine of 11 events on the night, including both diving competitions as freshman Elizabeth Pike continued her hot streak, winning both the one-meter and three-meter competition for the Ponies. Pike won the one-meter with a final score of 289.05, her best score of the year. Four events later, Pike finished just ahead of teammate Carrie Dawson, winning with a score of 262.65.

Of the remaining nine events, SMU finished first in seven of them, including both relay events, as the Ponies' 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams
finished first.

Freshman sensation Flavia Rigamonti won the 200 free with a time of 1:53.83, while sophomore Alenka Kejzar won both the 100 free and 200 IM.

2001 WAC Freshman of the Year Georgina Lee finished first in the 100 butterfly with a time of 56.56, while junior Julia Pomeroy broke into the winner's circle with a time of 1:05.44 in the 100 breast.

The win moved SMU to 2-3 on the year, while moving head coach Steve Collins two wins away from reaching the century mark during his 16 years so far on the hilltop.

Ed Moses, Sweden's Emma Igelstrom Break World Breaststroke Marks
January 23, 2002

By Phillip Whitten

STOCKHOLM, Jan 23. AMERICA'S Ed Moses completed his sweep of the men's breaststroke world records today, cracking his own mark in the 100 meters, while Sweden's Emma Igelstrom lowered the women's 50 meter breaststroke standard on Day Two of the World Cup VIII meet in Stockholm.

Moses clocked 57.47 seconds for the four-lapper,carving 19-hundredths of a second off the old mark, which he set in March 2000 at the NCAA Championships.

Russia's Roman Sloudnov, the world champion and record-holder for 100 meters breaststroke long-course, finished second in a European record 57.73 while Ukrain's Oleg Lisogor placed third in 57.97. The old European mark was 58.08, which Sloudnov set in Paris on January 19.

Yesterday, Moses devastated the world short course breaststroke marks for 50 and 200 meters, clocking 26.28 and 2:03.28.

Sweden's Igelstrom broke the world record for the women's 50 meters short course breaststroke only moments before Moses's swim.

Delighting her hometown crowd, the Swedish sprinter
clocked 30.43 seconds, beating Britain's Zoe Baker (30.62).

Igelstrom's time broke the record of 30.47 seconds set by China's Luo Xuejuan in Paris on January 19. It marked the sixth time the 50 meter breaststroke record has fallen in the last seven weeks.

It was also Igelstrom's second record performance in two days. Yesterday she lowered her own European mark for 100 meters breaststroke.

Men's Events
In other men's highlights, Oympic champ Pieter van den Hoogenband of Holland, won the 200 free in 1:43.85, just beating out Canada's fast-rising Rick Say, who set a national record in finishing second in 1:44.40. Yesterday Say won the 400 free in a NR 3;41.99.

Geoff Huegill edged Sweden's Lars Frolander in the 100 fly, in a battle of Olympic medalists. Huegill, who tied his own world record yesterday in the 50 fly (22.84), won the 100 today in 50.79 to Fro's 51.44.

The USA's Michael Gilliam added a win in the 50 back to his victory yesterday in the 100 (52.69). Gilliam won easily today in 24.50.

South Africa's Theo Verster just out-reached the USA's Grand Old Man of swimming, Ron karnaugh, to take the 200 IM, 1:57.65 to 1:57.83. Yesterday Karnaugh won the 100 IM in 54.77.

The USA's Jason Lezak won the 50 free in a season's best 21.57 to go with his win in the 100 (47.25) yesterday. He had to beat the world record-holder, Britain's Mark Foster, to win today. Foster touched in 21.66.

South Korea's Han Kyu-chul set an Asian record and became the first Asian to crack 15 minutes to 1500 meters when he charged home to win in 14:55.90.

Simon Dufour of France had an easy time winning the 200 back in 1:54.41.

Women's Events
The indomitable Martina Moravcova just keeps winning and winning and winning and winning! Today she scored two more victories, taking the 100 free in 53.40 to outclass a strong field that included WR-holder Therese Alshammar, and the 100IM in 1:00.70.

Swedish swimmers gave the home crowd a lot to cheer about. In addition to Igelstrom's world record, Swedish women won two other events. Sarah Nordenstam took the 400 IM in 4:38.99, just 3-hundredths slower than her national record, and WR-holder Anna-Karin kammerling won the 50 fly in 25.50--a time only she has bettered.

The USA's Haley Cope won the 100 back (59.66) and Denmark's Mette Jacobsen took the 200 fly (2:08.59),

China's Qi hui, the WR-holder, glided to a 2:20.87 win in the 200 breast, ahead of Igelstrom, who set a Swedish record in finishing second (2;22.85). World champion Yana Klochkova, Ukraine, took the 400 free in 4:07.29.

NCAA To Report on Alleged Violations by Nebraska Swim Coach Today
January 23, 2002

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 23. THE NCAA Committee on Infraction's findings concerning the University of
Nebraska's report on alleged violations in its swimming and wrestling programs will be announced today at a news conference conducted today at 10:00 a.m.

Former Nebraska swim coach Cal Bentz, who was fired after the Nebraska Athletic Director, Bill Byrne, issued the charges in September 2000, will be making a formal statement this evening. Byrne later cited the alleged violations when he cut the university's swim program, which had flourished for more than seventy years. He also cited "budgetary reasons," a rationale that subsequent events proved to be untrue.

Moses Parts the Waters in Stockholm, Sets Two World Marks in One Day
January 22, 2002

By Phillip Whitten

STOCKHOLM, Jan 22. THE USA's Ed Moses destroyed two short course world records on the first day of competition at World Cup VIII in Stockholm.

Moses, who had smashed his own world record in the 200 meter breaststroke only five days ago, lowered that mark still further today, then sliced almost half a second off the 50 meter record in less than a half hour.

"I am surprised at my speed. This was probably my best day of swimming ever," said Moses, in what was an uncharacteristic understatement. Moses was the 2000 Olympic silver medalist in the 100 meter breaststroke.

Moses clocked 26.28 seconds to obliterate the 50 meter breaststroke record of 26.70 set by Germany's Mark Warnecke at the European Short Course Championships in Sheffield, England, on December 11, 1998. The time also lowered his own American mark of 26.74 set just four days ago in Paris.

Moses then took his own 200 meter breaststroke world short course record mark more than a full second lower. In the last five days he has carved more than three seconds from his original record.

Moses hit the pads in 2:03.28 (the equivalent of a 1:50.+ for 200 yards). He had lowered the record at the Paris World Cup meet last Friday to 2:04.37 from the 2:06.40 he posted at the NCAAs in March 2000.

"I definitely fatigued during the first race, so I was quite surprised at the result," Moses said.

Moses made clear he was going for a clean sweep of all three breaststroke races in Stockholm. "You're going to see my best race in the 100 tomorrow and if it's a world record, it's a world record," he said.

Moses already holds the world mark for 100 meters short course at 57.66.

Russia's Roman Sloudnov, the world champion and world record-holder for 100 meters long course, finished second in the 50 today in 26.54, setting a new
European record in finishing second to Moses.

Jim Piper of Australia also broke a record behind Moses when he set a Commonwealth mark for the 200 metres breaststroke in 2:06.61. In that same race, Canada's Morgan Knabe broke a 14-year-old Canadian record by the legendary Victor Davis while finishing third in 2:07.15.

Australia's Geoff Huegill equaled his own 50 meter butterfly world short course record when he clocked 22.84 to match the time he set at a World Cup meet in Melbourne on December 8 last year. Mark Foster, the former world record-holder, and 100m fly Olympic champion, Lars Frolander, tied for second.

Martina Moravcova of Slovakia broke the European record in the women's 100 meters butterfly for the second time in five days with a time of 56.86. The Dallas-based Moravcova had taken the record down from 57.16 to 57.09 in Paris last Friday.

Sweden's Emma Igelstrom also set a European short-course record when she won the women's 100 meter breaststroke in 1:06.21 ahead of American Amanda Beard (1:06.87) and South African Sarah Poewe (1:07.07).
Igelstrom beat her own mark of 1:06.61 set January 6 at the South African Championships in Durban.

The USA's Jason Lezak continued his triumphant tour on the World Cup, winning the 100m free in 47.25, with
Algeria's Salim Iles second in 47.68.

Canada's Rick say lowered his own Canadian mark set just last week in Paris in winning the 400m free in 3:41.99.

Dr. Ron Karnaugh did not break any records, but the 35 year-old M.D. -- the oldest swimmer competing at world-class level -- won the 100m IM impressively in 54.77, beating Germany's Jens Kruppa (54.91). In four previous World Cup outings, the 1992 Olympian had finished second, but today he put it all together to earn the gold.

Other impressive wins were turned in by University of Tennessee grad, Michael Gilliam, who took the 100 back (52.69); South Africa's Terence Parkin, winner of the 400 IM (4:10.51); and his Springbok teammate Theor Verster, who just eked out a victory in the 200 fly (1:57.13).

On the women's side, Solenne Figues upset Britain's Karen Pickering to win the 200m free for France (1:56.38); and Canada's Jennifer Carroll lowered her own national mark in winning the 50 back in 27.31, beating American record-holder Haley Cope to the wall.

Olympic champ Yana Klochkova, Ukraine, won the 200m IM in a swift 2:09.16, more than two seconds ahead of the field.

Short course world record-holder Therese Alshammar delighted her hometown crowd by taking the 50 free in 24.76, just ahead of China's Xu Yanwei and Moravcova.

The longest women's race, the 800 free, fell to Australia's Amanda Pasco, whose 8:23.99 was more than 16 seconds faster than Romania's Camelia Potec, who is unaccustomed to swimming a race as long as the 800.

Finally, South Africa's Charlene Wittstock took the 200 back in 2:09.74, a stroke ahead of France's fast-improving Esther Baron.

The two-day Stockholm meet, which ends on Wednesday, is the eighth in the nine-venue World Cup series which concludes in Berlin next weekend.

PHOENIX, Jan. 22. THREE schools that cut men's swimming last year, ostensibly for budgetary reasons, apparently are flush with money for new projects or for profligate spending on other athletic teams. Few people believed the schools' protestations of poverty last year, but the latest information makes it clear just how craven these universities -- and their presidents -- have become in their pursuit of football glory, even to the detriment of academic programs.

Iowa State University announced last week that it is going to build an indoor football practice facility to the tune of $9 million. ISU already has this sort of space in the Lied Recreational Center, which was built on campus less than ten years ago. But the Lied Center is open to all students and considered too far away (8 or 9 blocks) from the stadium and athletic offices. (We don't want the athletes or coaches to have to run or walk that great distance.)

Said one ISU observer: "It is ironic that the athletic department has this kind of money when it cried 'poor' last year while cutting out men's swimming and baseball.

Also ironic is the fact that ISU is suffering from drastically reduced legislative moneys and a big dip in Foundation funds. The school is cutting out programs, reducing faculty and staff positions, increasing class size, and increasing tuition. Yet it wants to be cutting-edge in its "revenue" sports (which actually lose revenue) and build a better indoor facility by spending $9 million. Now that's educational leadership!

Said the same ISU observer: "I truly thought ISU was having financial problems when all this happened last March but I guess I was wrong. Is the trend in Athletic Departments moving towards pumping all your money into football and basketball? It appears that Athletic Departments are operating with little or no accountability from their university administration. That certainly is the case at Nebraska."

Speaking of Nebraska, some of you may have watched its football team in its bowl game earlier this month. What you, undoubtedly did not notice is that the school took 170 "players" to the game. According to a reliable source inside the Nebraska athletic department, it cost approximately $2,000 to send each player to the bowl game. Of the 170 "players" on the team, only about 50 actually played in the game. So the university spent approximately $240,000 to send 120 spectators to the game. That's about 60 percent of the men's swim team budget.

Of course, that was only one game. NU played five or six other road games this season. Taking non-playing players easily cost the university hundreds of thousands of dollars more.

Not that anyone believed Nebraska's AD Bill Byrne or Chancellor Harbey Perlman when they claimed they were cutting men's swimming for budgetary reasons. That rationale was given the lie when swiminfo revealed that Nebraska would be the recipient of an $8 million gift from the Alltel Corporation--a revelation first denounced, then confirmed in all particulars by the university. Shortly thereafter, the university gave its coaches and AD a record $1 million+ in bonuses.

Meanwhile, the University of Kansas is spending $8 million to build a new weightlifting facility. That school, too, cried poor last year too when it cut swimming.

Virginia Sweeps North Carolina
January 19, 2002

CHAPEL HILL, NC, Jan. 19. THE Virginia men's and women’s swimming and diving teams kept their Atlantic Coast Conference records perfect with victories over arch-rival North Carolina Saturday (January 19) at the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium.

The 12th-ranked Cavalier men won 189-111 over the 21st-ranked Tar Heels to improve to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in the ACC. The 14th-ranked Virginia women pulled out a 156-144 win over 12th-ranked UNC to increase its record to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the ACC.

The 12th-ranked UVa men won 11 of 16 events in posting a 189-111 victory over UNC (3-4, 1-2 ACC). Second-year Luke Anderson (Charlottesville, Va./Bolles School) won a pair of individual events and also swam a leg on two Cavalier winning relay squads. Anderson won the 50 and 100 freestyles with times of 20.45 and 44.91 seconds, respectively. He was also a member of UVa’s winning 200 medley and 400 free relay teams.

The Cavaliers won the 200 medley relay in a season best time of 1:31.70 with fourth-year Chris Mousetis (Newport News, Va./Woodside), third-year Brian Best (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) and second-year Adam Kerpelman (Lutherville, Md./St. Paul’s School) swimming the other legs.

Anderson led off the 400 free relay that posted a winning time of 3:02.60 in the final event of the meet. Second-years Luke Wagner (Englewood, Colo./
Regis Jesuit) and Jon Haag (Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) and Kerpelman also swam legs on the relay.

In addition to swimming on the winning 400 free relay, Wagner swept the backstroke events. He won the 100 back in 49.74 seconds and then led a top three UVa sweep in the 200 back (1:47.66).

Best touched in 49.98 seconds to win the 100 butterfly. Second-year Ian Prichard (Ventura, Calif./
Buena) was also a double event winner for Virginia. He won the 1000 free with a time of 9:12.73, then grabbed the top spot in the 500 free in 4:27.66.

The Cavaliers also had a pair of first-years earn event wins in the meet. First-year Michael Raab (Rockville, Md./Walter Johnson) led a top three Virginia sweep in the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:47.90, while Bo Greenwood (Manakin, Va./Goochland) won the 200 individual medley in 1:50.86. Raab was also second in the 100 fly (50.19), while Greenwood had runner-up finishes in the 200 back (1:49.68) and 200 butterfly (1:49.64). Kerpelman was second in the 100 free (46.00) and 200 free (1:39.78).

North Carolina’s Sean Quinn and Stephen Krebs both won a pair of events. Quinn swept the breaststroke events, winning the 100 breast (56.76) and the 200 (2:01.84). Krebs won the one-meter diving competition with 315.83 points, then won the three-meter board with a score of 305.10 points.

The 14th-ranked Cavalier women won nine of 16 events, including the last five, to pull out a 156-144 win over the 12th-ranked Tar Heels.

Third-year Cara Lane (Charlotte, N.C./Providence) had an outstanding meet for the Cavaliers as she won three individual events and then anchored the winning relay in the final event of the meet that sealed the victory. Lane led a Cavalier sweep of the top three places in the 1000 free with a time of 9:49.70. She then posted a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 2:01.85 in winning the 200 butterfly. Lane then led a top three UVa sweep in the 500 free which she won with another NCAA "B" time of 4:52.93. Lane rounded out an extremely successful afternoon by anchoring Virginia’s winning 400 free relay team that clocked a time of 3:26.27 and in the process, clinched the victory in the meet.

First-year Laura Lipskis (St. Charles, Ill./St., Charles), fourth-year Caitlin Anderson(Charlottesville, Va./St. Anne’s) and third-year Lindsey Crane (Fairport, N.Y./Fairport) swam the first three legs of the winning relay. Third-year diver Alison Sharp (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock) swept the diving events in a pair of close competitions. She won the one-meter board with 246.83 points, less than six points ahead of UNC’s Jennifer Rehm. Sharp then won the three-meter competition with 266.33 points, only 46 hundredths of a point ahead of the Tar Heel’s Ashley Benner.

Third-year Mirjana Bosevska (Skopje, Macedonia/Trinity Prep) clocked a NCAA "B" qualifying time of 2:02.44 in winning the 200 individual medley. She was also second in the 500 free (NCAA "B" time of 4:53.52) and third in the 200 free (1:52.31).

Fourth-year Megan Roesch (Columbia, Md./Wilde Lake) and second-year Carlie Dykehouse (Gainesville, Fla./
Trinity Prep) won the 50 free (23.51) and 100 butterfly (56.26), respectively, to round out UVa’s event winners. Roesch was also second in the 100 free (50.79), as was Dykehouse in the 200 free (1:51.96), while both swimmers competed on UVa’s "A" 400 free relay team that finished second (3:31.39).

Jessi Perruquet and Katie Hathaway led the Tar Heels with a pair of victories apiece. Perrequet won the 100 (50.63) and 200 free (1:48.69), while Hathaway won the 100 and 200 breast with times of 1:03.36 and 2:15.00, respectively.

The Cavaliers return to action on Saturday, January 26 when both squads compete at South Carolina at 12 noon.

BATON ROUGE, La., Jan. 19. THE Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team earned its best win of the year, a 154-145 defeat of 24th-ranked Louisiana State University, in dramatic fashion at the LSU Natatorium on Friday afternoon.

Both teams were tied entering the final event of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay. The Aggie foursome of Danielle Townsend, Sarah Yates, Michelle Bird and Laura DeCook needed a seasonal best effort to win the race, and the meet, and delivered in a big way. A&M outtouched LSU 3:28.40 to 3:28.79 to earn 11 points and the meet win. A&M's previous seasonal best time of 3:29.79 would have cost them the meet.

The Aggies opened the meet with a win in the 400-yard medley relay. A&M just missed their seasonal best time of 3:50.27, swum last week against Kansas, by clocking a time of 3:50.85.

A trio of freshmen backstrokers flexed their muscles for the second meet in a row by sweeping the top three spots in both the 100 and 200-yard races. Courtney Patterson, Ashley Roark and Christina Thompson, the same trio that gave Kansas fits on Sunday, finished 1-2-3 in the 100 and 3-1-2 in the 200-yard event, respectively. Roark pounded her seasonal best of 2:05.03 in the 200 by swimming 2:03.67 in claiming the win. She was even more inspiring in the 200-yard individual medley, chopping more than two seconds off her seasonal best by finishing first in a time of 2:05.68.

All-American Clara Ho cooled off, relatively speaking, by winning the 200 butterfly in a more mortal time of 2:02.04. Ho automatically qualified for the NCAA championships on Sunday against Kansas after swimming an A&M school record of 1:59.17. Ho claimed second in the 100 butterfly in a provisional time of 55.94.

Freshman Danielle Townsend continued her strong seasonal showing in the 50-yard freestyle by winning in a time of 24.15. Townsend was second in the 100 free in a time of 52.29.

All-American diver Meghan Zack suffered a pair of rare defeats on the springboards on Friday. Zack finished second on the one-meter after being defeated 296.63-260.93 by LSU's Jamie Watkins. Zack tumbled to fourth place on the three-meter with a score of 278.03.

Freshmen Kelsey Savage and Tiffany Moore claimed a pair of runner-up finishes in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke and the 500 and 1,000-yard freestyle, respectively.

The Aggies, now 4-3, are on a three meet win streak after claiming their first win over a top 25 opponent this season.

On Saturday, the Aggies will drive to Monroe, La. to take on the University of Louisiana-Monroe at Lake C. Oxford Natatorium at 11 a.m.

ATHENS, Ga., Jan. 19. THE fifth-ranked Georgia women’s swimming and diving team topped Southern Methodist 179-119 Saturday afternoon at Gabrielsen
Natatorium.

With the win Georgia improves to 3-3 on the year and 13-0 in dual home meets over the last four years, giving the senior class a perfect record in Athens, including the 1999 NCAA Championships.

"This is a great win against a great team, and (SMU) will be a better team at NCAAs," said head coach Jack Bauerle. “They have a terrific first string, but they do not have as much depth as we do. We’re a very
good team, but we’re not a great team yet, but we have a chance to become a great team if we keep working hard."

"It is an amazing legacy," added Bauerle, "especially since we swam Stanford here and SMU twice in this pool and at least 10 meets against teams in the top 10. Our hats are off the them and we are going to miss them. It is a wonderful group — Permenter, Roby, Fleming, Keller and Williams."

The women began the day with a first-place finish in the 400-yard medley relay. The foursome of Neka Mabry, Ashley Roby, Katie Yevak and Maritza Correia posted a time of 3:44.33 to win the event, nearly two seconds ahead of the Mustang relay.

Caroline Burns swam a season-best 16:45.80 in the 1,650-yard freestyle for a second-place finish behind SMU's Swiss Miss, Flavia Rigamonti, who won in 16:17.07.

Stefanie Williams led a 1-2 Bulldog punch in the 200-yard freestyle, as the senior co-captain touched the wall in 1:48.60 for the win. Paige Kearns finished second with a season-best time of 1:49.68.

Williams and Kearns were two-third of the 1-2-3 sweep in the 50-yard freestyle. Correia took top honors with a time of 23.66.

Ashley Roby picked up a first-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke with a winning time of 1:01.96. Ertter took second in 1:03.20.

SMU won both backstroke events, with Alenka Kejzar taking the 100 in 55.67, ahead of Georgia's Neka Mabry second (56.23), and Anu Koivisto winning the 200 in 2:02.56, with Mabry placing second again.

SMU's Rigamonti notched her second win of the day, easily gliding to victory in the 500 free in 4:51.68, more than six seconds ahead of Rebecca Rose.

Georgia's Katie Yevak countered with twin wins in the two butterfly events, both times beating SMU's British Olympian Georgina Lee to the wall. Yevak took the 100 in 55.49 and the 200 in 2:00.63

Roby continued to be impressive, as the senior posted a season-best time of 2:13.61 to win the 200-yard breaststroke. Virginia Pate finished third in the event with a time of 2:18.79.

Maritza Correia tallied her second win of the meet with a first-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle with a winning time of 50.72. Williams completed the 1-2 charge with a second-place finish in 50.99.

Katie Yevak posted a time of 55.49 to win the 100-yard butterfly, while Buck finished fourth with a time of 56.91.

In the diving well, freshman Brooke Bassham registered a score of 257.47 to win the 1-meter springboard event; SMU's Elizabeth Pike was five points behind. Pike won the 3-meter event with 283.50 points, 16 ahead of Georgia's Molly Purvis.

Kejzar won her second event of the meet when she led a one-two mustang finish in the 400 IM. Kejzar touched in a solid 4:15.76.

Georgia finished the meet with a closely-fought win in the 400 free relay. The Bulldog A team clocked 3;27.58, one stroke ahead of SMU (3;27.91), with the Georgia B team just two-tenths back.

"We are real proud of how we raced," offered Bauerle.
"It was a meet that could have gone either way, but it went our way right from the start. I think it always shows the effects when people have to travel."

Georgia will be back in action Friday, Jan. 25, as the Bulldogs take on in-state rival Georgia Tech at Gabrielsen Natatorium beginning at 6 p.m. With little rest, the men will be back in the water the following day, Jan. 26, to face SEC foe Tennessee in the final dual meet of the year. Action begins at 1 p.m.

NO. 3 Auburn Women's Swimming Claims Wins over No. 16 Northwestern and Tennessee
January 12, 2002

AUBURN, Ala. ¯ The No. 3 Auburn women's swimming and diving team improved its record to 6-0 this season defeating both No. 16 Northwestern, 186-159, and Tennessee, 207-138, Saturday in a double-dual meet at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center.

The double-dual meet was divided into a morning and an evening session with all three teams swimming both sessions together. The scores were then split to into three dual meets including Auburn vs. Tennessee, Auburn vs. Northwestern and Tennessee vs. Northwestern.

Auburn started off the morning session with a win in the 400-yard medley relay including a season-high time of 3:43.91 with the team of Kirsty Coventry, Laura Swander, Margaret Hoelzer and Eileen Coparropa.

In the 500 free, sophomore Magda Dyszkiewicz captured first place in 4:54.09 while Demerae Christianson took fourth with a time of 5:04.93.

Maggie Bowen continued to dominate the individual medley event taking first in the 400 IM (4:19.84). Cassidy Maxwell earned her best time of the season in the 400 IM with a 4:25.18 and a third place finish.

The Auburn women took first and second in the 100 free with Coparropa in first at 50.87 and Heather Kemp finishing second in 51.29.

Freshman Kelly Jones was the top finisher in the 200 breaststroke (2:18.48) with a first place time of 2:18.48 while Christianson followed up with a first place in the 100 fly (55.57).

The Tigers claimed top honors in the first nine swimming events including Hoelzer in the 200 back (2:01.21), the Auburn 200 free relay team (Maxwell, Coventry, Short, Coparropa) and the AU 200 medley relay team of Hoelzer, Swander, Christianson and Coparropa.

In the 200 free, Kemp captured first in 1:49.12 while Hoelzer finished third with a time of 1:52.42 for the Tigers. Swander took a commanding lead in the 100 breast and went on to win the event with a time of 1:02.46 and Kelly Jones finished third with a time of 1:04.53.

Short swam to a first place finish in the 50 free (23.33) and sophomore Brittany King pulled out a fourth place overall with the time of 24.53. Auburn also took the next xxx races with Coventry winning the 100 back (56.14), Kemp finishing first in the 1650 free (16:45.99), Coventry followed with a 200 IM win (2:04.00) and the 400 free relay team of Short, Coparropa, Kemp and Dyszkiewicz took first in 3:23.95.

"The best thing we did tonight was that we raced," associate head women's coach Kim Brackin said. "We finished well and that was one of our goals so I am happy.

"Heather Kemp was our swimmer of the meet. She had a good, controlled race in the 1650 and was all-around very consistent. Kirsty Coventry had a solid first and second session and is really starting to come around. Her learning curve is developing."

The dual meets bring Auburn's record to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in the Southeastern Conference. The Auburn women will again be in action Jan. 25 when they travel to Florida to take on the Gators in an SEC dual meet.

Purdue Women's Swimming Defeats Michigan State for third conference victory of year
January 12, 2002

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue women’s swimming and diving team defeated Michigan State today, 187.5-112.5, at the Boilermaker Aquatic Center. The Boilermakers improve to 6-1 (3-0 Big Ten) on the year.

"Today, the team performed well," said Purdue head women’s swim coach Cathy Wright-Eger. "Today’s meet was the biggest margin we’ve defeated MSU with in a while and I can’t wait to get back to my office and check our times last year against this year. Several of our women are starting to have really good performances and grasp the concept that the little things add up to huge things that really make a difference in their races. Today, our finishes were good, our turns and kicks were stroke and we changed their strokes on the final stretch to really come home strong – and it worked."

Leading the way for the Boilermakers today was senior diver Kara Hajek-Gustafson. After an incredible holiday break of training and competitions, Hajek-Gustafson continues to be on fire on the boards. Today, she finished first on the 3-meter board with a score of 303.90 and second on the 1-meter board with a score of 280.05.

Also on the boards for Purdue were senior Molly MacFarlane, junior Carrie Dougherty and junior Heather Bachman. On the 1-meter, MacFarlane finished third and on the 3-meter, she came in fifth. Dougherty finished fourth on the 3-meter and exhibitioned on the 1-meter for a sixth-place finish. Bachman finished fifth on the 1-meter and exhibitioned to a sixth-place finish on the 3-meter.

On the 1-meter board for Michigan State, Carly Weiden earned a pool record with a score of 304.87, breaking Hajek-Gustafson’s previous record of 292.12.

In the first race of the day, the Boilermakers’ ‘B’ relay team of juniors Lisa Dolansky, Lindsay Lange, Patricia Finnerty and Kim Paradeise finished in first with a time of 3:48.22.

Boilermaker senior Kelly Mackus finished second in the 1,000 free with a time of 10:20.46 and junior Shannon Funk was fourth in 10:31.68.

In a very tight race, Purdue’s Jenni Bean held on for the first-place finish in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:54.66, while Paradeise and MSU’s Jen Windstein tied for second in 1:54.98.

Dolansky continued her undefeated streak through today’s meet in the 100 backstroke, finishing in 56.59, as freshman Brandy Keever finished third with a time of 59.26.

Lange pulled out another first-place victory in the 100 breaststroke, almost two full seconds ahead of her closest competitor in Boilermaker freshman Lindsay Kirchoff. Senior Ronica Rogalski finished third in 1:06.24.

Senior Karin Stender finished second in the 200 butterfly and Finnerty finished third. Sophomore Autumn Sample finished fourth with sophomore Stacie Kleber not far behind in fourth for the exhibition swim.

Florida State's Lady Seminoles’ Sweep All 16 Events To Defeat FAU, 174-112
January 12, 2002

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida State women’s swimming and diving team earned another impressive win Saturday afternoon defeating Florida Atlantic, 174-112, at the Bobby E. Leach Aquatic Center on the FSU campus in Tallahassee, Fla. The Lady Seminoles were victorious in all 16 events, as 11 individuals earned first-place honors. FSU improves to 9-2 on the season and is now 16-0 all-time against FAU.

After dominating the 200-yard medley-relay with first and second-place finishes to start the meet, Angie Leach took to the pool and won the first individual race, the 1000 freestyle, at 10:18.19. For the day FSU had three individuals, Chrity Cech, Lisa How, and Chelsie Lerew, win two individual events each.

Cech, a 2001 All-American, continued her dominance in the freestyle sprints. First, in the 50-yard free, Cech led all competitors with a time of 23.77. Following Cech in 50 free was FSU’s Jennie Lyes (second-place) and Liz Parkinson (third-place). Cech then left all competition behind in the 100 free, winning with a time of 52.34.

In diving action, the Lady Seminoles once again ruled the boards, placing first through fourth in both events. Lerew, the 2001 ACC Diver of the Year, earned the victory on the one-meter with a score of 193.2. Following Lerew on the one-meter was Tiffany Manning (second-place), Michelle Sekeres (third-place) and Courtney McClow (fourth-place). On three-meter action, Lerew once again picked up the win with a mark of 197.9. McClow, Manning and Caren Harai rounded out second, third and fourth, respectively.

How earned her first victory in 200-yard butterfly (2:06.1) and later went on to win the 400 individual medley (4:31.87). Other Lady Seminoles who earned first-place finishes were: Loren Hansen (200 free, 1:52.56), Emily Breen (100 backstroke, 58.78), Emma Dutton (100 breaststroke, 1:05.87), Betsy Nagy (200 back, 2:08.24), Keryn Krynauw (200 breast, 2:20.46), Amy Lo (500 free, 5:03.03) and Candice Nethercott (100 fly, 57.28). In the final event of the day, the 200 free relay, FSU won with a time of 1:36.22.

The Seminoles return to action on Friday, January 25, when they host Alabama. The meet is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. at the Bobby E. Leach Aquatic Center.

#4 Arizona Whips #7 SMU
January 12, 2002

DALLAS, Texas., Jan. 12. The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats tamed the #7 SMU Mustangs' women's swimming & diving team this afternoon, 146-108, at Perkins Natatorium.

The Wildcats won 10 of the 14 events contested today.
In the 200 medley relay, the Arizona team of Beth Botsford, Jessica Wagner, Amy Bouta and jenny Vanker won easily in 1:42.83.

SMU freshman Flavia Rigamonti, a Swiss import, countered with a win in the 1,000 free touching in with a time of 9:54.89, nearly 12 seconds ahead of Arizona's Emily Mason.

Arizona then took three straight events: the 200 free, 100 back and 100 breast. Defending NCAA champion Sarah Tolar took the 200 free in 1:47.46; 1996 Olympic champion Beth Botsford won the 100 back in 55.04, downing SMU's Anu Koivisto and Alenka Kejzar, who tied for second at 55.78; and Jessica Wagner took the 1-- breast in 1:03.60.

SMU's 2001 WAC Freshman of the Year, Georgina Lee, from Britain, finished first in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:00.72. Lee's win was her fourth first place finish in the 200 fly on the year.

Arizona recovered quickly, reeling off six straight victories: Sarah Tolar edged teammate Jenny Vanker in the 50 free, 23.73 to 23.84; Vanker came back in the very next event to nip SMU's Lisa Wanberg in the 100 free, 51.72 to 51.77; Botsford then took the 200 back in 1:58.42, again edging Kejzar and Koivisto; Jessica Wagner earned her second victory, gliding to a 2:16.68 performance in the 200 breast; Tolar then became a double winner by leading from start to finish in the 500 free and touching in 4:50.16, some four seconds ahead of SMU's Rigamonti and Lee; and Botsford followed with a 56.48 swim to swim the 100 fly.

SMU's Alenka Kejzar finally broke the Wildcat victory skein by winning the 400 IM with a time of 4:18.28. Teammate Andrea Cassidy finished runner-up with a time of 4:21.59.

SMU ended on a positive note as the 200 free relay team of Lisa Wanberg, McCall Dorr, Katie Merriam, and Lee combined to touch first with a time of 1:37.78.

With the loss, SMU falls 1-2 on the year. The Mustangs now turn their eyes toward Athens, Ga. and the defending national champions Georgia. SMU will make its first road dual meet appearance in Athens on Jan. 19, beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Final Score
Arizona 146
SMU 108

#3 Auburn Upsets #2 Texas
January 11, 2002

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 11. LED by James Galloway and Ryan Wochomurka, the No. 3-ranked Auburn Tiger men's swimming and diving team defeated the No. 2 Texas Longhorns here Friday afternoon bringing Auburn's record to 4-0 on the season. Texas drops to 2-1.

Not only are both teams consistently ranked in the top five, but the legacy that Auburn and Texas have brought to the NCAA in recent history includes one of the two the teams winning the NCAA Championship title five out of the past six years.

"I had hoped going in that we would win by one point," head coach David Marsh said. "So I was very happy with the team's performance today. This was an awesome confidence booster."

Starting off the afternoon was the Auburn 400-yard medley relay team pulling out the win and an impressive time of 3:14.79 with the team of Kirk Hampleman, Pat Calhoun, Andy Haidinyak and Matt Kidd.

Next was Galloway and freshman BJ Jones taking first and second in the 1000 free, both earning their top times of the season, including Galloway's time of 9:14.13. Clay Kirkland was the Tigers' top finisher in the 200 free in second (1:37.52) and senior Brandon Roberts claimed third with a time of 1:39.64.

Wochomurka, a freshman from Libertyville, Ill., was the fastest man in the pool Friday swimming to a 20.58 in the 50 free and went on to claim the 100 free as well with a time of 44.77. Freshman Matt Kidd was barely out-touched by Wochomurka in the 100 free with a time of 44.78 and Kirkland rounded out the Auburn sweep in the 100 free in third place (45.30).

Kevin Clements and Mark Gangloff took first and second for Auburn in the 200 individual medley with times of 1:47.57 and 1:48.64 respectively. In the 200 fly, Christian Cantwell placed second for the Tigers in 1:48.18 and Galloway and Ryan Hinz took fourth and fifth.

In the next two events, the 200 back and 500 free, Auburn captured first and second with Bryce Hunt (1:45.23) and Kirk Hampleman (1:45.69) taking first and second in the 200 back and Galloway (4:27.19) and Clements (4:27.41) at one and two in the 500 free.

Finishing off the individual events on the day was the 200 breast where Gangloff, Clements and Calhoun took second, third and fourth including Gangloff's time of 2:00.93 -- a season best for the sophomore.

Auburn loaded its final event, the 400 free relay, with all newcomers for the 2001-02 season and had great success as the team finished first with a time of 2:58.33. The team of Kidd, Kirkland, Derek Gibb and Wochomurka captured Auburn's best time of the year.

In the diving events, freshman Matt Bricker, the SEC Athlete of the Week for Jan. 7, finished third on the 1- and 3-meter events while Caesar Garcia took fourth in both the 1- and 3-meter.

"In the big picture, I knew we had the talent to do great things, but we just needed to do them," Marsh said. "Today we finally got there. Texas has been such a fantastic team in recent years that they have become our target and today the guys really responded to that.

"Some of these guys had the best swims of their careers. Ryan Wochomurka is just a freshman, but he swam like a veteran today against some Olympic medalists."

Senior Troy Dumais (Ventura, Calif.) led all Texas men's performers, posting first-place performances on the one (361.27) and three-meter (399.37) springboards.

Junior Chris Kemp (Southlake, Texas) placed first in the 200 freestyle (1:36.78) for Texas, while senior Joe Montague (Houston, Texas) won the 200 butterfly (1:47.54). Sophomore Brendan Hansen (Havertown, Pa.) rounded out the Texas men's individual victories by taking top honors in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:00.42.

"We didn't perform near as well today as we did a couple of weeks ago at the Texas Invitational," UT men's head coach Eddie Reese said. "This is a tough loss, but you have to give Auburn credit for swimming a good meet. This meet matters now, but our focus will continue to be on preparing for the NCAA Championships in March. In March is when it really counts."

Both the Texas men's and women's swimming and diving teams return to action on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Jamail Texas Swimming Center. The women's squad will take on No. 8 Florida at noon, followed by the men's team, which faces No. 16 Georgia at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

The Auburn men now travel to Texas A&M for a 2:30 p.m. meet on Saturday, Jan. 12 while the women are set to host a double-dual meet with Tennessee and No. 16 Northwestern at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center, also on Saturday.

#4 Tennessee Overpowers #11 Virginia; Moses Rocks!
January 11, 2002

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Jan.11. THE fourth-ranked Volunteers of Tennessee overpowered #11-ranked Virginia 143-98 today, to hand the Cavaliers their first loss of the season. The meet was held at the UVa Aquatic and Fitness Center. The Vols improve to 4-0 on the seasons, while the Vas fall to 3-1.

Tennessee won 10 of the 13 events contested, often coming from behind to overtake their Cavalier opponents on the final lap. Seniors Brett Tannhauser
and Andrew Bree, and freshman Phillip Jones all were individual double winners for the Vols.

Tannhauser won the 200 free in 1:39.26, passing the Cavs' Adam Kerpeleman (1:39.38) with 10 yards to go.
The 500 was even closer, as Tannhauser trailed Virginia's Ian Prichard from the very first stroke until the next to last. Tannhauser lunged for the wall to win in 4:28.74, one-hundredth ahead of Prichard.

Bree had things all his way as he stroked to convincing victories in the 200 breast (1:59.17) and 200 IM (1:49.21).

Jones had an even easier time of it, easily taking both the 1- and 3-meter diving with 340.73 and 350.85 points, rsepectively.

Other Tennessee winners were: Renato Gueraldi (50 free, 20.28); George du Rand (1000 free, 9:10.32); Paulo Machado (200 back, 1:46.63); and the Vols' 400 medley relay squad (3:21.56).

Sophomore Luke Anderson and freshman Michael Raab were the only individual event winners for the Cavaliers.

Anderson won the 100 freestyle in 44.74 seconds, just touching out Gueraldo (44.80), while Raab dominated the field in the 200 butterfly, posting a winning time
of 1:48.25.

Virginia also won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:01.80.

In a separate exhibition meet, former UVa swimmer Ed Moses swam the second fastest times in history in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke. Moses set an AFC pool record in the 100 breast with a time of 52.12. He clocked a time of 1:53.38 in the 200-yard breaststroke.

The Cavaliers return to action Saturday (January 12) when both the men's and women's squads host N.C. State at 1:00 p.m. at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. The one-meter diving competition will begin at 11:45 a.m.

No. 5 Texas Stuns No. 2 Georgia, 174.5-125.5
January 11, 2002

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 11. THE 5th-ranked University of Texas women's swimming and diving team picked up its biggest dual meet victory of the season, defeating No. 2 Georgia, 174.5-125.5, on Friday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin. UT improves its record to 6-2 with the victory, while the Bulldogs fell to 3-2.

The Longhorns were led by senior-transfer Lauren Thies (Portland, Ore./Stanford) and juniors Tanica Jamison (Dublin, Calif.) and Erin Phenix (Cincinnati, Ohio), all of whom were double-event winners.

Thies led the way in the individual distance events, winning both the 500 (4:52.58) 1,000-yard (10:02.13) freestyle, while Jamison took charge in the backstroke by winning both the 100 (55.65) and 200 (2:00.47) races. The sprint free events were highlighted by the performance of Phenix, who touched first in the 50 (23.13) and the 100 (50.20) free.

Sophomore Ally Hartzell (Austin, Texas) added to the UT scoring effort in diving, taking top honors on both the one (282.37) and three-meter (296.24) springboards.

"The past two dual meets have been so important to this team and building its confidence," women's co-head coach Mike Walker said. "Our goal today was to win but also show what kind of team we are. Our team realizes that when they count on each other and set the mood for the meet, amazing things can happen. It is important that the team carries the momentum from this victory into tomorrow's meet against Florida and the rest of the season."

Georgia coach jack Bauerle commented after the meet:
"We are disappointed with the outcome, but certainly not the effort. The kids did a great job, but we lost to a team that is a little better than we are. Hopefully there is time to get a little closer to them before the NCAA Championships, but we are proud of our
kids' efforts. We are proud of how they raced and how hard they have been working.

"We never like losing," added Bauerle, "but as the case may be, certainly they were better than we were today."

Senior Ashley Roby had a great meet for Georgia by winning three events and aiding Georgia to a second-place finish in the 200-yard medley relay. Roby led a
1-2-3 punch in the 100-yard breaststroke, taking first with a time of 1:02.10. Freshman Lindsay Ertter was second (1:04.10) with Virginia Pate coming in third (1:04.74).

The Lady Bulldogs also swept the top three spots in the 200-yard breaststroke, again with Roby leading the charge with a winning time of 2:14.47, followed by Pate and Ertter, respectively. Roby rounded out the day
by posting a mark of 2:03.00 in the 200-yard individual medley to win the race.

Stefanie Williams and Katie Yevak each won an event, as Williams' time of 1:47.41 was good enough for top honors in the 200-yard freestyle. Yevak picked up her victory in the 200-yard butterfly with a winning time of 1:59.92. She came in second in both the 100-yard butterfly and the 200-yard individual medley behind Roby.

Rebecca Rose posted season-best times of 10:06.70 in the 1000-yard freestyle and 4:53.54 in the 500-yard freestyle to take second place in each event. Ali Williams and Caroline Burns came in second and third,
respectfully, in the 1000-yard freestyle. Maritza Correia posted a second-place finish in the 500-yard freestyle as well as the 200-yard freestyle.

"We had great effort from Rebecca Rose, Stef Williams and Ashley Roby. Ashley was terrific today. She did a great job even though she was a little under the weather, which is no easy feat when you are swimming 200s. She is our star of the day," said Bauerle.

The Lady Bulldogs return to action next Saturday, Jan. 19, as they take on Southern Methodist at noon at Gabrielsen Natatorium.

"We turn around and have a big meet against SMU next week, and they are about as strong as Texas," offered Bauerle. "We have our work cut out. We just need to find a way to get a little bit better."

The men will battle the No. 2 Texas Longhorns tomorrow, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m. in Austin.

Both the Texas men's and women's swimming and diving teams return to action on Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Jamail Texas Swimming Center. The women's squad will take on No. 8 Florida at noon, followed by the men's team, which faces No. 16 Georgia at 3 p.m. Admission is free.

UCLA Downs Illinois -- January 10, 2002

WESTWOOD, Calif., Jan. 9. IN a matchup usually between two schools that have cut their menb's teams, UCLA women's swimmers defeated Illinois, 174.5-125.5 here this afternoon in an intersectional dual meet at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center Pool.

Coach Cyndi Gallagher's Bruins, 7-2 overall and dfending Pac-10 champs, were too much for Coach Sue Novitsky's Lady Illini, winning 10 of 16 events en
route to victory.

The Bruins were led by senior Jen Noodle, a member of Canada's national team, who scored three wins: 100-200 yard breaststrokes (1:04.71-2:18.34) and the 200 IM (2:06.32).

UCLA also scored doubles from sophomore Kristen Lewis (100-200 flys, 58.12-2:04.98) and junior Erica Shugart (50-100 frees, 23.84-52.78).

Illinois got a pair of victories from sophomore distance specialist Crystal McAdam, who took the 500 (5:00.42) and 1000 frees (10:09.27); and senior All-America Jessica Aveyard, who won the 200 back (2:02.19) and 200 free (1:52.87).

Illinois' other individual winner was Alison Czmarko (100 back, 57.84). Their 400 free relay also won in 3:34.35.

UCLA divers qualified for NCAA Zone meets via wins on the oine-meter springboard by Jen McNally (264.93) and Michelle Brown (3-meter, 300.53).

The Bruin 400 medley relay team openedthe meet with a 3:52.82 win. Katie Winkelhaus, Elvira Fischer, Lewis and Jeanette Nieto comprising the foursome.

Fischer is a transfer from Nebraska, where she was an All-Big 12 and All-America selectee, as well as competing for her native Austria at the Olympics in Sydney.

The Bruins' next action will be at home against Washington State and UOP Jan. 19. Illinois will next swim in a quad meet involving Iowa, Notre Dame
and Michigan Jan. 18-19 at South Bend.

-- Bill Bell

Texas Women's Swimming Downs Houston and Northern Arizona
January 9, 2002

AUSTIN, Texas - The No. 5 University of Texas women's swimming team picked up two dual meet victories, defeating Houston (116-81) and Northern Arizona (117-80) on Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas.

Junior Tanica Jamison (Dublin, Calif./Dublin) led the way for the Longhorns as the meet's lone double-event winner, placing first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:49.97) and the 100 backstroke (56.09). Both times are NCAA "B" consideration marks.

All together, Texas had seven individual athletes and two relay squads which delivered first-place finishes. Sophomore-transfer Lacey Elliott (El Paso, Texas/Franklin) touched first in the 50 freestyle (23.85), while freshman Kaela Humphries (Chaska, Minn./Eden Prarie) led the field in the 400 IM (4:27.61). Senior Kelley Robins (Houston, Texas/Awty International) took top honors in the 100 butterfly, timing 58.16, followed by junior Erin Phenix (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline Academy) who won the 100 free (52.37). In the 500 free, senior-transfer Jenna Bridges (Tallahassee, Fla./Bolles/Virginia) led the way with a first-place time of 5:04.05, while junior Ashlee Fotinakes (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter) rounded out the individual top times with a mark of 1:05.33 in the 100 breaststroke.

In the 200 medley relay, the Texas "C" team of freshman Sarah Wanazek (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East), sophomore Cherie Albertson (Houston, Texas/Tasis), senior Lauren Martin (Houston, Texas/Bolles) and sophomore Martha Guleke (Austin, Texas/Westlake) captured first in 1:46.95, while Elliott, freshman Alisa Schuknecht (Bend, Ore./Bend), Phenix and junior Jennifer Cray (Federal Way, Wash./Charles Wright) won the 400 free relay in 3:32.59.

"This meet was a great tune-up for our squad," co-head coach Mike Walker said. "It helps us to get back into a rhythm of having dual meets again. Coming off of the holiday training and our intra-squad meet, our team needed this to remain sharp and ready before our meets this weekend with Georgia and Florida."

Although Texas and Houston both swam at the Jamail Swim Center, Northern Arizona competed under the same events schedule at their own respective home facility. Following completion of the day's competition, results were faxed to each school, where upon a dual meet score was determined.

Texas returns to action this weekend, when it hosts No. 2 Georgia on Friday, Jan. 11 at noon, followed by No. 8 Florida on Saturday, Jan. 12, at noon. Both meets are open to the public and admission is free.

Owls Sweep San Diego Invitational
January 5, 2002

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Rice won all 10 events of an all-relay meet to take its third consecutive University of San Diego Invitational title at the San Diego Sports Center Saturday. The Owls placed 1-2 in four events and tallied 204 points to finish ahead of Arkansas (100), Air Force (76) and San Diego (58).

Rice went 1-2 in the 300 butterfly relay, the 200 freestyle relay, the 400 freestyle relay, and the 300 medley relay. Arkansas relay teams finished second in all the other events.

The team of Jackie Corcoran, Adi Bichman, and Corrie Kristick swam the 1500 free in 15:34.86, more than 17 second ahead of second-place Arkansas.

The teams swam the 200, 400, 500, 800, and 1500 free; the 300 and 400 medley; the 300 breaststroke; the 300 backstroke; and the 300 butterfly relays.

The Owls will next take on the University of Houston on Jan. 19 before returning home to face SMU on Jan. 25 at the Rice Pool.

Lady Seminoles’ Swimming & Diving Defeat UNF, UNCW
January 5, 2002

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Florida State women’s swimming and diving team improved to 7-2 on the season after defeating North Florida, 95-42, and North Carolina Wilmington, 91-46, in tri-meet action Saturday afternoon in Jacksonville, Fla. The Lady Seminoles won all 14 events and placed second in 13, while Emily Breen, Emma Dutton and Amy Lo each won placed first in their individual competition. Breen first won the 100m backstroke with a time of 1:09.14 and later took first place in the 100m freestyle, touching the wall at 1:01.55. Dutton’s first win of the day came in the 100m breaststroke (1:16.99) before placing first in the 200m individual medley at 2:28.38. Lo captured the 200m free with a mark of 2:12.67 and then the 400m free with a time of 4:39.7.

Other individual wins for the Lady Seminoles came in the 800m free (Angie Leach, 9:28.11), 200m butterfly (Lisa How, 2:28.93), 50m free (Elizabeth Parkinson, 28.53), 200m back (Laura Kenney, 2:28.17), 200m breaststroke (Keryn Krynauw, 2:48.59) and 100m fly (Emily Armond, 1:06.65).

FSU also dominated the relay events, first winning the 400m medley relay (Breen, Dutton, Armond and Parkinson) with a time of 4:35.14. The 400m free relay team of Breen, Parkinson, Loren Hansen and Dutton touched the wall in first place in 4:07.03.

The Lady Seminoles were without the help of All-American Christy Cech and Candice Nethercott who were abroad qualifying for the World Short Course Championships for their native country of South Africa.

Diving results from today’s action were not reported.

The Seminoles stayed active during the winter break, competing at the Indian River Relays, which they won with a score of 44 points.

FSU will host Florida Atlantic next Saturday, January 12, at noon at the Bobby E. Leach Aquadic Center on the Florida State campus.

Georgia Sweeps Alabama in Phone Meet
January 5, 2002

ATHENS, Ga., Jan. 4. THE University of Georgia topped the University of Alabama today in a telephone meet, with each team swimming at its respective facility. The two schools had been slated to go head-to-head in Tuscalossa, but a snow storm has made traveling difficult in the southeast.

Each team swam the scheduled events while assistant coach Harvey Humphries relayed Georgia times via telephone to a member of the Alabama coaching staff and announced Tide times over the public address system during each race, while the Tide coaches did the same in Tuscaloosa.

Although the outcome will not be reflected on either team's won-loss record and is not considered an official meet, Georgia won each side of the long-distance competition. The Lady Bulldogs tallied 165 points to Alabama’s 30, while the No. 16 Bulldogs held a 117-85 advantage over an Alabama men’s team that is ranked No. 15 in the latest poll.

Despite lacking the same competitive atmosphere of a regular dual meet, there were some impressive swims throughout the day. Georgia freshman Robert Margalis won the 1,000-yard freestyle in 8:57.28, a school and pool record. Margalis went on to win the 200-yard individual medley (1:51.37) and the 500-yard freestyle
(4:24.66).

On the women’s side, Stefanie Williams won the 50-yard and 200-yard freestyle events and was a member of Georgia’s winning 400-yard freestyle relay.

In other highlights, Georgia's Maritza Correia took the women's 200 free in 1:49.99 while Ashley Roby took advantage of the absence of Alabama's Anne Poleska to win the 200 breast in 2:12.51. Poleska is the European champion in the event and has the nation's second fastest time this year.

On the men's side, Alabama's Stefan Gherghel won the 200 fly in 1:48.53 while the Dawgs' Marc Lindsay breezed to a 1:46.74 to take the 200 back.

Georgia will be back in action next week with a pair of dual meets at Texas. The women will battle on Jan. 11 at 3 p.m., while the men will take on the defending national champion Longhorns on Jan. 12 at 1 p.m.

#1 Stanford Tops Cal State, Bakersfield
January 4, 2002

By Aimee Dombrowski

STANFORD, Calif., Jan. 4. THE top-ranked Stanford men's swimming team defeated Cal State Bakersfield, 164-97, this afternoon in a dual meet held at the Avery Aquatic Complex on the campus of Stanford University.

The Roadrunners are the defending Div. II National Champions.

Stanford kicked off the meet with a win in the 200y medley relay in a time of 1:30.57 (Randall Bal, Michael Bruce, Matt McDonald and Peter Marshall). In the second event on the day, Cardinal Matt Sorlien turned in a solid performance in the 1000y freestyle, winning in a time of 9:21.55.

Cardinals' Markus Rogan (1:39.78) and Jayme Cramer (1:41.03) finished 1-2 respectively in the 200 free. Dan Westcott (48.62) and Mark Siebert (51.25) took first and second in the 100y backstroke.

In the 100y breaststroke, Cardinal Michael Bruce placed first in a time of 56.22 while teammate Peter Lennox-King took second (58.38). Randall Bal finished first in the 50 free (20.55) edging out teammate Peter Marshall (20.65) for top honors. Jeff Guyman took
first in the 100y freestyle in a time of 45.57.

Markus Rogan picked up his second first-place finish on the afternoon when he took top honors in the 200y backstroke (1:48.85).

Freshman diver Adam Peterson finished first in the one-meter diving event with a score of 200.25 while teammate Brian Ferris placed second (182.60).

The Cardinal are next in action in a dual meet against
Michigan, Fri.-Sat., January 11-12 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

22 Masters Records Washed Away at Long Beach
January 2, 2002

By Phillip Whitten

LONG BEACH, Calif., Jan. 2. THE Holiday Invitational, held for the ninth time last month in Long Beach, California, reasserted it's claim as the top Masters short course meters meet in the United States. The meet, held Dec. 7-9, also doubles as the SPMA Championship.

Twenty-two individual Masters world records were swept away at the Belmont Plaza Pool, site of the 1976 US Olympic Trials, with 20 being set by the men. Three men accounted for the majority of the records, setting four apiece.

Abrahams, Bobbie and Graham
Rich Abrahams and Bob Strand, both competing in the 55-59 age group, were among the quadruple record-setters, while Graham Johnston, swimming in the 70-74 division, was the third.

Abrahams, Rocky Mountain Masters, showed he is fully recovered from shoulder surgery last year, as he blasted the global marks in the sprint freestyle and fly events.

Abrahams sped to a 25.00 time in the 50m free, well under Michael Ahern's 26.39 standard for men 55-59 set just one yer earlier. Ahern was the victim in the 100m free as well, as his 57.85 mark set at this meet in 2000 could not withstand Abrahams' assault. The Coloradan touched in 56.51.

The fly sprints told much the same story. Abrahams clocked 27.74 in the 50 and 1:03.87 in the 100. The old record in the 50 belonged to Jim Dragon at 28.57. Two swimmers had shared the former 100 meter mark at 1:06.29: the USA's Bob Poiletman and Germany's Gerhard Schroeder.

The Olympic Club's Bob Strand took the 55-59 breaststroke records into a new dimension, in the process breaking one of the oldest records on the books.

Strand clocked 32.18 in the 50m breast, almost precisely one second under the 33.17 established by Japan's Hiroshi Kotegawa in 1993. That was just for starters.

In the 100, Strand split 33.26 at the 50 before racing to a 1:11.53. Mani Sanguily's old mark of 1:16.32 had stood since 1988, back when Strand was a mere whippersnapper of 42.

Strand added the 200 in 2:38.76, slashing almost 10 seconds off Tex Haraszti's 2:49.21 swum in 1998. How's this for dominance?: Strand split 1:15.92 at the 100 -- faster than any other man his age has ever swum a straight 100 meters!

The Olympic Club denizen added a final record when he clocked 1:07.15 in the 100 IM, lowering Michael Ahern's 1:08.00 set a year earlier.

Graham Johnston had a field day in the men's 70-74 age group, slashing and cutting venerable records seemingly with ease. In the 200m free he clocked 2:24.09, more than 10 seconds faster than Bill Phillips' 2:34.64 from 1998. He negative split the 400 meters (2:36.19-2:35.79) to slash 23+ seconds from Frank Piemme's 5:35.49 that had lasted six years.

Turning to the medleys, Johnston became the first man over 70 to crack 3 minutes for the 200m IM, touching in 2:57.78. The old mark of 3:00.88 was set by Spain's Jesus Dominguez in 1996. Finally, Johnston lowered Piemme's six year-old 400 IM standard from 6:38.98 to 6:26.42.

Other Men's Record-Setters
Paul Smith came down from the mountain and left havoc and devastation in the 40-44 record book in his wake. The Vail Masters ace returned to southern California (he swam for UCSB as an undergrad) to set Masters world marks in the 50, 100 and 200m freestyle.

In the 50, Smith's 24.00 just edged the 24.09 set by Brent Barnes, swimming for Japan, in 1999. In the 100, Smith split 25.79 on his way to a 52.44 performance that was almost a second faster than Rick Abbott's former mark of 53.25 set in '95.

Smith completed his record-setting with a 1:56.44 effort in the 200 free (split: 56.53), to lower Hess Yntema's 1:57.83 from 1995.

Jim McConica, who graced the cover of the March/April 2001 issue of SWIM Magazine after being named one of the top 12 Masters swimmers of 2000, continued his record-setting ways in Long Beach. Known primarily as a distance swimmer, McConica demonstrated an impressive sprint when he clocked 55.81 for the 100 free (27.28 split). McConica owned the old mark of 56.32 set in 2000.

In the 400 IM, McConica became the oldest swimmer ever to crack five minutes in the 400 IM, when he put together a sterling 4:58.93 effort. Todd Spieker had owned the old record with his 5:12.31 from 1999.

Ojai-Santa Barbara's Frank Piemme was the second swimmer to take two world records, but his performance was certainly the most unusual: Piemme blasted the world marks in the shortest and longest freestyle events on the program.

In the 50, Piemme, 76, sprinted to a 31.63 clocking, lowering the 32.09 set by Japan's Keijiro Nakamura in 1999, though Piemme recorded a slightly faster time in October. Piemme's two-lap sprint came a day after he carved almost 19 seconds from the 1500 meter record with his 24:27.63 effort. The old mark -- Aldo daRosa's 24:46.19 -- had lasted eight years.

The final men's mark was set by 1960 Olympic star Jeff Farrell, who ages up in 2002. In his farewell effort in the 60-64 age group, Farrell clocked 2:18.58 (1:06.04 split) to take almost three seconds from Graham Johnston's 2:21.31 set in 1995.

Susan Jones Roy Gets Two
Olympian Susan Jones Roy was the sole record-setter among the women, taking two global standards in the women's 50-54 age group.

Swimming for Tamalpais Masters, Roy, 53, smashed the 50 and 100m breaststroke marks. In the 50, her 37.94 was more than half a second faster than Australian Jan McLeod's 38.48 from 1997.

Roy was even stronger in the 100 meters, clocking 1:22.53, to take almost two seconds from the 1:24.45 record set by Germany's Christiane Heeren.

American Records
An additional 12 American records were set in Long Beach, including six by SCAQ's Dawn Heckman in the women's 19-24 age group:

Dawn Heckman, 24, SCAQ, women 19-24:
200 free: 2:06.21
400 free: 4:25.13
800 free: 8:58.71
200 fly: 2:23.78
200 IM: 2:25.87
400 IM: 4:58.55

Susan Jones Roy Jones, 53, women 50-54:
200 breast: 3:03.98

Mike Shaffer, 36, VCM, men 35-39:
200 free: 1:55.54

Don Smith, 40, VCM, men 40-44:
50 breast: 30.31

Philipp Djang, 47, RGSC, men 45-49:
100 back: 1:03.36

Frank Piemme, 76, OSB, men 75-79:
200 IM: 3:20.12

VCM men's 160+ 800 free relay: 8:05.09
(Jim McConica, Tim Hedrick, Don Smith, Mike Shaffer)

Coaches Vic and Renee Riggs Move to Florida
December 30, 2001

GAINESVILLE, FL., Dec. 29. VIC and Renee Riggs have left the Golden State for the Sunshine State.

The former coaches of current USC freshwoman star Kaitlin Sandeno, have forsaken Orange County, where they headed up the Nellie Gail Gators Saddleback Valley (NGSV), for Gainesville, where they are the new co-head coaches for the Gator Swim CLub, "farm" team for Coach Greg Troy's University of Florida Gators.

Among his aides at Florida is former University of Miami All-America Matt Gribble, former American record holder in the 100 meter fly (53.44 in 1983).

Vic Riggs was a standout distance swimmer-medleyist for current USC coach Mark Schubert when the latter was at Mission Viejo in the 1980s and at the University of California.

ASU Sweeps Washington
December 30, 2001

TEMPE, Ariz., Dec. 29. MATCHING their best start since the 1991-92 season, Arizona State's No. 8 women's swimming and diving team moved to 5-0 by defeating Washington 177-119 at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center Saturday, dropping the Huskies to 5-2.

Meanwhile, Arizona State's fifth-ranked men's swimming and diving team looked sharp despite the winter break, easily defeating Washington 208-80 Saturday at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center to move to 4-0 on the season and match their best dual start since the 1993-94 season, while handing the Huskies their first loss of the year (5-1).

Women's meet
Leading the way for the Sun Devil women was a trio of two-event winners in freshman Ágnes Kovács and seniors Sarah Baham and Amanda Stanford. In the first individual event of the afternoon, Stanford led the way for a one-two-three ASU finish in the 1000-yard freestyle, touching the wall first in 10:14.64. Junior Katie Titcomb and freshman Amy Pokora came in behind Stanford at 10:30.55 and 10:41.31 to get the Sun Devils off to a strong start.

Later, in the 500y free, it was again Stanford and Titcomb grabbing the top two spots with respective times of 5:03.02 and 5:08.17, while sophomore Melissa Bartlett placed third for ASU in 5:09.89.

Baham, the ASU record holder in the 100y and 200y butterfly, did her damage Saturday in the 200 fly with a first-place effort of 2:03.23 and in the 400y individual medley with a victorious time of 4:29.90.
In both cases Washington sophomore Anissa Hilyard was forced to settle for second place in 2:03.88 and 4:35.54, respectively.

Kovács, who has NCAA automatic qualifying times in three events this year, cruised to victories in the breaststroke events with times that still dipped below the NCAA 'B' consideration standard. In the 100y breast, Kovács came in at 1:02.58, well ahead of Washington's Brittany Reichardt who edged the Sun Devils' Riley Mants 1:05.46 to 1:05.68. Mants had her revenge in the 200y breast however, placing second behind Kovács' 2:15.16 in 2:20.82, while Reichardt settled for third in 2:23.24.

In the losing effort, Washington produced the only three-event winner of the day in junior Kim Harada, who capitalized on the absence of ASU sprinters Claire Hedenskog and Florencia Szigeti to win the 50y free (24.15), 100y free (52.62) and 200y free (1:51.54).

Over in the diving pool ASU athletes competed virtually uncontested by Washington, which does not field a regular diving team. The competition was no less intense however as sophomore Jessica Stenson
swept the springboard events with NCAA Zone qualifying marks of 287.10 for the 1-meter (6-dive optionals) and 281.55 for the 3-meter (6-dive).

Men's meet
Arizona State's fifth-ranked men's team had no trouble taming the University of Washington Huskies, 208-80.

Among the Sun Devils' leaders was sophomore Rich Jacobs, a native of Seattle, Wash., and graduate of Highline High, who won both the
200-yard butterfly (1:52.70) and the 400y individual medley (4:01.43) against his hometown university.

Sophomore Nick Brunelli, senior Gavin Meadows and junior Christian Harcsas were also two-event winners. In the 50y freestyle, Brunelli led junior Bobby Zaabadich (21.25) and junior Justin Mathias (21.33)
to a one-two-three sweep with a first-place time of 20.67. Then, in the 100y free Brunelli's 45.64 led senior Bo West (45.80) and Mathias (45.92) to a sweep of the top three spots.

Meadows set the pace in the distance free events, capturing the top spot in the 1000y free with an effort of 9:27.85, before swimming 4:34.13 to win the 500y free. Harcsas, ASU's backstroke specialist, won the 100y variety in 50.05, ahead of teammate Ahmed Hussein in 50.34, before swimming 1:48.59 to take the 200y back.

The Huskies were led by sophomore Luke Ekhoff, who outlasted ASU's breaststrokers. In the 100y breast, Ekhoff touched the wall in 56.87, ahead ASU swimmers Russell MacDonald (57.44), Simon MacDonald (58.96), Brian Spetman (59.22) and Joshua Gemmell (59.44), who
grabbed the next four spots. Ekhoff's margin of victory in the 200y breast was greater than four seconds, as Gemmell (2:06.15) and Adam Bugledich (2:06.73) could not handle his 2:02.05 pace.

Although uncontested by Washington, ASU's diving team carried on with competition, with Thomas McCrummen and Gordon Blukis each earning NCAA Zone qualifying scores with their respective totals of 349.65 and 312.30 in the 1-meter, 6-dive optionals.

Upcoming meets
Welcoming in the new year, the Sun Devils will be back in action at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center next weekend. Friday, January 4, ASU's men's and women's teams will meet the University of British Columbia
in dual competition at noon.

Saturday, January 5, the Sun Devil women will get things started when they compete against a handful of
teams wintering in the desert at the Sun Devil Invitational at 9:00 a.m. The men will follow with a dual meet against No. 12 Michigan at noon.

Jose Meolans: The Real Deal from the Land of the Pampas
December 29, 2001

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA, DEC. 28. WHILE his country is mired in financial insolvency and teters on the brink of economic ruin, one Argentine is definitely on the 40-karat gold standard.

He's 22-year-old sprinter Jose Martin Meolans, who at last week's Brazilian Nationals -- which also doubled as a qualifier for next April's World Short Course Championships in Moscow -- was as good as gold and
hotter than fire.

Meolans raced to wins in the 50-100 frees and 100 fly (personal and national records of 21.75/47.28 and 52.35), with the latter also establishing a South
American record too. In the process, Meolans vaulted to the upper echelon of the world rankings in both sprints and showed he'll be a force to be reckoned with come the showdown at the ol' waterhole next spring in the Russian capital.

Meolans also proved to his erstwhile Brazilian foes, Fernando Scherer, Gustavo Borges and current USC sprint star Rodrigo Castro, that he's the "real deal" and not just a poseur as some of his opponents have suggested.

Scherer is South American record-holder in the short course 50 free (21.44). Borges holds the continent's 100-200 records (47.14-1:44.48), and is a former
University of Michigan All-America who "earned his spurs" while training under Coach Greg Troy at Bolles School in Florida more than a decade ago. Borges was also a key member of the Wolverines' NCAA Championship team from six years ago -- the only Big 10 school to win the title in more than a quarter-century -- and was a Olympic medalist in both Barcelona in '92 and Atlanta in '96.

(Troy has moved on too, becoming the women's and men's coach at the University of Florida.)

Meolans' 50 free clocking woul