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 would have placed him fourth at the European Championships the week before in Antwerp, and he would have earned the silver medal in the 100 free behind Sweden's Stefan Nystrand's winning
47.15. His fly time would have been among the top six.

Trained by veteran coach Orlando Moccagatta and having first worked with Daniel Garamaldi in Buenos Aires, the 6-3 Merolans says his hero has always been the
"Russian Rocket," 50 free world record-holder Alex Popov -- the only man to ever win back to-back Big O's 50-100 free titles.

"I've always admired Popov, not just for his swimming success but for the way he has proved to be such a great champion for the last decade," Meolans told swiminfo.com South American correspondent Jorge F. Aguado. "His form, his stroke, his power...that's how I want to be able to swim my races."

Meolans will get his chance to face Popov in Moscow in four months and he's looking forward to the match-up.

"For sure it will be very difficult to make finals with all the great sprinters from all over the world, but I believe in my ability and I feel confident I can be competitive with anyone -- Popov, the American Anthony Ervin, the Dutchman van den Hoogenband or the Swede Nystrand. Plus I hope to be able to beat Borges and Scherer, who are my main South American rivals."

Meolans currently ranks third globally (performer-performance) in the 100 free [scm] with only Nystrand and America's Jason Lezak (47.18) faster. In the half-century he's 18th (performances) and eighth performer) but his coach says he can be better.

"I won't predict a time but I believe Jose can be faster in the 50," Noccagatta says. "His 47.2 100 was not a perfect swim either so there's room for improvement, work to be done."

Meolans also holds the Argentine record for the 200 free -- 1:45.85 from the Arena Meeting in Berlin last February -- and will be aiming for Borges'South
American mark of 1:44.46 at that meet in two months plus in Moscow. His 1:45.8 ranks him ninth and 13th globally (performer-performance) this year.

"I think he can capture all three records -- 50, 100, 200 freestyles -- before this current season is completed," says swiminfo.com South American correspondent Jorge F. Aguado. "His 52.3 100 fly record also is by no means an absolute."

Meolans was one of the few men to reach the semis in the 50, 100 and 200 frees at last summer's lcm World Championships in Fukuoka, and set prs-NRs of 22.31-1:49.34 in the process. Earlier he had set a national standard of 49.57 in the 100 during the Spanish World Championship Trials in April at Zaragosa.

He wants to take the next step and not only gain the finals in Moscow but earn a medal, as he did two years ago when he won a silver in the 50 free at the World Championships in Hong Kong.

"He saw what it took to make top eight in Japan and that has served as a motivating force to final at Berlin [Arena Meeting] and Moscow," Aguado explains.
"He's very determined to prove he's world-class."

Meolans also has his eye on Scherer's 22.22-48.69 50-100 free lcm South American records, plus perhaps Borges' 1:48.06 200 free SA mark that he swam in the Atlanta finals. Scherer's record-setting times were
done at the now-defunct Goodwill Games in 1998 on Long Island.

"First things first," Moccagatta says. "We want him to final at Moscow in an event or two, perhaps win a medal and then focus his efforts on preparation for the World Championships in 2003 at Barcelona and then the Athens Olympics. Records are secondary to winning."

Meolans won a silver at the 1999 Pan-Ams in the 100 fly (pr-NR 54.03) some seven tenths behind Venezuela's Francisco Sanchez's 53.33. A former Arizona State All-America, Sanchez's time is the South American record.

"Sanchez was the superior flyer in that race but Jose's stroke has improved greatly the intervening two years and I think he may surprise some people in the next few seasons," says Aguado.

Meolans' NR in the 50 at Fukuoka, 22.33, will rank him 11th and tied for 20th (performance) for the season, his highest global finish and the highest for any South American swimmer in any event.

"He's honored to be the best on the continent but he wants to be among the best in the world, that's his goal," Aguado adds.

Meolans has had a good winter, going 21.91/48.05 at the World Cup in Rio last month, then 21.85/47.74 at Edmonton and 21.75/47.28 in Brazil last week.

However, he's got a ways to go before he's a threat to Great Britain's Mark Foster's wr in the 50 (21.13), Popov's 100 (46.74) or Australia's Ian Thorpe's 1:41.10 200.

"Patience, patience," laughs Aguado.

The last Argentine Olympic swimming gold medalist was 400 free champ Alberto Zorrilla at the 1932 Games in the City of Angels. The last Argentine to set a world record -- in fact the only Argentine to ever set a world-record since the establishment of 50 meter standards in 1957 -- was former Stanford star Luis Nicolao in the 100 fly (1962 at Rio).

Since the inception of the FINA World Championships, only backstroker Conrado Porta (200 at Berlin in 1978) and open water 25K specialist Gabriel Chaillou (bronze medal at Perth in 1998) have finaled or won a medal.
Freestyler Jeanette Campbell (100) won the silver at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Meolans was fourth in the 50 and fifth in the 100 at the inaugural sc World Championships in Goteborg four years ago, then moved up to silver in the 50 at Hong Kong.

"Now it's time for some Moscow gold," Moccagatta smiles.

Argentine swimming is on the rise. Backstroker-flyer Pablo Abal, another product of Coach Mike Chasson's Arizona State program, is quickly becoming world-class as are IMer-flyer Georgina Bardach (who set SA records in the 200 fly-400 IM in Rio); and Florencia Szigeti, who became the first South American woman under 2:00.0 for the 200 free with her 1:59.43 at the Argentine Short Course Championships in Santa Fe on September 28, and is an important part of Chasson's ASU women's team this season.

If Meolans does manage to stand atop the victory podium in Moscow he'll become a bigger national hero than former soccer superstar Diego Maradonna -- or perhaps even a certain Argentine native who moved to Cuba, became the island nation's foreign minister, and then met an unfortunate demise in Bolivia some 35 years ago.

-- Bill Bell

MAGGIE BOWEN NAMED CLARION-LEDGER 2001 SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR
December 26, 2001

JACKSON, Miss. ¯ Auburn junior swimmer Maggie Bowen has been named the Clarion-Ledger 2001 Sports Person of the Year for the state of Mississippi as announced Dec. 25 by the newspaper.
Bowen, a Jackson, Miss., native had an astounding year in 2001 with victories at all levels including not only collegiate, but international wins at the highest levels, including winning two NCAA titles in the 200-yard individual medley and the 400 IM, earning an American Record in the 200-yard IM and capturing the World Championship in the 200-meter IM at Fukuoka, Japan, just missing the American Record in that event as well.
The Auburn Tiger has remained undefeated in the 200 IM since the 2000 US Olympic Trials in which she finished third, narrowly missing an opportunity to attend the Olympics on the US team. Bowen credits that heartbreaking loss to her current success because she has refocused and rededicated herself to her training.
Not only did Bowen receive more votes for the award than some impressive collegiate athletes, but she was selected above such talent as Roy Oswalt, a member of the Houston Astros who was the runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year; Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas Rangers; Antonio McDyess, an All-Star for the Denver Nuggets; Lorenzen Wright of the Atlanta Hawks; Ruthie Bolton-Holifield, a former Auburn women's basketball standout currently playing for the Sacramento Monarchs; Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers and Steve McNair of the Tennessee Titans.
Last year's winner was Southern Miss softball pitcher Courtney Blades, which makes the duo the first group of women to win the award back-to-back in the award's history.
Bowen will continue her swimming season as the Auburn team travels to Nassau, Bahamas for Christmas Training Dec. 27 - Jan. 4 and will be looking to defend her collegiate titles later this season at the NCAA Championships in March.

Brembilla Sharp at Italian Short Course Nationals
December 21, 2001

IMPERIA, ITALY, Dec. 21. AFTER winning a pair of golds and a bronze at last weekend's European short course Championships in Antwerp, Italian world
champion Emiliano Brembilla was back in the water here today for his country's short course championships.

Also competing was Italian Olympic gold medalist Domenico Fioravanti, who won the 200 breast at Sydney but was disqualified in the finals at Antwerp.

The meet hasn't featured any record-breaking performances during its first two days but still has seen some quick races and is proving to be a good way
for many swimmers to finish a long and gruelling year.

Brembilla won the 400 free in 3:43.59, a couple of clicks off his 3:41.27 that won in Antwerp. His pr, national and European record is 3:41.24 from the World Cup in Italy a month ago at this same pool.

He's got a ways to go, however, before he starts causing Australia's Ian Thorpe to lose any sleep, as the latter's world standard is a sizzling 3:35.75 at last year's Australian Championships -- swum a month before Sydney.

(Arguably Thorpedo's 3:40.17 lcm wr from the World Championships is a superior record, but for either race the Aussie is non-pareil.)

Brembilla also won the 400 IM at Antwerp (4:06.99) and here he's chasing Aussie Matthew Dunn's wr of 4:04.24 from the Aussie Nats two years ago. (Of course, were America's double-Olympic champ and lcm wr-holder Tom Dolan ever to get serious about this race, could a sub-4:00.0 be far behind?)

In the 200 breast, Davide Rommulo, who was disqualified in the finals last weekend, won the 200 breast here in 2:09.54 with Olivier Vincenzetti a close second at 2:09.73. In the 100 IM it was Domenico Fioravanti clocking 54.95 with Davide Cassol (55.28) taking the silver.

In the men's 200 fly World Championship semi-finalist Christian Galenda won in 1:55.50 with Alessio Boggiatto (1:57.55) second. The 100 fly title went
to 31-year-old veteran Luis Laera (53.57).

In a race that saw the top seven finishers under 50 seconds, the 100 free went to Klaus Lanzarini
(49.16).

In women's events, Roberta Ioppi won the 200 back (2:10.66). Sprinter Christina Chiuso, who raced to a national record 25.79 long course 50 at last year's Euro Championships in Helsinki, won here in 25.31; Simona Riccariardi won the 800 free (8:33.41), Valentina de Nardi the 50 back (28.52), and Sarah Parisi the 200 fly (2:12.71).

Karnaugh, Baker Slash Masters Records
December 21, 2001

DEC. 21. DR. RON Karnaugh, 35, and Beth Baker, 41, each set four Masters short course records in the past two weeks.

Competing at the Kerr-McGee Elite Pro-Am meet in Oklahoma City last weekend, Karnaugh, 35, notched four USMS national records for men 35-39. Two of his records -- in the 100 and 200 yard breaststroke -- were the fastest times ever recorded by a Masters swimmer of any age. Karnaugh won both of those events at Kerr-McGee.

In the 100 breast, Dr. Ron clocked 55.26 seconds to erase the national record of 55.84 set by Wally Dicks, 38, earlier this year. Karnaugh's time is the fastest ever swum by a Masters swimmer; Dicks previously held that distinction. Karnaugh's split at the 50, 25.85 seconds, was under Dicks' listed record of 25.97 from 1998.

In the 200 breast. Karnaugh recorded the first-ever sub-2:00 swim by a Masters swimmer, breaking Dicks' 35-39 record of 2:04.78 set last year. Karnaugh touched home in 1:59.23, splitting: 26.56 - 57.02 - 1:28.12 - 1:59.23. The previous fastest time by a Masters swimmer was Karnaugh's 2:01.01, the national record in the 30-34 age group, which Karnaugh swam at the 1997 Masters Y Nationals.

Karnaugh also set 35-39 national records in the 200 and 400 IM, though his recordfs in the 30-34 age group are slightly faster. In the 200 IM, Karnaugh clocked 1:48.84, slashing the listed mark of 1:56.46 by Cam Reid set in 1999. In the 400 IM, Karnaugh swam the first sub-4:00 effort in the age group with his 3:56.76. Reid was again the victim, his 4:09.15 falling by the wayside.

Karnaugh's splits:
200 IM: 23.71 - 0:51.80 - 1:23.23 - 1:48.84
400 IM: 54.02 - 1:54.52 - 3:01.19 - 3:56.76

Beth Baker continued her onslaught in the women's 40-44 division, notching one national record and three world and USMS marks.

On Dec. 15, swimming in the Joe Jacby Invitational at George mason University, Baker clocked 1:00.77 leading off Curl-Burke's "C" 400 yd medley relay. The old record of 1:01.38 was set by Laura Val in 1996.

At the Colonies Zone short course meters meet at Rutgers University, Dec. 8-9, Baker destroyed the WR's in the 100/200m back and lowered her own mark in the 100m IM.

In the 100 back, Baker's 1:07.92 devastated the former mark of 1:10.23, set by Germany's Utew Romberg last january.

Great Britain's Lesley Wilde was the victim in the 200m back, as her 2:30.26 WR was swept away by Baker's 2:25.78.

in the 100 IM, Baker clocked 1:08.98 to ease under the 1:09.20 standard she set last March 31.

Goodwill Games: Going, Going...Gone
December 20, 2001

By Phillip Whitten

ATLANTA, Dec. 20. MEDIA mogul Ted Turner and Turner Sports delivered the long-anticipated coup de grace today to the ailing Goodwill Games, the international multisport event organized by Turner in 1986 in response to the politically-motivated Olympic boycotts of 1980 and '84.

The decision had been anticipated since July, when Turner Sports delayed plans to announce that Phoenix would be the site of the 2005 Games.

After the 2001 games in Brisbane, Australia, some Turner officials said the Games no longer made financial sense. The first three Goodwill Games -- in Moscow, Seattle, and St. Petersburg, Russia -- lost a combined $109 million. No figures were announced for the 2001 Games, but it is thought they lost approximately $50 million.

In a statement issued today, Ted Turner said: "I am proud of all the Goodwill Games accomplished and appreciate the contribution of everyone who helped make it a success."

Tennessee Women Dominate Coral Springs Relay Invite
December 19, 2001

By Sara Baisey

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., Dec. 19. THE University of Tennessee women's swimming team capped off its winter training trip to the Coral Springs Aquatic Center in Florida with competition in the Coral Springs Relay Invitational. The Lady Vols were in action against teams from Calvin College, the University of Delaware and Davidson College.

The teams competed in 10 events most of which are not a part of the normal collegiate swimming program, including butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke relays. Tennessee was victorious in all 10 events.

"For a meet at the end of a tough week of rigorous training, I was pleased with the overall performance," Lady Vol head coach Dan Colella said. "We had the opportunity to have some swimmers compete in off-events and we were pleasantly surprised with the results. The biggest news out of this meet was senior Bianca Jones returning to action for the first time since last year's SEC meet. She had a great day, including a split of 57.30 in the backstroke relay, and we are excited to have her returning to competition."

The Orange and White opened the meet with victories in the 300-yard butterfly (2:57.64), backstroke (2:54.84) and breaststroke (3:24.36) relays. Following the stroke relays, the attention focused on the 800y and 500y freestyle events, which UT won in times of 7:56.32 and 4:48.24, respectively.

In the 400y medley relay, the Big Orange won in a time of 4:02.64 before picking up a victory in the 200y freestyle relay in 1:37.76. A long distance event was next on the slate as the Tennessee took the 1,500-yard freestyle relay title in 15:31.50.

The 400y IM relay and the 400y free relay were the last events of the afternoon and Tennessee continued its winning ways in times of 4:06.13 and 3:39.04, respectively.

Following a holiday break and then a return to classes, the Lady Vols (2-1 overall, 2-1 SEC) will get back to competition on Jan. 12 against No. 3 Auburn and No. 16 Northwestern in Auburn, Ala.

ESPN to Broadcast World Cup on Friday
December 19, 2001

NEW YORK, Dec. 19. ESPN will broadcast the World Cup III meet this Friday, Dec. 21, at 3:00 pm EST. Check your local listings for the date and time of the broadcast in your area.

World Cup III, which was held in East Meadow, N.Y., Nov. 27-28, featured two world records by Natalie Coughlin, 19, Swimming World's Female "American Swimmer of the Year" for 2001. Coughlin destroyed the previous global marks for the 100 and 200m backstroke with her 57.08 and 2:03.62 efforts.

The meet was also highlighted by five winning performances by Slovakia's Martina Moravcova, last year's top World Cup swimmer; four by the USA's Neil Walker; and twin wins by Jason Lezak and Ed Moses.

Lezak Blazes 42.22 100 yd. Free at Kerr-McGee; Dallas Mustangs Set Another Relay NAG Record -- December 17, 2001

By Phil Whitten

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Dec. 16. IRVINE Novaquatics' Jason Lezak set the pool ablaze on the final night of the Kerr-McGee Elite pro-Am Swim Meet in Oklahoma City, clocking a meet and pool record 42.22 for the 100 yard free.

The time was a lifetime best for the 26 year-old Cal-Santa Barbara grad, who split 19.88 at the 50 on his way to smashing his own meet and pool mark of 42.63 set two years ago.

Lezak's time was just 42-hundredths of a second over the American record of 41.80 shared by Matt Biondi and Anthony Ervin.

It was also a fitting bookend to Lezak's 19.11 performance in the 50 two days ago, a time that is only 6-hundredths off Tom Jager's American mark.

Lezak had no trouble defeating his Olympic Team and nova teammate, Scott Tucker, whose 44.18 left him in Lezak's wake.

Lezak's blazing swim was by no means the only stellar performance this evening. The Dallas Mustangs' girls 15-16 relay team mustered their fourth NAG record of the meet, while Colleen Lanne and Neil Walker turned in sterling winning performances.

The Dallas Mustangs' girls 15-16 relay team took the women's 200 yard freestyle in 1:35.00. Earlier, the team set NAGs in the 400 and 800 free and 400 medley relays. Tonight, the all-15-year-old team of Codie Hansen (23.64), Jennifer Blackman (23.68), Kate Gunning (24.68) and Candace Blackman (23.00), had thir hands full. The almost-as-young Fort Worth Area Swim Team (FAST), with two 14 year-olds and one 17 year-old, was right behind, and actually led before the anchor swimmer. FAST, sparked by 14 year-old Dana Vollmer's leadoff split of 23.43, touched in 1:35.56.

Neil Walker, who earlier won the 100 yard backstroke, breezed to victory in the 200, splitting 49.36 at the 100 and clocking 1:43.43. In the battle for second, David Plummer edged Bobby Schelling, 1:49.8 to 1:49.69.

The women's 100 free featured a match-up between US World Championships Team and Texas Aquatics teammates, Colleen Lanne and Tammie Stone. Stone had won the 50 earlier while Lanne had taken the 200.

Tonight, Stone jumped out into the lead, splitting 23.23 at the 50 to Lanne's 23.59. The two turned together at the 75, before Lanne powered ahead to win in 48.91 to Stone's 49.10. The entire heat was fast, with 15 year-old Codie Hansen third in 50.19, followed by 14 year-old Dana Vollmer (50.31). Candace Blackman followed in 50.43

In other events, Brittany Massengale took the women's 1650 in 16:44.47. Chad Carvin won the men's 1650 in
15:14.50 to notch his fourth victory of the meet.

SMU grad Lia Oberstar won the women's 200 back in 1:58.90, followed by the talented Codie Hansen. Fourth place went to 39 year-old Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen at 2:03.65.

UCLA grad Bethany Goodwin went out hard, then hung on to win the women's 200 fly in 2:00.61. The men's 200 fly went to Jarod Schroeder, who held off a fast-closing Scott Tucker, 1:47.82 to 1:48.17.

The Kerr-McGee Swim Club won the meet's final event, the men's 200 yard freestyle relay. The team of Eric Jennings (21.96), Nic Hurt (21.58), Tyler Smith (22.20) and Andrew Bockus (21.76) touched in 1:27.50, just beating out FAST, two-tenths of a second behind.

Four European Records Fall, Moravcova Steals the Show and Klochkova Upset
December 16, 2001

By Craig Lord

ANTWERP, Belgium, Dec. 16. MARTINA Moravcova, trained in the US and racing for Slovakia, stole the show on the final day of the European Short Course Championships with a fifth successive victory in the 200m freestyle. Her longing for longevity and determination to keep the 200 meters her sole preserve was topped only by the European record of 1:54.74 she set.

The time was just 0.58sec outside Claudia Poll's world record but inside her own European standard, set in 1998, by 0.38sec.

Within half an hour she was back in the water winning the 100m butterfly title in a championship record of 57.20, 0.34sec inside the time which brought her the same title a year ago in valencia but just 0.04sec shy of her own European record. That triumph took to 12 her tally of European Short Course titles since the inaugural competition in 1996, more than any other swimmer.

If Moravcova appears to go from strength to strength, it is no longer so for other stalwarts of the European circuit. It has not, for instance, been a good week in the illustrious career of Yana Klochkova, of Ukraine.
Having lost the 400m freestyle title to 16-year-old Anja Carnan on Saturday, Sunday brought defeat over 400m medley for the world and Olympic champion.

The victor was Nicole Hetzer, the 22-year-old German, whose 4:29.46 effort sliced 1.85sec off the European record set by Romanian Noemi Lung back in 1987, and was just 0.46sec shy of the world record held since 1993 by the long-disappeared and never-to-be-heard-of again Dai Guohong, of China.

Hetzer was back in action within the hour to take the silver medal in the 200m backstroke in 2:06.65, a time which in any other year would have won the title comfortably. Hetzer's improved form could not cope,
however, with Britain's Sarah Price, who clocked a championship record of 2:04.59, just 0.15sec shy of her European record, which when set, back in August, was a world record. Natalie Coughlin, of the US, put paid to that in 2:03.62 two weeks ago but Price is headed for the South African Short Course Championships in January with hope in her heart of recapturing the honor from Coughlin.

She may well succeed given that her victory in Antwerp came off the back of a heats time of 2:05.12 after Britain's performance director, Australian Bill Sweetenham, insisted she took the heats out hard, refused her a post or pre-race massage and declared the less than optimum race conditions all a worthy part of the toughening up process by which he aims to have British swimming competing properly with the best in the world come the next Olympic Games.

A man with Olympic success already behind him, Pieter Van Den Hoogenband, celebrated a European short course record for 200 meters freestyle of 1:42.46 in an ecstatic and jubilant fashion by punching the air and bowing to the large Dutch supporters club celebrating their hero from the stands.

The Olympic 200m champion's time was 1.18sec inside the standard that had stood to Italian Giorgio Lamberti since 1990.

Though the jubilation was a show of strength in a field that could not live in the Dutchman's world, it is another world that provides Van Den Hoogenband with a reality check; Ian Thorpe's 1:41.10 second world record - another planet.

Thomas Rupprath's attempt on the world record over 100m backstroke resulted in victory for the German but the only record he got with a time of 50.99 seconds was a championship standard that was well inside the 52.28sec set by Iceland's Orn Arnarson last year.

The sprint events of the final day of action saw championship records fall: the men's 50m butterfly going to Lars Frolander, of Sweden, in 23.07, ahead of Mark Foster's 23.11, while Inge de Bruijn ploughed to
a 23.89 second victory over Therese Alshammar, 24.09, the Swede whose superior technique suggests that she would beat her arch rival if only she had a touch more meat on her ams to match de Bruijn's fat-free musculature.

The European Team Trophy went to Germany, while Martina Moravcova and Stefan Nystrand received the best performance awards and the best newcomer trophies went to Britain's Robin Francis for the 400m medley and Slovenia's Anja Carnan for her victory in the 400m freestyle over Klochkova.

Olympians Continue to Win on Day 3 of Kerr-McGee
December 16, 2001

By Phillip Whitten

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Dec. 15. THE water was sizzling on Day Three of the Kerr-McGee Pro-Am, deep in the wintry heartland of America.

Once again, the hottest swimmers were some of the oldest with Olympians Neil Walker, Scott Tucker, Chad Carvin, Ron Karnaugh and Amanda Beard leading the way.

Men's Events
The 200 IM quickly became a two-way battle featuring Scott Tucker, 26, of NOVA and 35 year-old Ron Karnaugh, swimming unattached. Tucker got out fast, taking a lead of 1.13 seconds at the halfway mark. Dr. Ron, a strong breaststroker chopped nine-tenths of a second off that lead in the breaststroke leg, but Tucker, whose best events are the freestyle sprints, pulled away in the final 50 yards to win in 1:47.84. Karnaugh followed precisely one second later, his 1:48.84 bettering the Masters record in the 35-39 age group.

Jason Lezak, 26, who keeps getting better with age, equaled the third fastest 50 freestyle ever swum, and recording a meet and pool record with his blazing 19.11 effort. The time was only 6-hundredths off the American record of 19.05 held by Tom Jager. Neil Walker was second in 19.51, with Jarod Schroeder's third-place 19.97 the only other sub-20 second swim.

Ron Karnaugh avenged his second-place finish in the 200 IM with a winning sub-2 minute 200 yard breaststroke. The winner of the 100 breast yesterday (55.02), Karnaugh led from the start over Val Kalmikovs, his only serious challenger, to pull away on every lap and hit the pads in 1:59.23. Kalmikovs followed in 2:00.98. Karnaugh's time is not only a national Masters record for men 35-39, but the first sub-2 minute 200 breaststroke by a Masters swimmer of any age.

Neil Walker breezed to victory in the 100 back, his 46.85-second effort just missing his own meet and pool record of 46.69. His split was 22.35. Jarod Schroeder was second in 49.64.

Chad carvin notched his third win of the meet, earning another $600, when he took the 500 free in 4:22.71. Only 15 year-old Max Jaben, Kansas acIty Blazers, tried to hang with the fast-starting Carvin, with the youngster finishing in an excellent 4:27.74. Carvin led 49.12 to 49.53 at the 100, 1:41.89 to 1:42.86, as the derermined Jaben maintained close contact with the veteran Carvin. But Carvin kept pulling away, increasing his lead by a second on the third and fourth 100s, and by two seconds on the final 100.

Women's Events
Two-time Olympian Amanda Beard, NOVA, notched her second and third wins of the meet, touching first in the 200 IM and 200 breast.

In the medley, Beard was challenged by 15 year-old Caroline Bruce, who won the 400 IM yesterday. Leading by only a quarter of a second at the 100, Beard opened up an insurmountable lead on the breaststroke leg and sprinted home in 1:59.86. Bruce followed in 2:02.29.

The same two young women did battle in the 200 breast, with the same result. Wichita's Bruce gamely went out with Beard, splitting 1:03.89 to Beard's 1:03.44. At 150 yards, Beard maintained the same 45-hundredths of a second lead. But in the final 50, Beard split 33.21 to Bruce's 34.70, to win in 2:10.62. Bruce followed with an excellent 2:12.56.

Texas Aquatics' Tammie Stone also scored with two wins tonight, taking the 50 free in 22.25 over TA teammate Colleen Lane at 22.54 and FAST's Dana Vollmer, 14, at 22.86.

Stone followed her 50 win with a surprise victory in the 100 backstroke, her 55.50 out-dueling 16 year-old Caroline Rodriguez's 55.95. Former SMU star Lia Oberstar was third in 56.02, aand 39 year-old Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen placed fifth in 57.85.

Fifteen year-old Codie Hansen, Dallas Mustangs, cruised to victory in the 500 free, as her 4:48.85 was almost six seconds ahead of 14 year-old runner up, Mandy Blevins of FAST (4:54.75).

Coach Kirt Myers Dies in Auto Accident
December 15, 2001

AMERICUS, Georgia, Dec. 14. DR. KIRT Myers, father of US Olympian Angel Myers Martino, died today of injuries sustained in an automobile accident on Thursday.

Dr. Myers founded Americus Blue Tide swim team, was elected Georgia Coach of the Year four times and coached the U.S.A. National teams for the 1991 Olympic Festival and the 1993 Short Course World Championships.

A viewing will be held on Sunday, December 16 at Rideout's Valley Chappel in Homewood, AL 35209 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The graveside funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., December 17 at Forest Hill Cemetary in Homewood, AL.

A memorial service for Dr. Myers will be held at the Episcopal Church in Americus (408 S. Lee St.), GA at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 21.

Olympians Dominate First Two Days of Kerr-McGee Pro-Am
December 15, 2001
By Phil Whitten

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla., Dec. 14. THE Kerr-McGee Corporation Pro-Am Elite Meet, was dominated by the nation's established stars on the first two nights of competition.

The meet pits the nation's top pro swimmers against some of the best amateurs, with the pros vying for prizes of $600, $300 and $100 for first, second and third place.

Olympians Ron Karnaugh, Josh Davis, Neil Walker, Chad Carvin and Amanda Beard all were winners tonight, though up-and-coming 14 year-old Dana Vollmer held on to win the women's 100 yard fly.

Friday's night's competition was highlighted by a national age group record for girls 15-16 in the 800 yard freestyle relay. The Dallas Mustangs' A Team clocked 7:27.08 to win the event. What's more, all four girls are 15. The record breaking team consisted of Codie Hansen (1:49.81), Jennifer Blackman (1:51.13), Kate Gunning (1:58.15) and Candace Blackman (1:46.99).

In tonight's events, Texas Aquatics' Colleen Lanne, a double NCAA champion last March, took the women's 200 yard free in 1:47.07, overcoming teammate Tammie Stone in the final length. Stone finished in a pr 1:47.35. Placing eighth in that race was 39 year-old Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen, whose 1:51.58, was just .03 shy of her own Masters national record for women 35-39.

The men's 200 yard free fell to two-time Olympian Josh Davis, 29, of Circle C (Austin), who led from start to finish to win in a speedy 1:35.58. Second place went to his 2000 Olympic Team teammate, Scott Tucker, in 1:36.28. Davis split: 21.82, 46.15, 1:11.30, 1:35.58.

Nova Aquatics' Amanda Beard, another two-time Olympian, won the women's 100 yd. breast in a pool and meet record 1:01.18, shaking 15 year-old Caroline Bruce of Wichita in the second 50. Bruce recorded a pr 1:01.75.

Dr. Ron Karnaugh, still going strong at 35, was the upset winner of the men's 100 breast, splitting 25.85 at the 50 and touching in 55.26 to defeat Val Kalmikovs (56.01). Karnaugh's time betters the national Masters record of 55.86 for men 35-39. That mark was held by Wally Dicks.

Fourteen year-old Dana Vollmer of FAST, went out fast in the women's 100 fly, then held on to win in an impressive 53.72. Vollmer's first 50 (24.65 seconds) was .65sec faster than Bethany Goodwin's. Goodwin was closing fast but ran out of room, finishing just 5-hundredths behind the teen whiz. Amanda Beard was third in 54.53.

Former Texas star Neil Walker took the men's 100 fly in a meet and pool record 46.44 seconds. The old mark, 46.92, was set three years ago by Sabir Muhammad.
Like Vollmer, Walker took the lead at the start and was never headed, splitting 21.33 at the 50. Second place went to former National Resident Team member Jarod Schroeder, 28 (47.62), while Jason Lezak took third (47.80).

Caroline Bruce won the women's 400 IM easily in 4:20.80, while Chad Carvin, 27, beat Ron Karnaugh to the wall in 3:49.27, one second shy of the meet and pool record set by Karnaugh in 1998. The win was Carvin's second here; he took the 1000 free last night.

NO. 3 AUBURN SWIMMING & DIVING DOWNS SOUTHWEST MISSOURI STATE
December 15, 2001

AUBURN, Ala. Both the Auburn men's and women's swimming and diving teams defeated the Southwest Missouri State Bears here Saturday afternoon living up to the Tigers' No. 3 national ranking.
The men's team defeated SMS 174-113 while the women took the meet by a score of 164.50-114-50.
"This was a good meet to wrap up our Fall season and take us into the next phase of the year," head coach David Marsh said. "Exams take a mental toll and the fact that they came back and trained well yesterday and raced well today shows that we are headed in the right direction."
The Auburn men's team got off to a quick start taking the top two spots in the 400-yard medley relay with the team of Kirk Hampleman, Pat Calhoun, Christian Cantwell and Ryan Wochomurka swimming to a time of 3:18.56.
In the 200 free, the AU men swept the top three spots with B.J. Jones in first (1:41.38), Brandon Roberts in second (1:43.65) and Nick Goucher in third (1:44.01). The Tigers also swept the 100 breast with Calhoun taking first (55.34), Will Brandt taking second (56.51) and Justin Caron in third (56.80).
Again in the 50 free, the men swept the event with Wochomurka (20.83) in first, Andy Haidinyak (21.08) in second and Mark Gangloff in third (21.47). The Auburn divers got in on the action as well sweeping the 1-meter event with Andrew Sivulka taking first (300.83), Matt Bricker finishing second (295.35) and Caesar Garcia placing third (289.20).
Auburn continued to control as the Tigers finished with top times in the 100 free (Caron 47.04), 200 back (Hampleman 1:47.80), 200 breast (Brad Knueven 2:08.86), 500 free (B.J. Jones 4:33.04), 100 fly (Cantwell 49.72) and the 200 IM (Will Brandt 1:55.96).
In the 3-meter event, the Tigers again scored one, two, three with Garcia finishing with a score of 338.70, Bricker in second at 336.08 and Andrew Sivulka in third at 321.75.
"Kirk Hampleman, B.J. Jones and Christian Cantwell led the team and definitely had some of our best swims today," Marsh said.
The Tiger women controlled the meet from start to finish with a first place time in each event on the day. The Auburn women started it off with the 400 medley relay team of Maggie Bowen, Margaret Hoelzer, Laura Swander and Erin Gayle earning the top spot in a time of 4:03.16.
Individually, the Tigers continued what the relay team started taking the top two finishes in the 100 back with Becky Short (1:01.00) and Brittany King (1:02.68) in first and second respectively, Swander (1:03.27) and Abby Hochella (1:07.59) in the 100 breast and Demerae Christianson (2:07.83) and Alessandra Lawless (2:10.78) at first and second in the 200 fly.
The Tigers continued the trend with a first and second place finish in the 50 free with Short in first (23.33) and King at second in 24.54, Kirsty Coventry and Christianson in the 100 free in first and second respectively, Bowen and Heather Kemp in the 200 back, Kelly Jones and Cassidy Maxwell in the 200 breast, Bowen, Swander and Short taking one, two and three in the 100 fly and Coventry and Jones finishing with the No. 1 and No. 2 times in the 200 IM.
On the 1-meter, sophomore Ashley Rubenstein captured the top spot in her first meet back from knee surgery with a score of 269.70 while freshman Rachel Korth took third at 237.98.
The women also captured the top time in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:33.53 with the team of Kemp, Christianson, Maxwell and Jones. Finishing with a second place score on the 3-meter was Korth with a score of 224.55.
"Cassidy Maxwell had an excellent 1000 free and Heather Kemp's 200 free was outstanding," Marsh said. "The divers did really well today too, especially Ashley Rubenstein, who is just coming off knee surgery and still won the 1-meter."
"I was very pleased with the way we dove today," head diving coach Jeff Shaffer said. "Caesar did really well on the 3-meter and it was good to see Andrew dive to his potential on the 1-meter today. That was a real confidence booster for him. Ashley performed very well on the 1-meter and came in third on the 3-meter despite just doing required dives."
The Tigers will be back in action Jan. 3 with Western Illinois which will take place during Auburn's Christmas Training trip in Nassau, Bahamas.
For more information, contact Mendy Nestor (334) 844-9900

Denver, Miami Split
December 14, 2001

MIAMI, Dec. 13. THE University of Denver men's swimming team won nine of 11 events on their way to a convincing 148-44 win over the University of Miami yesterday afternoon. The Denver women, who won only two events, suffered their fourth dual meet loss of the season 140-64.

Leading the way for Denver on the men's side were senior Brian Keats (Toronto, Ontario) and sophomore Greg Dontchos (Littleton, Colo.), both earning two first place finishes. Keats won the 200-yard individual medley (1:58.63) and the 100-yard backstroke (53.06), while Dontchos was victorious in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events (22.15, 47.65).

Other first place finishers for the men included senior Brian Dontchos (Denver, Colo.), junior Asaf Shachaf (Tel Aviv, Israel) and freshman Logan Horsley (Los Angeles, Calif.). Brian Dontchos won the 100-yard butterfly (53.02), Shachaf earned a first place finish in the 100 breaststroke (59.38) and Horsley won his first blue ribbon of the season with his victory in the 1000-yard freestyle (9:41.23).

On the women's side, Denver seniors Sarah Corcoran (Denver, Colo.) and Helen Rychecky (Littleton, Colo.) led the way, each scoring 13 points.

Corcoran won the 100-yard freestyle (53.36) and finished second in the 50-yard freestyle (24.42), Rychecky earned first place in the 100-yard backstroke and second in the 200-yard individual medley.

Other top finishers for the Denver women were senior Erin Lundy (St. Charles, Ill.) and junior Katie Holtmeier (Chanhassen, Minn.) who each earned second place finishes, Lundy in the 500-yard freestyle (5:12.90) and Holtmeier in the 1000-yard freestyle (11:19.75).

The Pioneers will return to the pool on January 11, 2002 when they take on Air Force Academy in a dual meet in Colorado Springs, Colo. at 4 p.m.

Germany's Rupprath Breaks 100 Fly Short Course WR
December 14, 2001
By Craig Lord

ANTWERP, Belgium, Dec 14. THE first sub 50-second 100 meter fly swim is in sight!

Asked how much pain he felt, Thomas Rupprath, of Germany, found the strength to smile and murmur "too
much" after he had clocked a world record of 50.26 seconds to beat the man who had held the standard at 50.44, Lars Frolander, of Sweden, on the second day of the European Short Course Championships.

Frolander was second in 50.58 with Britain's James Hickman third in 51.32. They lost the race with Rupprath when the German turned just ahead of the Swede in 23.52 and emerged from his turn head and shoulders ahead.

Rupprath, who also holds the 200m short-course world record, said: "I didn't expect to beat Frolander so I'm pleased with this. Of course, I'm very pleased with the world record - it shows I'm in perfect condition."

Rupprath's was one of three victories for Germany. Anne Poleska, a student at the University of Alabama, won the 200m breaststroke in a European record of 2:21.93, 0.97sec inside the standard at which she had held the record since the World Cup in New York last month. In second, Mirna Jukic, 15, of Austria, also swam inside the previous record time, with a 2:22.26 effort, with Emma Igelstrom, the Swede who equaled the world record over 50 meters on Thursday, third in 2:23.36.

Ilona Hlavackova, of the Czech Republic, set the second European record of the day when she won the 100m backstroke in 57.75sec, the gain over Sara Price, of Britain, second in 59.46sec, almost all achieved at the start of the race and partly achieved in a set of magnificent turns.

Hlavackova's time was the second fastest in history, bettered only by the WR 57.08 set two weeks ago by the USA's Natalie Coughlin.

Stev Theloke added to German joy with a championship record of 23.97 seconds in the 50m backstroke final. His was one of several championship records.

Flavia Rigamonti, of Switzerland, established one at 8mins 17.20sec in the 800 meter freestyle, the fourth fastest ever over the distance. If that was impressive, then the girl in lane eight, 16-year-old Anja Carnan, of Slovenia, made as big an impact with a European Short Course debut of 8:20.31 for the silver medal. The bronze medal went to Irina Oufimtseva, of Russia, in 8:23.28.

Alessio Boggiatto, the world long course champion over 400m individual medley, set a championship record of 4:06.99 to win his best event, but the revelation in the race was Britain's 19-year-old Robin Francis, who wiped more than 5 seconds off his national record to take the silver medal in 4:08.49 for the silver medal ahead of Jacob Carstensen of Denmark in 4:08.58.

Inge de Bruijn, of the Netherlands, established a championship record of 52.65sec with victory in the 100m freestyle over Slovakian Martina Moravcova's 52.97.

Sweden went one-two in the women's 50m fly with Therese Alshammar taking the measure of WR-holder Anna-Karin Kammerling, 25.73 to 25.88. Kammerling's record of 25.36 was not challenged.

Misty Hyman Wins NCAA "Today's Top 8" Award
December 13, 2001

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, Dec. 13. THE NCAA Honors Committee has named Stanford women's swimmer Misty Hyman (1997-2001) as one of eight national recipients of the
NCAA Today's Top VIII Awards.

The NCAA Today's Top VIII Award winners are a group of distinguished student-athletes from the 2001 calendar year who will be recognized for athletics, academic achievement, character, and leadership at the 30th annual NCAA Honors Dinner on January 13, 2002, in Indianapolis.

In addition to their athletic accomplishments, the NCAA Today¹s Top VIII recipients have earned numerous academic honors, have volunteered countless hours to community projects and have served as role models for their academic institutions and to their peers.

"The NCAA Today's Top VIII Award that has been given to Misty Hyman is certainly deserved," said Stanford head coach and three-time Olympic head coach Richard Quick. "Misty is one of the most outstanding combinations of an athlete and a human being that I've ever been associated with in 35 years of coaching. Her extraordinary abilities as an athlete are matched by her personality, team attitude and a tremendous giving attitude to the community."

Hyman, winner of the 200 meter butterfly at the 2000 Olympic Games and the Olympic record holder in the event, completed her collegiate eligibility at Stanford in March of 2001 as a 12-time NCAA Champion and 28-time All-American. Hyman won five individual NCAA crowns in her collegiate career and added seven relay titles. She was named the NCAA Swimmer of the Year in 1997-98 as she led the Cardinal to a national title. Hyman also won the Honda Broderick Award as the top female swimmer in the nation two times (1998, 2001), and is an 11-time Senior National champion.

Hyman holds the all-time Stanford record in the 100 butterfly (51.34) and 200 backstroke (1:53.12), and is a member of school-record relay teams in the 200 medley relay (1:37.77) and 400 medley relay (3:32.43). Both relay marks are also NCAA records.

This year's seven other selections for the NCAA Today's Top VIII awards are Kimberly Black (Georgia, women's swimming), Emily Bloss (Emporia State, women's basketball/women's track and field), Andre Davis Virginia Tech, football/men's track and field), Leah Juno (Wisconsin ­Stevens Point, women's track and field/women's cross country), Bryce Molder (Georgia Tech, men's golf), Nancy Metcalf (Nebraska, women's volleyball) and Ruth Riley (Notre Dame, women's basketball).

Recognition for this group at the NCAA Honors Dinner is in conjunction with the NCAA Convention in Indianapolis. CBS Sports broadcaster Clark Kellogg
will serve as master of ceremonies for the event. Kellogg, a graduate of Ohio State University, was a standout basketball player at his alma mater and the 1982 No. 1 draft pick of the NBA's Indiana Pacers.

Emma Igelstrom Equals World Record in 50m Breaststroke
December 13, 2001
By Craig Lord

ANTWERP, BELGIUM, Dec 13. EMMA Igelstrom, of Sweden, made swimming history on the first day of the
European short-course championships when she equaled the world record over 50 metres breaststroke, in 30.56sec, to join China's Xue Luo and Wei Li.
The Swede's effort made this the first occasion on which a world swimming record has been held by three people at the same time.

The 21-year old student from Karlshamm retained her short-course European crown comfortably, though Janne Schafer, of Germany, was close enough to make it a race, taking the silver medal in 30.92sec.

The only other world standards to be set came in the 4x50m medley relay, an event that is swum nowhere else in the world on an official basis and thus must only count as a "world best tume." Germany established the world best at 1:35.14 in the morning heats. They lowered that to 1:34.78 in the finals - Stev Theloke (24.36), Mark Warneke (26.47), Thomas Rupprath
(22.62), Carsten Dehmlow (21.33) - with Great Britain second in 1:35.19.

The British team lowered their own national record to finish second in the final in 1:35.19 while Sweden was third in 1:35.68.

Ilona Hlavackova, the reigning 100m backstroke champion from the Czech Republic, shaved 0.07sec off the absent Sandra Voelker's European record to enter today's final as fastest qualifier in 58.59. The final promises much, in that Britain's Sarah Price, fresh from losing her 200m world record to America's Nathalie Coughlin, set a Commonwealth record of 58.77 just behind her Czech rival.

There was a second Commonwealth record later in the session when Britain's James Gibson clocked 59.02 in the semi-finals of the 100m breaststroke.

Stefan Nystrand, of Sweden, came close to joining teammate Igelstrom in the record books when he retained the 50m freestyle title in 21.15 seconds, just
0.02sec outside the world record held by Britain's Mark Foster. Foster was fourth, in 21.66 in Antwerp after almost missing the race.

For a man supposed to be setting an example to the juniors brought to Antwerp by Britain's director Bill Sweetenham to learn the ropes, Foster looked more like a man on the ropes as he stumbled on to the poolside one arm in bodysuit the other out, goggles in hand and no race cap in sight. The announcer had got more than half way down the list of the eight finalists before Foster reached his blocks somewhat panic-striken.

World record holder and a winner of the European short-course crown in the three years previous to his defeat by Swede Stefan Nystrand in Spain last year, Foster had looked the part to take back his crown when he
clocked 21.59 in the semi-final that followed Nystrand's 21.31 victory in the first semi. The Swede's time equaled Foster's championship record but was shy of the British sprinter's 21.13 world record. The race was surely on.

Drained as he left the blocks, Foster stayed level with Nystrand until the turn before fading on the second length to finish only fourth in 21.66 behind Olexandr Volinets, of Ukraine, at 21.60 and Pieter van
den Hoogenband, the Dutch Olympic 100 and 200m champion, at 21.65.

Foster admitted: "I misread the start sheet. I thought there were two medal ceremonies before my race, not just one. I was looking at Sunday's sheet by mistake," said a sorry Foster. "I was sitting out the back when I
suddenly realised that they were reading 'Hoogenband, lane 3'." Asked if it had lost him the race, Foster said it had "probably cost me the silver but I don't think I'm in the shape to beat him (Nystrand) on that
time."

World and Olympic champion Yana Klochkova of Ukraine retained her 200 meter individual medley title in a time of 2:09.52, but it did not come easy as the 19 year-old Klochkova was was trailing Nicole Hetzer of Germany until the final length. But her power in the freestyle proved decisive and she overtook her rival with just 20 meters to go. Hetzer finished in 2:09.70 while Alenka Kejzar of Slovenia (and SMU) was third more than a second back in 2:10.82.

The championship record also fell in the men's 200 meter individual medley when Slovenia's Peter Mankoc won in a time of 1:56.18. World record-holder Jani Sievinen of Finland was a strong second at 1:56.60.

The men's 400 meter freestyle was won by Emiliano Brembilla of Italy in 3:41.27, who beat former East German stalwart, Jorg Hoffman, to the wall.

Co-world record-holder, Gordan Kozulj of Croatia, won the men's 200 backstroke in 1:53.37. Israel's Yoav Gath was second (1:54.15), as less than half a second separated the next six finishers.

Thorpe, De Bruijn Named World Swimmers of the Year
December 11, 2001

PHOENIX, Dec. 12. AUSTRALIA'S Ian Thorpe and Holland’s Inge De Bruijn were named male and female "World Swimmers of the Year" by Swimming World magazine, in the December issue on newsstands today. Swimming World is the magazine of record in the sport of swimming.

It was the third time the 19 year-old Thorpe received the honor in the past four years. For De Bruijn, it was her second consecutive "World Swimmer" honor.

Thorpe, a unanimous selection this year, won the coveted award in 1998 and ’99, relinquishing the honor to Holland’s Pieter Van Den Hoogenband last year. A triple Olympic gold medalist in Sydney last year, Thorpe won an unprecedented six gold medals at this year’s World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, setting world records in the 200, 400, 800 meter freestyle events as well as the 4 x 200m freestyle relay.

De Bruijn, 28, who won three individual gold medals in Sydney and set 11 world marks in 2000, was a triple gold medalist in Fukuoka this year, winning the 50 and 100 meter freestyle and 50 meter butterfly.

Thorpe beat out fellow Australian, Grant Hackett, who finished second, and the USA’s Michael Phelps, who was third in the poll of Swimming World’s editorial staff, foreign correspondents and other leading swimming writers around the world. De Bruijn won over Ukraine’s Yana Klochkova and Germany’s Hannah Stockbauer.

Michael Phelps, 16, and Natalie Coughlin, 19, were named American Swimmers of the Year, the first time since 1994 that two teenagers were accorded that honor. Last March, Phelps became, at 15, the youngest American male ever to set a swimming world record when he broke the global mark in the 200m butterfly at the US National Championships in Austin. He followed up by lowering that record at the World Championships in July.

Coughlin was nothing short of phenomenal in 2001, setting American records in the 100 yard and meter backstroke, and the 200 yard backstroke, and winning gold at the World Championships. Earlier this month, she obliterated the world short course records for 100 and 200 meters backstroke.

The 2001 European Swimmers of the Year were De Bruijn and Russia’s Roman Sludnov, a unanimous choice for the honor. Sludnov lowered the world record in the 100m breaststroke three times in 2001, becoming the first man ever to crack the one minute barrier; he also won gold in the event at the World Championships.

Thorpe and Aussie teammate Petria Thomas won Pacific Rim Swimmer of the Year titles. Thomas won individual gold in the 100 and 200m fly at the World Championships, adding a third gold in the medley relay.

PAST WORLD SWIMMERS OF THE YEAR
2000_Inge De Bruijn, NED and Pieter van den Hoogenband, NED
1999_Penny Heyns, RSA and Ian Thorpe, AUS
1998_Jenny Thompson, USA and Ian Thorpe, AUS
1997_Claudia Poll, CRC and Michael Klim, Aus
1996_Penny Heyns, RSA and Denis Pankratov, RUS
1995_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Denis Pankratov, RUS
1994_Samantha Riley, AUS and Kieren Perkins, AUS
1993_Franziska Van Almsick, GER and Karoly Guttler, HUN
1992_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Egveni Sadovyi, URS
1991_Kristina Egerszegi, HUN and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
1990_Janet Evans, USA and Mike Barrowman, USA
1989_Janet Evans, USA and Mike Barrowman, USA
1988_Kristin Otto, GDR and Matt Biondi, USA
1987_Janet Evans, USA and Tamas Darnyi, HUN
1986_Kristin Otto, GDR and Matt Biondi, USA
1985_Mary T. Meagher, USA and Michael Gross, FRG
1984_Kristin Otto, GDR and Alex Baumann, CAN
1983_Ute Geweniger, GDR and Rick Carey, USA
1982_Petra Schneider, GDR and Vladimir Salnikov, URS
1981_Mary T. Meagher, USA and Alex Baumann, CAN
1980_Petra Schneider, GDR and Rowdy Gaines, USA

Two Aussie Records Fall, Five Americans Win on Day One of Melbourne World Cup
December 7, 2001

By Belinda Dennett

MELBOURNE, Dec. 7. AUSTRALIAN pair Amanda Pascoe and Justin Norris set new Australian records in the 800m freestyle and 200m butterfly respectively, while American swimmers won five events to highlight competition on the first night of finals action at the Telstra World Cup in Melbourne.

Campbelltown's Pascoe broke the Commonwealth and Australian records in the 800m freestyle with her time of 8:21.27. Great Britain's Rebecca Cooke established the Commonwealth record of 8:21.47 in August this year while the old Australian record had belonged to three-time Olympian Hayley Lewis for eight years.

In second place was American Rachel Komisarz (8:27.59) and in third place, Australian Charlene Benzie in 8:32.70. Komisarz had earlier won the 50m butterfly final.

Olympic bronze medalist Justin Norris set a new Australian record to win the 200m butterfly in 1:54.43 from Heath Ramsay (1:56.12) and Shane Fielding. Norris was surprised at the record but conceded there was still room for improvement.

Asked what his goals were at next year's World Short Course Championships, Norris said: "I think I will need to find another two seconds to be competitive, but I'm looking forward to the challenge." Last week, Germany's Thomas Rupprath lowered the short course world mark to 1:51.21.

While unable to get on the podium, Daniel Kowalski's return to international swimming after shoulder surgery was as impressive as they come.

After satisfying himself this morning with a solid heat swim which saw him qualify as the second fastest swimmer for the final, Kowalski improved on his time to finish fourth in 3:49.88.

American Olympian Chad Carvin also surprised himself when he took the gold in 3:44.18 from Australian pair Bill Kirby (3:45.09) and Craig Stevens (3:46.84).

In what was a successful night for the USA, Rachel Komisarz took out the women's 50m butterfly in the time of 26.77, just ahead of Australian pair Nicole Irving (26.92) and Melanie Houghton (27.10).

The USA team continued its strong showing with Amanda Beard taking the 100m breaststroke in 1:07.27 ahead of South African Sarah Poewe (1:07.67) and Australia's Brooke Hanson, who had led until the last five metres, third in 1:07.72.

In one of the most fiercely contested events of the night, Australia's Jim Piper became the first to upset the Americans, defeating the highly ranked Ed Moses in the 50m breaststroke. Piper's time of 27.92 was a personal best with Moses second in 27.99 and Canadian Morgan Knabe third in 28.02.

"I've never won a 50 before so it feels awesome," Piper said after the race. "To beat a world class field, especially in the 50m, I feel pretty good."

The USA returned to the top of the podium in the next event with Olympic relay gold medalist Lindsay Benko taking the 100m freestyle in 54.50 ahead of a fast-finishing Elka Graham, who flew home over the last 15 metres to finish second in a personal best time of 54.78. Josefin Lillhage from Sweden was third in 54.85.

Despite the presence of his own personal cheering squad in the stands, Michael Klim could not out-sprint American Jason Lezak who won the 100m freestyle in 47.79. Lezak is undefeated on the 100 in World Cup circuit this year.

Klim and fellow Australian Ashley Callus dead-heated for second in 48.43.

Australia's Jennifer Reilly went close to her best time in winning the 400m individual medley in 4:36.38, well ahead of fellow Australian Megan McMahon (4:41.91) and Canadian Kelly Doody (4:45.16).

Geoff Huegill showed his impressive form in the World Cup series extends further than his preferred buttefly events, in taking the 100m individual medley in a personal best time of 54.98, a time that puts him third fastest on the all-time Australian list.

Fellow Australian Robert Van Der Zant was second in 55.21 with Germany's Jens Kruppa third in 55.58.

"It's a bit of a shock, really. I couldn't ask for anything better than that," Huegill said after the race.

Australian Clementine Stoney put in another solid performance in the 200m backstroke final winning in the time of 2:06.80. Charlene Wittstock from South Africa was second in 2:09.80 with American Lindsay Benko third in 2:10.63.

Australian Matt Welsh had his home crowd behind him when he took out the 50m backstroke in 24.34 ahead of Toni Helbig from Germany (24.78) and American Michael Gilliam and Sebastian Halgasch from Germany, who dead-heated for third in 24.88.

Aussies Dominate at Qantas Skins Meet; Americans Moses, Lezak Win
December 6, 2001

By Ian Hanson

SYDNEY, Dec. 5. THE 2001 Qantas Skins kicked off with a bang at the Sydney Aquatic Centre tonight with Australian pair Elka Graham and William Kirby skinning some of the world's best swimmers to collect AUS$6,500 (US$3,250) and AUS$6,000 (US$3,000) respectively.

Graham and Kirby led the Aussie charge, which saw them take out nine of the 12 events in front of a crowd of over 3000 enthusiastic fans. The Aussie dominance rounded off a stellar year which has included World Championship and Goodwill Games victories.

The Aussie winners were:
Elka Graham (3x100m freestyle)
Julia Ham (4x50m butterfly)
Leisel Jones (4x50m breaststroke)
Clementine Stoney (4x50m backstroke)
Rebecca Creedy (4x50m freestyle)
Jennifer Reilly (Mystery Medley)

William Kirby (3x100m freestyle)
Geoff Huegill (4x50m butterfly)
Ray Hass (4x50m backstroke)

The small but select USA contingent collected two wins, with world record-holding wizard Ed Moses taking the 4x50m breaststroke and sprint star Jason Lezak the 4x50m freestyle, while New Zealand's Dean Kent won the Kiwi's lone skin in the men's Mystery Medley.

The first final of the night was decided in the women's 50 metre butterfly elimination. Sydney teenager Lara Davenport and New Zealander Megan Allan exited the race early up followed by Tasmanian Nicole Hunter. An all Aussie final duel between Julia Ham and Felicity Galvez ended in a victory to the Queenslander, Ham, who clocked 28.81 to take home the AUS$5000 (US$2,500) prize money a full second ahead of hometown girl, Galvez.

Victorian, Ray Hass took out the men's 50m backstroke eliminator for the second consecutive year. Hass faced off in the final against fellow Australian and world championship team member, Josh Watson, and proved too strong, streaking away in the final showdown to grab the cash. Tasmanian turned Queenslander, Beau Mannix was red-carded earlier to take third placing. Matt Welsh was a surprise elimination in round one, followed by American Mike Gilliam.

The USA vs Australia showdown continued in the women's 3x100m freestyle accumulator between Lindsay Benko and Elka Graham.Graham took out the first 100 metre event in 57.32 with Benko second in 57.39. In a mirror image of the first race, the Sydneysider Graham (58.61) touched ahead of her American rival (59.23). Graham sealed back-to-back Skins titles with her third victory from as many starts in the final 100 metres. Lindsay Benko took second place while Campbelltown teenager Amanda Pascoe was third.

New Zealand's Dean Kent won the men's 200m mystery medley after a strong first half set up his race. The Kiwi had a good draw and stormed home with freestyle in the final lap to touch out a strong performance from Australian Grant McGregor who finished with the backstroke leg. Newcastle's Justin Norris, who spent the day surfing at Freshwater Beach yesterday, took third place while newly-wed Robert van der Zant and South African Terrance Parkin rounded out the field.

The women's breaststroke 4x50 metre eliminator saw a world class field with Sarah Kasoulis eliminated early along with Queenslander Tarnee White.Great Britain sprinting guru Zoe Baker was third after falling off the pace in the third 50m leg.

The final showdown between defending champion, Brooke Hanson and Queenslander, Leisel Jones, had Hanson fly out of the blocks before Queensland youngster Jones used her smooth technical stroke and 200 metre endurance to finish strongly and take her first ever Qantas Skins title along with the AUS$5000 (US$2,500) cash.

Geoff Huegill looked in great form taking out the men's 50 metre butterfly eliminator in fine style after Russian, Denis Pankratov, exited early, soon to be followed by Queenslanders, Josh Krogh and Shane Fielding.

Adam Pine was left to contend with the 50 metre world champion and world record holder in the final but could not mount a challenge to a somewhat foxing Huegill who took the AUS$5000 prize money, continuing his great form.

In the women's 50 metre eliminator Sophie Edington and Jodie Henry both took early exits with Sweden's Josephine Lillhage soon to follow.

In the final, defending champion Rebecca Creedy held off newly-wed Sarah Ryan to take her second consecutive title.

The final of the men's breaststroke witnessed the only Australian in the race, Simon Cowley eliminated first up, followed by defending Qantas Skins champion, Morgan Knabe of Canada, touched out by 0.01 of a second to miss the final.

The all international final between Steven Ferguson of New Zealand and Ed Moses from the United States went right down to the wire with the Olympic silver medalist in this pool in 2000, Moses, just tipping out a surprise packet performance from the Kiwi.

A fast paced women's 50 metre backstroke saw 200 metre specialist, Kelly Tucker, red carded first up. New Zealander, Hanna McLean, soon followed in her footsteps along with Frances Adcock.

Australian, Clementine Stoney and South African, Charlene Wittstock contested the final with Stoney too strong in dominating the last 50 metres to take victory along with AUS$5000 reasons to be elated with her performance.

Stoney's opening 50m was actually a personal best time of 30.26 and she backed up with 30.59, 30.87 and sealed the victory and the cash in 30.42.

Bill Kirby went after the 3x100 metre event, taking out the first two races in style and setting up a tight finish.

Fellow Western Australian, Antony Matkovich, won the third race but it wasn't enough on accumulative time to take down Kirby who took AUS$6000 for his efforts.

Great Britain's, Paul Palmer was third with Chad Carvin and Leon Dunne taking out the minor cash.

The women's mystery medley had defending champion, Jennifer Reilly hold on in the final backstroke leg to touch out fast finishing Amanda Beard and Jessica Abbott.

Upsets came thick and fast in the men's sprint freestyle eliminator with defending champion, Ashley Callus, exiting after only the first race.

US sprint specialist Aaron Ciarla received a red card soon after along with Australian, David Jenkins. The final between Australian, Todd Pearson, and American, Jason Lezak, ended soon after it started with Lezak blitzing his opposition in fine style to go one better than last year to take the win.

Stanford Tops National Poll; Arizona State Moves Up
December 5, 2001

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Dec. 5. STANFORD University remained on top of the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) Poll for both men and women.

In the biggest moves since the first poll, the Arizona State's men's team leaped from 13th to fifth place after defeating the University of Arizona. Penn State jumped from 25th to 20th, while USC dropped five places, from fourth to 9th.

On the women's side, Purdue, which previously had been unranked, vaulted to the 20th spot, while USC plummeted from third place to 11th.

The rankings:

WOMEN
Rank Team Points (1st pl.) Previous rank
1 Stanford 200 (8) 1
2 Georgia 191 2
3 Auburn 185 4
4 Arizona 175 5
5 Texas 167 6
6 California 158 7
7 Florida 152 8
8 SMU 145 9
9 Ariz. State 137 11
10 UCLA 126 10
11 USC 119 3
12 No. Carolina 112 12
13 Notre Dame 106 13
14 Virginia 97 15
15 Wisconsin 87 15
16 Penn State 81 14
17 Northwestern 68 17
18 Alabama 58 19
19 Indiana 57 17
20 Purdue 41 NR
21 Michigan 30 21
22 Minnesota 29 20
23 LSU 25 25
24 Princeton 14 24
25 Rice 13 24
25 Maryland 13 NR


MEN
Rank Team Points (1st pl.) Previous rank
1 Stanford 200 (8) 1
2 Texas 192 2
3 Tennessee 183 3
4 Auburn 175 5
5 Ariz. State 164 13
6 California 156 6
7 Minnesota 144 7
8 Arizona 142 8
9 USC 138 4
10 So. Carolina 131 10
11 Virginia 127 12
12 Michigan 119 9
13 Florida 103 11
14 Wisconsin 96 14
15 Georgia 87 15
16 No. Carolina 77 15
17 Alabama 68 17
18 Pittsburgh 58 20
19 Texas A&M 57 17
20 Penn State 38 25
21 SMU 36 19
21 Purdue 36 21
23 Northwestern 27 22
24 Harvard 26 22
25 LSU 25 24

Johns Hopkins Teams Having a Monster Season
December 5, 2001

By Kevin Tritt

BALTIMORE, Dec. 5. THE Blue Jays of Johns Hopkins University, a perennial NCAA Division III swimming power, are having a banner year, highlighted by both the men's and women's performance at the Miami of Ohio Invitational last weekend.

The Blue Jay men are 4-1 this season, and finished seventh out of 17 teams at the Invitational. The women are 3-1 and placed ninth in Oxford. The women will return to action by hosting Navy on January 12, and both teams will face West Chester on January 15.

An incredible 13 school records were broken and 22 swimmers qualified for the NCAA Championships last weekend when Hopkins competed in the Miami of Ohio Invitational.

Krissy Brinsley broke the school records in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.97 and in the 50 freestyle with a time of 24.32. Nontawan Benja-Athon continued her impressive freshman season by setting the school record in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:21.37, while Stephanie Harbeson swam the 200 freestyle in 1:52.98 to break another Hopkins record.

On the men's side, Justin Brannock won the 200 freestyle in a school record time of 1:39.58, while J.P. Balfour II swam the 400 individual medley in 4:02.44 and Scott Amstrong swam the 500 freestyle in 4:27.28 to set school marks. Also setting new Hopkins records for the men's team were the 200 medley relay team (Brett Fisher, Scott Pitz, David Lofthus, Brandon Loftus) in 1:32.96 and the 400 medley relay team (Fisher, Pitz, Loftus, Brannock) in 3:24.09.

For the women, records were set by the 200 medley relay team (Ashley Shively, Elizabeth Schlicher, Megan Rudinsky, Brinsley) in 1:48.85, the 200 freestyle relay team (Michelle Phillips, Harbeson, Shively, Brinsley) in 1:37.37, the 400 medley relay team (Brinsley, Benja-Athon, Rudinsky, Harbeson) in 3:55.17, and the 400 freestyle relay team (Phillips, Rudinsky, Harbeson, Brinsley) in 3:32.78.

With their performances over the weekend, 22 Hopkins swimmers wrapped up a return trip to Oxford in March to compete in the Div. III NCAA Championships.

Aussie Update: Who's Walking Down the Aisle, Who's Under the Knife?
December 4, 2001

By Stephen Thomas

SYDNEY, December 4. IN the hiatus that has followed the pressure and tension associated with the World Championships and Goodwill Games, many of Australia's leading swimmers have been using the opportunity to take some important 'dry land' matters in hand. Several have needed to go under the surgeon's knife and others the equally challenging experience of taking the marital plunge prior to recommencing competition here in Australia next week with the popular Qantas Skins and FINA World Cup.

Four Weddings
In the case of triple world champion, Petria Thomas, she's aiming for the double! Thomas went under the surgeon's knife straight after the Goodwill Games to repair torn ligaments in her foot. Initially in plaster, she was out of the water for more than a month but is back in the pool doing limited work at this stage. However, Thomas is quietly confident she will be fit enough to make it down the aisle for her wedding December 15.

Her Aussie teammate, Sarah Ryan, beat Thomas to the altar, taking her marriage vows in mid-October. The two-time Olympian has been in the best form of her career, recording several PR's and successfully anchored the Australian women's medley relay to gold at the World Championships.

Another heading down the aisle, former breaststroke champ, Sam Riley, who turned twenty-nine this month, married Queensland real estate agent, Tim Fydler, 27, the younger brother of retired Sydney Olympic gold medallist, Chris Fydler.

Fellow Queenslander, Olympian, Robert Van de Zant, has also married in his home state just after competing at the Goodwill Games. He went directly from his honeymoon in Hawaii to swim in the Novo Nordisk Sprint Cup in October.

Under the Knife
All-rounder, Lori Munz has had further surgery on the knee she smashed in an auto accident than put her out of contention for the Sydney Olympics. Munz is recovering well and has been training solidly to be ready to compete at the Australian Institute of Sport meet in Canberra this weekend and the two international events in Sydney and Melbourne.

Not so fortunate backstroke sprinter, Dyana Calub, who has had knee reconstruction surgery and can only hope to make it back in the pool to be competitive for the National Championships in March 2002. Calub picked up gold at the World Championships swimming the dorsal leg of the medley relay with Thomas, Ryan and breaststroker Leisel Jones.

Elka Graham, the world's top ranked woman over 200 freestyle this year, with a 1:58.54 at the World Champs, had her tonsils removed last month after receiving specialist advice. Graham had been experiencing repeated throat infections for some time and it was felt this would be the most effective long-term solution. She will also compete in the three coming meets.

Graham's main Australian rival next week will be Giaan Rooney, the reigning 200 freestyle World Champion. Rooney has been linked romantically with Michael Klim in recent months, so much so that the world record-holder for the 100 fly has moved from Canberra for an unspecified time to train under Denis Cotterell at her Gold Coast club, Miami. He is also training alongside fellow Olympians Grant Hackett and Dan Kowalski.

Klim had some additional arthroscopic surgery following the Goodwill Games after competing at the World Championships with a fracture in his ankle, which particularly impacted on his fly performance.

There have been unconfirmed rumours circulating that Klim might make a permanent move from long-time coach Gennadi Touretski. Touretski has been taking time out after heart bypass surgery last month and will not rush his return to the pool deck. The Russian born coach also had to suffer a five-month break from coaching in April after a bizarre set of circumstances led to him being charged with possession of a banned substance (the anabolic steroid stanozolol). The charges were dropped in October, the case dismissed with costs awarded to him.

Touretski's other leading charge, the four-time Olympic gold medalist, Alexander Popov, has not rushed back to the pool either, after recovering from a serious attack of tonsillitis which saw him pull out of the World Championships. He is only recently returned to training at the AIS in Canberra.

Ins and Outs
Multiple Olympic medalist, Daniel Kowalski is back in the pool after reconstruction surgery to both shoulders after picking up an Olympic gold as part of the 4x200 freestyle relay team. The 26-year-old had his left shoulder operated on in December 2000 followed by the right in March and was back in the pool by June. Kowalski said he would focus on qualifying for the Commonwealth Games team in the 1500 freestyle alongside training partner and world record holder Grant Hackett. Kowalski will swim next week in Melbourne.

Fellow Atlanta Olympics 100 fly silver medalist, Scott Miller, 26, has decided to get his togs back on after retiring when he failed to make the team for the Sydney Games. The 26-year-old has moved from Sydney to Melbourne after a recent divorce, to begin training under coach Ian Pope in a bid to make the team for Athens in 2004. Pope is also the coach of Australia's leading backstroker Matt Welsh.

Sydney Olympian and World Champs middle distance freestyler, Sarah-Jane D'Arcy has retired after two consecutive disappointing performances in the 400 freestyle. In a career that has been punctuated with illness, the 24-year-old took ill before the Atlanta trials and retired. She returned to the pool to train with Mark Regan at the AIS in 1999 to make the Pan Pac team in September of that year. In hot form in January 2000, she swam a 4:03.50 over the 400m short-course at the Sydney FINA World Cup, the 4th fastest all-time globally, but was unable to reproduce that form at the big meets that followed.

Coughlin Is Phenomenal at Texas Invitational;
Others Swim Blazing Early-Season Times
December 4, 2001

By Bill Bell

AUSTIN, TX., Dec. 2 -- Who's the greatest woman swimmer in American history? Debbie Meyer? She was queen of the distances in the '60s and an Olympic gold medalist.

Or how about Tracy Caulkins? Certainly one of the greatest collegtiate swimmers in history, holder of more AAU-U.S. Swimming titles than anyone else in history, a triple gold medalist at the 1978 World Championships, and a double gold medalist at the Los Angeles Olympics.Pretty impressive credentials.

Or...what about Janet Evans? Quadruple Olympic gold medalist at Seoul and Barcelona (never swam at a World Championships, though) and still world-record holder in 400-800-1500 frees and American-NCAA record-holder at 500-1000-1650 yard frees.

Mary T.? Certainly greatest butterflyer in history with her 200 world record lasting nearly two decades.

A case could be made for any one of these women, and rightfully so. But sooner, rather than later, the name Natalie Coughlin will be mentioned in the same breath as the aforementioned quartet, and not without good reason. Coughlin didn't make the plane to Sydney in 2000, but as a freshman at Cal last March during the NCAA Division 1 Championships in East Meadow, she set American-NCAA records in the 100-200 backstrokes and a collegiate mark (plus second-performance all-time) in the 100 fly, earning Swimmer of the Championships honors.

At the World Championships in Fukuoka five months ago, Coughlin twice broke the American record in the 100 meter backstroke, won the gold and led off Uncle Sam's 400 meter meldey relay in a stunning 1:00.18 -- second on the all-time perfoermers-performances list and a mere .02 off China's He Cihong's 1:00.16 global standard.

(An argument could be made that Coughlin is the rightful owner of the record as He, who set her mark at the 1994 World Championships in Rome, was almost certainly on the same juice for which seven of her teammates tested positive at the Asian Games in Hiroshima three weeks later.)

In any event, at this weekend's Longhorn Invitational in the Jamail Swimming Center at the University of Texas, site of next March's NCAA DI Women's Championships, Coughlin gave a sneak preview of what she may do come the collegiate title-decider -- and if you're any other swimmer it sure ain't purty.

Opening night she won the 50 free in 22.21 -- this from a flyer-backstroker-IMer who NEVER swims the sprints.

How good is 22.2? Texas' Colleen Lanne won NCAAs with a pr 21.99. The American-NCAA record is 21.77 by Colorado State's Amy Van Dyken, who swam that time in 1994 at Indy, then went on to win three individual golds at the Atlanta Olympics. Jenny Thompson's pr is 21.86 and Dara Torres' best is a 22.26.

For the record, Coughlin's time is 11th all-time performer and just outside the Top 25 performances. Coughlin then swam the 100 fly, winning in 51.22, a mere .04 off her NCAA record 51.18. The American record is 51.07 by Thompson from the Kerr-McGee Invitational three years ago.

Not bad for openers.

On Day 2 Coughlin really hit her stride. She opened with a win in the 200 free (1:43.77), fifth on the all-time performances' list and fourth performer. Arizona's Sarah tolar won NCAAs last year in 1:45.21 with Lanne second (1:45.27). That 1:43.7 cut Coughlin's pr by nearly two seconds, as it had been a 1:45.69 leadoff leg on the 800 free relay from this same meet a year ago.

Only U.S. Open-NCAA record-holder Martina Moravcova (1:43.08), former Florida All-America Nicole Haislett (1:43.28 to win 1992 NCAAs, still the American record) and Thompson (1:43.61 to finish runner-up at the '92
collegiate championships) are faster, along with Haislett's 1:43.50 that won the '93 Southeast Conference title.

Pretty heady company for a stroke specialist.

Cal coach Teri McKeever, not one to let her star protegee stray down the crooked path, had her swim the 100 back two events later. All she did here was break her American-NCAA record (51.23) with a blazing 50.90 clocking, making her the first and only woman ever under 51.0.

When she did that 51.2 she was out in 25.17 vs. 24.92 here, and that was the difference.

Saving what was arguably her best for last, Coughlin won the 100 free Sunday in 47.76, fourth on the all-time performances' list, third performer. Thompson's AR-NCAA mark is 47.61 from the '92 NCAAs, but in evaluating that performance it is important to remember the Olympic Trials had been held just three weeks earlier in Indianapolis, and Thompson broke the American record in the 100 meter free there too.

This was just a "training trip" for Coughlin, just a way of gauging her progress since taking an extended break after Fukuoka (she didn't compete at the U.S. Nationals in Clovis and thus didn't swim at the Goodwill Games either).

* * * * *

While Coughlin's exploits here were certainly remarkable, she was far from the whole story. This was one top-flight meet with superb performances in almost every event.

Consider Arizona junior Beth Botsford, Olympic gold medalist at Atlanta in the 100 back while still in high school. She was second in the 100 back (53.31), just off her pr 53.30 from this meet in '00. She won the 200 back (career-best 1:53.76), breaking her old pr of 1:54.45 from the '00 Pac-10s and moving to the top of the national list.

Then there's Arizona State breaststroker Agnes Kovacs, Hungary's reigning Olympic and World Champion at 200 meters, who's only been in Devil Country a couple of months now and is still learning how to swim yards (i.e.. turn).

ASU coach Mike Chasson must have taught her pretty well as she went a 1:00.77 100 (pr) and then in the 200 came within a couple of tenths of Kristi Kowal's American-NCAA record 2:07.66 with her 2:07.98 -- No. 2
performer-performance all-time.

Stanford's Tara Kirk, defending NCAA 100 breast champ, won her specialty (59.51, fourth-performance all-time) and went a fast 2:08.84 for runner-up behind Kovacs -- just off her 2:08.54 pr, which had been No. 2 all-time
(performer-performance).

These two will meet twice more before NCAAs -- ASU-Stanford dual and then Pac-10s the final weekend of February at Belmont Plaza. Can 2:06 be far off?

Kirk's Cardinal teammate Jessica Foschi showed she's ready to defend her NCAA 500 free title with a nation-leading 4:37.95 victory, then added a pr 4:16.09 400 IM (consols champ) and Sunday won the mile in 16:23+.`

Host Texas got a fine 200 freeswim from Stanford transfer Lauren Thies, who went a pr 1:45.38 for second behind Coughlin.

Auburn's 200 IM World Champ Maggie Bowen, defending NCAA titlest and American record-holder at 200 yards, just edged Card Shelley Ripple, 1:57.51-1:57.52 in a thrilling finish that saw the winner come from nearly a half-second down on the final 50.

Ripple swam a strong 100 fly for second (52.82), improving her pr here by nearly a second. She also won the 200 fly (nation-leading 1:55.12), just off her pr 1:54.95 from last sason's NCAAs, which ranks her fifth and 11th all-time (performers-performances).

Arizona's Emily Mason (1:55.91) was second and USC's Michala Kwasny (1:56+) third, with all three making the NCAA automatic cut.

Bowen also won the 400 IM (4:09.86) with Kwasny second (4:11.52). For a bit of "variety," Auburn coach David Marsh had Bowen swim the 1650 the final day and she responded with a pr 16:35+, good for NCAA consideration.

However, don't count on her swimming this race come March. More likely the 200 breast or fly.

* * * * *

On the men's side, Arizona senior Roland Schoeman, U.S. Open record-holder in the 50 meter free and NCAA record-holder in the 50 yard free, won in a fast 19.37, going even faster (19.33) leading off the Wildcats' 200 free relay.

Teammate Juan Veloz, a Mexican Olympian, won the 200 fly (nation-leading and pr 1:44.50) with teammate Jeff Dash (1:45.19) next.

Arizona State's fast-improving sprinter Nick Brunelli went a pr 19.81 for second in the 50 and won the 100 free (pr 43.73). Schoeman, however, was not in this latter race.

Texas' Brendan Hansen, World Champ in the 200 breast at Fukuoka and defending NCAA Champ in the 100-200 breast, showed he's still the man to beat here with 53.57-1:56.09 clockings -- both fastest nationally.

No man has ever won the NCAA 100-200 breast four years' running but Hansen is a quarter of the way there and appears to be a good bet to make history.

He won the 100 at NCAAs last season in 52.48, fourth-fastest performance all-time. Only AR/NCAA record-holder Jeremy Linn of Tennessee has ever been faster (51.86 plus a 52.2 and a 52.3).

In the 200 Hansen's winning 1:53.11 broke the old American-NCAA record of 1:53.77 by Michigan's Mike Barrowman from 1990. Barrowman went on to win Olympic gold at Barcelona two years later and his wr of 2:10.16 still stands a decade later.

Hansen was pushed at NCAAs in the 200 by Auburn's Dave Denniston (1:53.48 for runner-up) and they'll both be fighting it out in the pool at Athens, GA., the final Saturday in March (NCAAs).

Cal soph Alex Lim, a Malaysian Olympian who was Swimming World's prep Swimmer of the Year two eyars ago while at Bolles and who holds the national high school record in the 100 back (46.82), came to life in a big way with wins in the 100 back (list-leading 47.52), 200 back (No. 1 national 1:43.43 to Arizona's Kris Souther's pr 1:43.51), and the 100 fly (pr 47.43). Wisconsin's Matt Marshall did a 47.65 pr for second.

With Lim, Olympic gold medalist Anthony Ervin and Matt Macedo in the sprints, Swedish Olympian Mathias Ohlin in the flys and sprint backstroke, Croatian Olympian and European Jr. champ sprint king Duje Draganja, plus
freestyler Joe Bruckhart and breaststroker Peter Aaronson (a Swedish Olympian too), Coach Nort Thornton's Golden Bears could win their first national title in two decades, since claiming back-to-back crowns in 1980-81.

HAWAII'S Bloch Has Record Breaking Weekend
December 3, 2001

Sophomore Cheyne Bloch now leads the nation in the 100 and 200 breast events after the two-day Hawai`i Senior Championships this weekend at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
Bloch earned an amazing time of 54.38 in the 100 breast swim, while shattering Peter Struglinski’s school record of 55.17 set back in 1996. Bloch’s time also set a new pool record after beating Vilmos Kovac’s 1996 time of 55.17. His 200 breast time 1:58.71 clocked in shy of a school record, but landed him the second fastest all-time and another pool record, beating, again, Vilmos Kovac’s time of 1:59.21. Both swims qualify him for the NCAA Championships held in Athens, GA, March 28-30.

“Cheyne is a young man with wonderful athletic abilities. He has improved over the last four months. The entire coaching staff and team are proud of him. He is the first national qualifier of the year. We expect more to follow,” said head swimming coach Mike Anderson.
Junior Katie Seall also found herself a spot on the all-time list with her finish of 10:36.46 in the 1000 free, Saturday.

The UH Diving team ended the weekend with the Wahine finishing 13th and the men 12th at the Texas Invitational. Sophomore Mike Gowdy earned a second place score of 325.65 in one meter dive. Senior Eddie Stevens finished seventh with 268.00 and scored 12 points for the team. In the final three meter event, Gowdy received 14 team points and a score of 501.65 for a fifth place finish.

The Wahine will take on Oregon State in their second scored dual meet of the season next week, Sunday, Dec. 9 at the DKAC.

Rice's Mularz Named WAC Swimmer of the Week
December 3, 2001

DENVER – Junior Mandy Mularz was named the Western Athletic Conference swimmer of the week on Monday after setting a new Rice record in the 50 freestyle on Friday.

Mularz posted an NCAA automatic qualifying standard time of 22.70 to finish third in the 50 free at the Texas Invitational in Austin. The Mobile, Ala., native now holds university records in both the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

The only Rice swimmer competing in the Texas Invitational, Mularz also notched personal and Rice season-bests in the 100 butterfly (56.66) and the 100 backstroke (57.00).

Additional nominees for the WAC's weekly honors were Fresno State's Jessica Klenner, San Jose State's Charlotte Pierce, and SMU's Alenka Kejzar.

Amidst Controversy, Swimming Hall of Fame Plans to Move to Pompano Beach
December 3, 2001
Note: Over the past few months, the International Swimming Hall of Fame - ISHoF - located in Ft. Lauderdale, has been at the center of a host of controversies that have swirled around it, with charges and countercharges being hurled about. In this article, Buck Dawson, Executive Director eneritus of the ISHOF, and Bob Deunkel, the Hall's Executive Director, attempt to set the record straight.

By Buck Dawson and Bob Duenkel

FT. LAUDERDALE. ON May 24, 2001, the City of Fort Lauderdale Commission voted 3 to 2 to reject a 30 million dollar gift to build a new facility to house the International Swimming hall of Fame museum, library and connected swimming and diving pools.

The Hall of Fame has been located in Ft. Lauderdale since its inception 36 years ago. Nonetheless the Commission rejected the gift in favor of constructing condominiums and a retail and park complex on the adjacent site, three blocks north of the current ISHOF site, the proposed new site of a new ISHOF.

An outcry of local, national and international support for ISHOF and disgust at the outcome of the vote, inspired other cities to contact ISHOF to offer alternative sites.

Over the summer months, the most serious of these offers came from Hollywood, Florida; Pompano Beach, Florida; Sunny Isles, Florida; and Fort Lauderdale (on a lesser scale than that of the May 24 vote). The ISHOF Board of Directors met in September and authorized ISHOF President and CEO, Dr. Sam Freas, to pursue the Hollywood offer, as it appeared to be the most beneficial to ISHOF.

Together with developer Michael Swerdlow, Sam began negotiations with Hollywood officials. An announcement was made declaring Hollywood's intention to build ISHOF a new home on the beach in its city. Ensuing weeks of discussion led to a display of citizen unrest, not against ISHOF but against the removal of a small number of citizens' homes to make room for the building of condominiums needed to finance the new ISHOF facility. Because of this new dilemma, ISHOF decided not to pursue a move to this city.

Within days, Pompano Beach reiterated its desire to lure ISHOF to a six-acre site on and near Pompano's beach. Negotiations are presently under way to fulfill this plan.

Pompano Beach is a wonderful city located only 10 miles north of Fort Lauderdale on the Atlantic Ocean. Discussions will include doubling the current size of the ISHOF museum and library, building new swimming and diving pools, incorporating the Pompano Fishing Pier as an ISHOF landmark, much like the old Fort Lauderdale Water Tower used to be, and improving meeting and banquet quarters.

A move to Pompano Beach would keep the Hall in the area, a llocation that so many of ISHOF'S supporters have grown to enjoy and appreciate. It would be a move up the beach to a more politically friendly environment.

While these negotiations have been taking place over the past two months, numerous local media releases from a few Fort Lauderdale officials have tried to smear the names of ISHOF, Sam Freas and Michael Swerdlow in an attempt to degrade the value of ISHOF. If you have been following the progress of these media releases, we urge you not to believe them. Attacks in the press against ISHOF and Sam Freas with the intent to downgrade ISHOF, could fool the public into accepting ISHOF's leaving.

Sam Freas, ISHOF staff, Board of Directors and developer Swerdlow have only the best interest of ISHOF at heart. ISHOF's Board of Directors and Executive Board have repeatedly voted their support of Sam for his ability to do what is right to negotiate the fairest outcome for all concerned.

ISHOF is really close to acquiring a new home. We do not want to get into a battle in the press. We will do all we can in support of ISHOF in discussions with Pompano Beach. A solid foundation for ISHOF's future is at stake. We believe the truth about these false allegations eventually will emerge. ISHOF is your Hall of Fame, and your support is always welcomed.

Northwestern Women Finish Second at Georgia Invitational
Rachel Johnson becomes second Wildcat to qualify for NCAAs during the weekend

December 2, 2001

Athens, Ga. - The No. 17 Northwestern women's swimming and diving squad placed second at the 2001 Georgia Invitational in Athens, Ga., over the weekend. The Wildcats finished with a three-day score of 611, 202.50 points behind the second-ranked Georgia Bulldogs.

Junior Rachel Johnson (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) capped off a career weekend with a win in the 200 fly. Her time of 1:59.56 gives her an automatic invitation to the NCAA Championships at the end of the season. Her time was also a career-best and the second fastest time in NU history. This was Johnson's second win of the weekend-she won the 200 IM earlier in the meet.

A few Wildcats turned in fourth-place finishes in the last session of finals, Susie Sample (LaGrange, Ill./Lyons Township) in the 200 back (2:00.74), Stephanie Cranston (St. Louis, Mo./Mary Institute CD) in the 1650 free (16:50.19) and Merritt Adams (Nocross, Ga./The Lovett School) in the 200 fly (2:00.16). All times were NCAA "B" qualifying times.

The 400 free relay squad took fourth with a season-best time of 3:25.39.

For the weekend, the Wildcats made 20 "B" cuts and 2 "A" cuts--the most by any NU squad this early in the season.

The 'Cats are next in action on Dec. 17 when they travel to Miami, Fla.

Malchow Edges Phelps in 200 Fly Duel at US Open
December 2, 2001

By Mary Wagner
(courtesy USA Swimming)

EAST MEADOW, N.Y., Dec. 1. AS the final night of the 2001 U.S. Open unfolded, multiple event winners emerged and meet records became a thing of the past.

And setting one of those records was Tom Malchow, who won what was perhaps the marquee matchup of the meet by defeating world record holder Michael Phelps in the 200m fly. Malchow's time of 1:53.48 bettered the old U.S. Open and meet records (1:54.76) set by Melvin Stewart. It was Malchow's second win of the meet after taking the 100m fly Friday night.

"I just wanted to get up and race," said Malchow, who won the U.S. Open Performance of the Meet Award. "This is the point of the season where I've been training a lot, and there haven't been a lot of meets, so I just wanted to see where I was at. I just wanted to swim aggressive from the get-go.

"I was worried about Michael. We've flip-flopped back and forth, but Michael's gotten the big ones. There are intervals where I'm happy with my wins, but he's gotten the bigger ones. He's been doing that, so I won't get too confident about this swim."

Phelps' time of 1:54.21 was also below the former meet and U.S. Open record held by Stewart.

"I've definitely been looking forward to that race the whole meet, but I guess that's all I had in me," said Phelps, whose wins in the 200 and 400m IM helped earn him the meet's male High Point Award. "I dropped five seconds from this morning, but I guess that wasn't enough today."

Meet records fell in five of the eight individual events Saturday. Breaking those records were Janelle Atkinson of Jamaica in the 800m free (8:20.13), Tanaka Masami of Japan in the 200m breast (2:23.62), Mary DeScenza in the 200m fly (2:07.94), and Chris Thompson in the 1500m free (14:55.12).

DeScenza's win was the second of the meet, her third since winning the 200m fly at the FINA World Cup earlier this week.

"Actually, that was my goal," DeScenza said of breaking the meet record. "I wanted to go 2:07 tonight, and it was great achieving those goals.

"I kind of half-expected to do this well, but not to this degree. I wanted to win one event going into this, but it's great to win three. It was really
a worthwhile experience."

Thompson said he was on autopilot in his win in the 1500. "I felt really good at the World Cup, so I just wanted to go out and see what I had," Thompson said. "I wasn't too concerned about my race; I just
wanted to go out and have a good time and push myself."

Although Ed Moses missed the meet record by a tenth of a second, he made a clean sweep of the breaststroke events by winning the 200 Saturday. Moses won decisively, beating the second place finisher by about three and a half seconds.

"I knew I was going to be alone the whole time, so I just wanted to be consistent with the time I got at the world cup," Moses said. "I was just a couple tenths off. I wanted to take (meet record holder Tom) Wilkens off the board, but I'll have to wait another year for that.

"It's been a great week. It's gotten a little old being here with the same routine for the last six days - workout, race breast, workout race breast.
But I'm really happy with the results. Now I've got to move on, and I've got about eight weeks to break those world records."

In other highlights, Christina Swindle won her second event of the meet, defending her U.S. Open title in the 100m free by out-touching second-place finisher Amanda Weir.

"It's very nice," she said. "A very good feeling. I knew (Weir) was going to give me a good race. She likes to go out fast like I do, so I just tried to
catch up with her at the end, which I did.

"Being a two-time U.S. Open champ means a lot. It was one of my goals coming into the meet."

Finally, SMU's Alenka Kejzar won the female High Point Award.

AUBURN SWIMMING ACCOMPLISHES GOALS AT TEXAS INVITATIONAL
December 2, 2001

AUSTIN, Texas ¯ The Auburn swimming team finished up the Texas Invitational here Sunday evening with some impressive swims for the Tigers.
"We served our overall purpose here this weekend very well which was to swim our season-best times and we did that to 80-90 percent," head coach David Marsh said. "This weekend came after a tough week of training, but the team will have to overcome bigger obstacles that this throughout the season. I think this meet has us moving in the right direction."
Freshman Margaret Hoelzer started things off for the Tigers in the evening finals session capturing the fourth-place finish in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:58.56.
In the 100 free, sophomore Eileen Coparropa pulled out a fourth place finish with a season-best time of 49.61 which also qualifies her for the NCAA Championships in that event later this season. Becky Short, also a sophomore, qualified for the consolation finals and earned a sixth place finish, 14th overall, with a time of 50.74.
Laura Swander placed seventh in the 200 breaststroke (2:17.65) while Cassidy Maxwell came up with an impressive 10th place finish and a career-best time of 2:18.40 in the event immediately after swimming in the 100 free bonus finals. Rounding out the consolation finals for Auburn was Kelly Jones in 15th with a time of 2:19.89.
In the 200 butterfly, Hoelzer again was the top finisher for Auburn with a seventh place finish in a time of 2:01.82 in the championships finals while Demerae Christianson swam to a 11th place finish (2:01.73) and Maggie Bowen taking 12th (2:02.10) in the consolation finals.
"Demerae (Christianson) had her all-season best in the 200 fly today and Laura Swander earned her automatic qualification in the 200 breast today," Marsh said. "Cassidy Maxwell has found a new event with her performing so well in the breast and earning consideration for the NCAAs. I am very excited that the women had their best session in the final day of competition."
On the men's side in the 200 back, the men placed six Auburn Tigers in the finals with Bryce Hunt (1:45.21) and Kirk Hampleman (1:45.62) making their way to the championship finals with third and fifth place finishes respectively.
Freshman Matt Kidd took the top spot for Auburn in the 100 free at 15th with a time of 45.35. In the 200 breast, junior captain Justin Caron led the way for Auburn with a fourth place finish in a time of 2:00.48, cutting off nearly two seconds from his preliminary time Sunday morning. Mark Gangloff and Pat Calhoun also scored points for the Tigers in the consolation finals with fourth and sixth place finishes respectively.
In the consolation finals, Auburn placed Christian Cantwell and James Galloway, who finished up in 10th for Cantwell with a time of 1:48.27 and Galloway in 12th with a time of 1:48.95.
"Kirk Hampleman has done an excellent job throughout this meet and especially today in the 200 back," Marsh said. "Bryce (Hunt) had a great swim today and the breaststroke contingent of Justin Caron, Pat Calhoun and Will Brandt is continuing to do very well."
The Auburn divers also concluded action Sunday at the Georgia Diving Invitational in Athens with again, outstanding performances by Caesar Garcia and Matt Bricker, who finished first and second in respectively in the platform event. Garcia earned a score of 508.05 and Bricker finished the day with a score of 485.35. Freshman Rachel Korth had an impressive day as well finishing third on the platform with a score of 289.60.
The Tigers will take a short break before hosting Southwest Missouri State on Dec. 15 at 11 a.m. in a dual meet at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center.

Hornets Break Records at EMU Invitational
December 2, 2001

"Can you believe that?!" exclaimed Head Coach Bob Kent, watching sophomore distance standout Scott Whitbeck (Northville, MI) shave over 6 seconds off the varsity record in the 1650 freestyle. The swim, whose negative splits by 500 were cause alone for celebration, was indicative of things to come for a Kalamazoo team poised to make their mark on this young season.

The meet began Friday afternoon with the 3 meter diving competition. Kalamazoo's formidable springboard corps proved again why Kalamazoo looks to diving as one of its best overall events. Freshman Tony Holt (Detroit, MI, Cranbrook-Kingswood School) finished 2nd overall with a score of 408.80 followed closely by Junior Tim Ullrey (Kalamazoo, MI, Central High School). Finishing 10th overall was freshman Kyle Oberhill (Plainwell, MI, Plainwell High School).

Friday night's session saw Kalamazoo sitting in third place, behind Eastern Michigan University and Denison University, and featured several outstanding swims. Andrew Kurtz, another freshman, (Bloomfield Hills, MI, Lahser High School) moved into second place all-time on the Kalamazoo top-10 list in the 200 breaststroke with a 2:06.31 performance (NCAA-B); netting 3rd place honors in the event in the process. Minutes later, senior captain Nicholas Duda (Birmingham, MI, Brother Rice H.S.) posted another NCAA-B time with a 1:53.51 in the 200 butterly (4th overall). The best, however, was saved for the final performance of the evening when the Hornets' 400 Freestyle Relay broke a varsity record, touched out league rivals Calvin College, and finished 3rd overall with a 3:06.34 (NCAA-B). The relay of Steve Domin (Livonia, MI, Stevenson H.S.), Victor Stover (Ann Arbor, MI, Pioneer H.S.), Ryan Crowley (Port Angeles, WA), and Judsen Schneider (Brentwood, TN) shaved a second off their performance at the NCAA Championships in March of this year.

Other personal bests of Friday evening for Hornet swimmers included Victor Stover's 100 freestyle (47.33, 12th), Anthony Duda's 200 breaststroke (2:14.31, 17th) and Scott Whitbeck's relay split (47.69, B-relay, 9th).

Saturday morning begain in much the way Friday left off with a diving event featuring by Kalamazoo's 3 divers. Holt finished 2nd (268.35), Ullrey was 4th (265.65) and Oberhill moved up the 7th (239.40) giving Kalamazoo the points it needed to hold onto third place through the second session.

Saturday morning's session featured Schneider's NCAA-A cut in the 200 freestyle (1:41.28, 2nd), a NCAA-B cut in the 200 freestyle by Victor Stover (1:43.32, 5th), Nicholas Duda's 400 IM swim of 4:05.17 (NCAA-B, 5th). Kurtz again rose to 2nd all time on the Hornet top-10 lists with a 57.57 in the 100 breaststroke. For the 2nd straight session, a relay concluded the session with a strong NCAA-B cut and a varsity record. The team of Scott Whitbeck, Victor Stover, Nicholas Duda and Judsen Schneider teamed for a performance of 6:51.97 (2nd overall) lowering last year's varsity record by half a second.

The third session of the meet concluded with several outstanding swims. Anthony Duda and Andrew Kurtz both turned in outstanding swims in the 50 freestyle (22.11, 21.89). Both freshmen sprinters look to factor into plans for the Hornet 200 freestyle relay by season's end.

The Hornets depart for Longboat Key, FL and 10 days of intensive, long-course training on December 8th.

WSU Swimming Claims Victory At Arkansas Invitational
December 2, 2001

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-- The Washington State University women’s swim team continued to dominate at the Arkansas Invitational in the final day of the three-day competition. WSU won the meet with a score of 1238 points, beating the host University of Arkansas with 1015.5 and the University of Houston with 791.5.

The final day of competition was highlighted by five WSU school records, five NCAA provisional marks, and 12 additions to Washington State’s all-time top-10 lists for individual events. The Cougars won 14 of the 18 events in the three-day competition, breaking 13 school records and establishing 45 times in their all-time top-10 lists.

“After swimming so well, breaking so many school records and being so competitive in the NCAA top 25, I’m beyond pleased as a coach,” WSU Head Coach Rocco Aceto said. “The team has the confidence to finish the year strong at Pac-10’s and NCAA’s, and we’re excited to progressively continue getting better.”

WSU junior Jill Olson placed second in the 1,650 freestyle behind Arkansas’s Whitney Lynn, but did break the school record with a mark of 16:56.31. Her time ranks No. 14 in the NCAA according to the College Swim Coaches Association of America, and is an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. Also for WSU, junior Rebecca Cohen placed fourth in 17:18.29 (3rd WSU all-time) and freshman Jadine Louw placed fifth (4th WSU all-time). In the event, Olson also broke the school record for the 1,000 freestyle, reaching that mark in 10:12.96.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve swam this fast, and it’s just exciting to share it with the whole team,” Olson said. “It’s a great feeling to know to know we all swam so fast going into our winter training.”

Two Cougars broke the school record for the 200 backstroke today. Sophomore Katie Byrnes clocked a 2:01.23, also ranking No. 18 in the NCAA, to break the record in the prelims. In the finals, however, her teammate Andree-Anne LeRoy broke the record again by posting a 1:59.64, ranking No. 6 in the NCAA. Byrnes placed sixth in the finals behind two other Cougars. Sophomore Sasha Taylor finished third in 2:02.73 (4th WSU all-time) and sophomore Nicole Chinn placed fifth in 2:05.49 (8th WSU all-time).

Another Washington State record fell as sophomore Taryn Ternent won the 100 freestyle in a time of 50.44 seconds. Ternent’s time also ranks No. 8 in the NCAA. Cougar junior Lindsay Henahan placed third in 52.43, and junior Sara Schmied placed fourth in 52.76 (6th WSU all-time).

“I’m really excited because we’ve gotten a lot of our best times here,” Schmied said. “I think we’re all excited for Pac-10’s because we know we can go so much faster. Everyone is up and happy to be one of the fastest teams in the nation.”

WSU’s Rachel Dong placed second in the 200 breaststroke behind Natalia Kodajova of Arkansas. Dong’s time of 2:20.09, second on the school’s all-time list. Christina Swanson finished fifth, and now ranks 10th on the Cougars’ all-time list with a time of 2:25.70 in the prelims.

Melissa Hubley, a sophomore form Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, claimed victory in the 200 butterfly for Washington State. Hubley’s time of 2:01.34 ranks No. 16 in the NCAA. Henahan placed fifth for the Cougars, and recorded a 2:07.85 in the prelims to move into seventh place on the school’s all-time list for the event.

Washington State concluded the invitational by continuing it’s dominance in the relay events, winning the 400 freestyle relay in a school-record of 3:23.27. That time is good enough to rank the quartet of LeRoy, Hubley, Dong and Ternent No. 2 in the NCAA. WSU won all five relays in the three days of competition.

The Cougars head home to continue training and prepare for finals week at Washington State, before heading off to train at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., for the third consecutive year. WSU’s next competition is tough test against UCLA and Pacific at noon Jan. 19 in Los Angeles.

Aggie Women Take Second in Virginia
Saturday, December 1, 2001

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va--The Texas A&M women's swimming team began the Cavalier Invitational in second place on Thursday and held that spot all the way to its conclusion at the UVA Aquatics and Fitness Center on Saturday night.

No. 15 Virginia proved to be quite the inhospitable host, defeating the Aggies 1,064 to 625. Richmond held off West Virginia 465.5 to 454 for the third place spot.

"We had a really good day today," said A&M head coach Steve Bultman. "Clara (Ho) continues to swim really well. Ashley Roark had a good meet. Courtney Patterson took home first in the 100-yard backstroke and second in the 200 this week. Sarah Yates swam well in the 100 and 200 free as well as in the 400 free relay tonight. I was very pleased."

All-American Clara Ho set a seasonal best for the second straight day, this time in the 200-yard butterfly. Ho's mark of 2:01.79 earned her second place and an NCAA provisional qualifying spot. Katy Lietzau was seventh in 2:06.12, while Alex Baldree set a seasonal best of 2:05.94 in winning the consolation final.

A trio of freshmen helped A&M snatch three of the top five spots in the 200-yard backstroke, its best individual event of the meet. Courtney Patterson turned in another remarkable performance with a seasonal-best second place swim of 2:04.65 in the 200-yard backstroke. Ashley Roark and Christina Thompson came in right behind Thompson for fourth and fifth in times of 2:05.61 and 2:05.85, respectively.

The Aggies grabbed two of the top seven spots in the 400-yard free relay, the last relay event of the meet. Freshmen Danielle Townsend, Roark and Sarah Yates teamed with Michelle Bird for fourth in a clocking of3:31.26. Patterson, Karri Tibball, Laura DeCook and Kelli Deavenport finished seventh in 3:34.67.

Freshman Tiffany Moore made yet another final, this time in the 1650-yard freestyle. Moore hit the wall sixth in a time of 17:12.39.

Townsend and Yates continued the maroon-and-white freshman assault with sixth and eighth place finishes in the 100-yard freestyle. Townsend finished in 52.31 while Yates was right behind at 52.66.

Freshman Kelsey Savage claimed fifth in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:23.94, while teammate Alex Baldree was 10th in 2:24.90.

Phelps Sets Meet Record in 400 IM at US Open
December 1, 2001
By Mary Wagner
(courtesy of USA Swimming)

EAST MEADOW, N.Y., Dec. 1. AFTER Michael Phelps had swum the 400m IM at the 2001 U.S. Open Friday night, he left a field of competitors and a meet record in
his wake.

Phelps, 16, the world record holder in the 200 fly, won the event with a time of 4:11.95, shattering the old meet record by one and a half seconds and outdistancing his closest competitor by two and a half body lengths.

It was his second win of the meet after finishing first in the 200m IM on Thursday night.

"I was a little tired from yesterday's races, so I thought I'd just go in today and give it everything I had, go all out and see what happened," Phelps said.
"I think I was pretty successful. I had a pretty good drop from this morning, about nine seconds, so I was pretty happy with that swim."

Phelps' swim was one of just a handful of victories for U.S. swimmers Friday. In the 200m free, Lindsay Benko out-touched Janelle Atkinson for the win with a time of 1:59.28. That avenged an earlier loss to Atkinson in the 400 free on Thursday.

"I tried to pace myself tonight because I knew that Janelle was going to go out fast," Benko said. Compared to last night's swim, I am more confident in
my 200 than my 400. I wasn't as tired tonight, and I did hold off a bit last night."

Then the U.S. swimmer took first in both the men's and women's 100m fly, with Mary DeScenza winning the women's title and Tom Malchow taking the men's.

DeScenza also won the 200m fly earlier in the week at the FINA World Cup Series meet. Her time in the 100 Friday was 59.21.

"It's great to win the 100, because it's one of my strongest events, but it was great to win the 200, too, because it shows I'm improving," DeScenza said.
"It definitely helped build up my confidence. All these meets are stepping stones to help me prepare for bigger meets."

Malchow came back from fourth place at the 50-meter mark to win with a time of 53.68.

"I'm used to the 200 fly, so it was a quick race for me," Malchow said. "I had to concentrate on the back half of my race because I knew if I went out too slow that the race would be over before I knew it.

"It was good competition, a solid group out there. I feel like I'm starting to step into the crowd of 100 fly swimmers. Since I've always been a 200 fly swimmer, I feel really good about that."

Hong Zhe Sun, a resident of Hawaii, won the 100m back with a time of 54.73. Sun is currently in the process of becoming an American citizen. He also won the 200m back Thursday night.

"Actually, coming in, I expected to be in the top three, but I wasn't looking to get first," Sun said.
"If I hit my turns, I knew I would improve my times.

"Tonight, even though I didn't hit every turn like I wanted, my stroke took care of that, and so did my finish. I was able to go a half a second faster than this morning, so I'm pretty happy with the way I've been swimming."

The U.S. Open will continue with its final night Saturday at the Nassau County Aquatics Center in East Meadow.

Phelps, Atkinson Impress at US Open, Kejzar Wins Two
December 1, 2001
By Mary Wagner
(Courtesy of USA Swimming)

EAST MEADOW, NY, Nov. 30. THE Americans had a solid showing on the first night of the U.S. Open at the
Nassau County Aquatic Center, with U.S. swimmers taking first place in five of the 10 events Thursday.

Michael Phelps, the world record holder in the 200m fly, kicked it all off with a win in the 200m IM. Phelps time of 1:59.07 was good enough to hold off a charge in the breaststroke from second place finisher George Bovell.

"I thought after the breast it would be a little tight, because that's where everyone seems to catch me," Phelps said. "But I didn't expect it to be that
close. My kick's pretty good, and once I lay my six-beat kick down in the freestyle, things go the way I want them to.

"I would have like to be a little faster, but for right now, that was pretty good."

Winning the men's 400m free was Robert Margalis, who took an early lead and held off Olympic silver medalist Chris Thompson in the final 100 meters of
the race. Margalis finished with a time of 3:49.27.

"I'm typically able to have a pretty good last 100," Margalis said. "That wasn't as fast as I planned, but I wasn't worried. "I swam better than this morning. The time was a little slow, and I would have liked to be a little faster, but I can't complain with a win, though."

American swimmers paced the field in both the men's and women's 100m breast. First, Olympic gold medalist Megan Quann held off Australia's Brooke Hanson and Japan's Masami Tanaka to take gold with a time of 1:07.40. Then, Ed Moses turned in a decisive win over the field in 1:00.26.

"I thought it was a really good race with a lot of competition," Quann said. "The U.S., Australia and Japan are all powerhouses, and all three were here
tonight. It was definitely a fun race."

Moses was also pleased with his performance. "Not bad," he said. "I went about the same as last night (at the FINA World Cup), and I had another hard workout this morning, so I'm pretty happy. It shows I'm swimming pretty consistent right now."

Christina Swindle won the 50m free in a time of 25.08. Swindle, who broke the national high school record in the 50y free last week was gunning for the meet record Thursday night but came up a little short.

"I've beaten both girls before, so I didn't feel like I had too much pressure tonight," Swindle said. "I was actually hoping to go under 25 tonight, and maybe get the meet record. Maybe next year."

In other highlights, Slovenia's Alenka Kejzar, a swimmer at SMU, was the only double event winner of the evening, taking first in the women's 200m IM
(2:13.10, a meet record) and the 200m back (2:09.01). Hong Zhe Sun, who now swims in Hawaii and will reportedly be applying for American citizenship,
won the men's 200m back with a time of 1:57.74.

Jamaica's Janelle Atkinson, a sophomore at the University of Florida, had a strong 400 free, winning in 4:05.39, four-and-a-half seconds ahead of US Olympian Lindsay Benko.

The SMU women's 800m free relay team of Lotta Wanberg, Flavi Rigamonti, McCall Dorr and Lisa Wanberg set a meet record with a time of 8:06.04.

BOWEN LEADS TIGERS IN TEXAS INVITATIONAL
December 1, 2001

AUSTIN, Texas ¯ Maggie Bowen has done it again for the Auburn swim team taking the top spot in the 400-yard individual medley with a new Texas Invitational record here Saturday night in a time of 4:09.86.
Bowen's time in the 400 IM currently leads all collegiate swimmers and was nearly two full seconds faster than the second place finisher. The junior captured the 200 IM event on Friday night as well, in which she also holds the top time in the country.
"Obviously tonight was featured by Maggie Bowen's swim," head coach David Marsh said. "She was just off her lifetime-best time and is substantially ahead of her pace from last season. She was racing against the best IMers in the country here tonight and she maintained her poise."
The Tigers started off the night with sixth place finishes for both the men's (Jon Karr, Pat Calhoun, Andy Haidinyak, Ryan Wochomurka) and women's (Jenni Anderson, Laura Swander, Demerae Christianson, Eileen Coparropa) teams in the 200 medley relay.
Junior James Galloway pulled out an impressive swim for the No. 4-ranked men's team with a second-place finish in the 400 IM with a time of 3:51.81. The Tigers continue their domination of the breaststroke events as three AU representatives earned a spot in the championship finals. Calhoun finished on top for Auburn at third (54.71), Mark Gangloff placed fourth (55.25), Justin Caron was sixth (55.93) and senior Eric vanGoethem finished 10th with a strong swim in the consolation finals (55.97).
"The men's breaststroke was the highlight on the men's side," Marsh said. "Between veteran Pat Calhoun's race and newcomer Will Brandt, we have five guys that are swimming at the NCAA level right now.
"James Galloway had his best in-season swim tonight in the 400 IM. He has always been the hardest worker on the team and it is really paying off for him this season."
In the 100 backstroke finals, senior Kirk Hampleman led Auburn with a fourth-place finish in a time of 48.75 and Bryce Hunt captured a seventh-place with the time of 49.14 ¯ both times good enough for a NCAA "B" cut qualifying time.
For the No. 3-ranked Auburn women's team, Swander earned top honors for Auburn in the 100 breaststroke finishing fifth with a time of 1:02.06, her best time of the season, while freshman Kelly Jones placed seventh for Auburn in a time of 1:03.21, also her fastest time this season.
Freshman Margaret Hoelzer swam to a fourth place finish in the consolation finals (12th overall) with a time of 56.46 which gives her a NCAA "B" cut qualifying time.
"In addition to Maggie's swim, Laura Swander and Kelly Jones swam well in the 100 breast with each earning their best times," Marsh said. "I was disappointed in our 200 free on the women's side and that is an area that we need to get stronger.
"Overall, this was a very good day. This is a meet that provides fabulous competition and it really helps us to get ready for championship competition."
The Auburn divers are continuing to impress at the Georgia Diving Invitational as freshman Matt Bricker led the Tigers with a second place finish in the 1-meter event (284.95) and Caesar Garcia taking seventh with a score of 267.45.
In other action, the Tigers have alumni representing Auburn at the US Open in Long Island, N.Y. Romain Barnier captured the 200-meter freestyle on Friday with a time of 1:45.47. Saturday night Barnier went back-to-back taking the 100 free with a time of 48.70. Dave Denniston, a 2001 Auburn senior finished 10th in the 200 breast with a time of 2:16.08.
Auburn will conclude both the Texas Invitational as well as the Georgia Diving Invitational Sunday evening.

Curacao Youngster Wins First Bonaire Eco-Swim
November 30, 2001

By Phillip Whitten

KRALENDIJK, Bonaire, Nov. 30. VINCENT Van Rutten, a 14 year-old distance ace from the neighboring island of Curacao, was the surprise winner of the first 5K Bonaire Eco-Swim.

The Eco-Swim was organized by Randy Nutt, (see www.randynutt.com for info on upcoming swims), who has organized open water swims on several Caribbean islands, and was sponsored by BONHATA, the Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Agency, and thevictor.com. Nutt said he "couldn't be happier" with the 54-swimmer turnout for this first open water swim on the Dutch island, a scuba diver's paradise.

Aside from the 5K race, there was a one-mile swim and 200 meter swims for Special Olympians and children.

The 5K race took place over a GPS-measured 5K course that took the swimmers from Captain Don's Habitat on Bonaire, south along the coast, west across the channel separating Bonaire from Klein Bonaire, north along the Klein Bonaire coast, and then back again. Conditions were ideal, though a very strong north-to-south current was a major factor in the race.

Van Rutten, a third form student at Vespucci College (a high school) and a member of the Curacao Sharks Swim Team, took the lead from 46 year-old Jimmy Welborn about 200 meters past the turn-around buoy, then fought off a strong challenge from former Western Kentucky star, Evan Welting, 27, of Loganville, Georgia. Van Rutten finished in one hour, 13 minutes even, while Welting was 16 seconds behind. Welborn finished third in 1:14:07.

Van Rutten said this was only his third opn water swim and his first at the 5K distance (two earlier swims were 2.5K each). Ï was surprised to win," he said, ëspecially after seeing all of those big guys. I didn't know I was ahead until I touched the buoy and someone told me. I thought there were several guys ahead of me."

Welting's big sister, Laureen, 36, assistant Masters coach at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, was the top female finisher, hitting the buoy at Captain Don's in 1:14:30. English Channel conqueror Gail Rice, 45, was the second fastest woman at 1:17:02.

Ïn a playful display of sibling rivalry, Welting, who was pushed a bit off course by the current, told her younger brother: "Ÿou know you would have been mine if I'd swum in a line."

In the one-mile event, two local swimmers from Bonaire took the top two spots. Pieter Zweers, 44, was the winner in 27:22, while Simone Sweers, 38, was second in 32:43.

Coughlin Breaks Another World Mark at World Cup
November 29, 2001

By Mary Wagner
(Courtesy of USA Swimming, with additional comments by Phil Whitten)

EAST MEADOW, N.Y., Nov. 29. THE final night of the 2001 FINA World Cup in East Meadow, N.Y., was a night of encores for a number of U.S. swimmers.

And Natalie Coughlin led the way by setting a world record in the 100m backstroke. Her time of 57.08 bettered the old mark by more than a second and came on the heels of a world record performance in the 200 back in last night's finals.

"I knew the 100 back was my strongest event," said Coughlin, who was named female performer of the meet.
"I just knew if I could do it in the 200, then I was pretty sure I could go after the world record in the 100. "It was just a matter of putting it together. I just went out like it was a 50 and brought it back home."

While the deck was abuzz with talk of another world record before her race, Coughlin didn't seem affected by the pressure of following up her performance from last night, and she wrapped up the meet by winning her
fourth event in the 50m fly, setting an American and U.S. Open record en route with a time of 25.83.

"I was pretty confident going into this," she said. "I felt really strong. I am just having fun, and that is getting me through this."

What started out as a slow night for the Americans actually shaped up pretty well as the night went on. Ed Moses kicked it all off for the U.S. with a win in the 100m breast (1:00.14), his second win of the meet after winning the 50 breast on Tuesday.

Moses holds the world, U.S. Open and American records in the event. Only the World Cup record eludes him, and he gave it a shot tonight.

"It's a second off my world record, so it might have been a lot to ask for tonight," Moses said. "I've got a good shot at it (at the World Cup meets in Europe), and maybe I can make a clean sweep of it there.

"But I've got three in-season bests at this meet, so I can't complain. I seem to be setting up the season well."

After winning the 100m back and the 100m IM Tuesday night, Neil Walker made another appearance on the gold medal podium by taking first in the 50m back Wednesday with a time of 24.42.

"I am really pleased with where I am in my training right now," Walker said. "When I set the world record (in the 50 back) in Athens last March, I was ready and rested, so tonight is a stepping stone for me to greater things."

Walker also won the 200 back in 1:56.38, just out-touching Brazil's Rogerio Romero by 3-hundredths. It was a touch 200 backstroke field including Josh Davis (fourth in 1:57.60), last summer's national champion, and Croatia's Gordan Kozulj (fifth in 1:57.90), co world-record-holder in the event.

Another repeat performer for the evening was Jason Lezak, who took first in the 50m free with a time of 21.86. He also won the 100m free on Day 1.

"I pretty much stuck my head down and dug down into every stroke," Lezak said. "Any time you can come in like this and swim against some of the best people in the world, it feels great."

Other Americans taking first in Wednesday night's events were Mary DeScenza in the 200m fly (2:08.24) and Chris Thompson in the 1500m free (14:50.52).

Martina Moracova also wrapped up a solid showing in East Meadow with a win in the 100m free (54.04), her fourth win of the meet. Later she added number five, taking the 100 IM in 1:01.28, with the USA's Amanda Beard second.

France's Romain Barnier, an Auburn grad, won the 200 free in 1:46.13, beating American record-holder Davis (1:46.76) and Scott Tucker (1:46.83).

Another Frenchman, Xavier Marchand, won the 200 IM (1:59.60) with 35 year-old Ron Karnaugh second (2:00.27).

Australia's Geoff Huegill breezed to victory in the 100 fly, clocking 51.64.

On the women's side, Costa Rica's Claudia Poll, 29, the world record-holder in the short course 400 free, won her event in 4:07.37, but had to battle a determined Rachel Komisarz, who touched in 4:07.92. Komisarz has been on fire ever since the World University Games, as she continues to lower her personal bests in a variety of events.

China's Luo Xuejuan, 17, set a World Cup record of 30.68 in the 50 breast, just nudging her 30.71 from last week, as she continues to inch towards Penny Heyns' world mark of 30.61.

Germany's Anne Poleska, aa sophomore at Alabama, won the 200 breast in 2;22.90, with Beard second in 2:24.56. France's Yvette Rodier, took the 400 IM (4:45.74).

Watch the USA Swimming World Cup on ESPN, December 21 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Check your TV guide for local listings.

Wednesday was the final night of the 2001 World Cup. Action continues at the Nassau County Aquatics Center Nov. 29-Dec. 1 with the U.S. Open.

AUBURN SWIMMING SIGNS SIX WOMEN DURING FALL PERIOD
November 28, 2001

AUBURN, Ala. The Auburn women's swimming program looks to be adding exceptional talent to its already strong arsenal as the Tigers sign six during the Fall signing period for the 2002-03 season.
"I am thrilled about the talent and the attitude our six newest Auburn Tigers bring to the pool," associate head women's coach Kim Brackin said. "Every one of these young women have expressed a desire to win a championship and all of them are capable. Our priority this year wasn't to fill holes, but to build on our strengths. These six swimmers will add muscle to an already extremely capable team. During their freshman year they will certainly have the opportunity for a title, competing for it in our home pool should only add fuel to their fire."
For the women, Andover, Mass., native Sally Brown will compete in the freestyle and individual medley events for the Tigers. Brown is a 2000 Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 free and 200 IM and is a High School All-American in the 200 free. Brown comes to Auburn as a member of the Merrimack Valley Pirates, who are coached by Mike Spring.
"One look at Sally and the word 'athlete' jumps to mind," Brackin said. "She is going to be fun to challenge in training and rewarding to watch compete. Sally has talent ¯ lots of it. Given her training environment she will be put in, I expect some immediate improvements in all her events. Her energetic personality and ambitious attitude won over the staff and team instantly."
In long course meters, the High School All-Scholastic earned her career times in the 100 free at 57.90, 200 free at 2:04.40, 400 free at 4:22.80, 200 IM at 2:20.80 and the 400 IM at 4:58.70. Brown chose Auburn over Florida, Georgia and Clemson.
"I knew that the atmosphere, the intensity and the program would take my swimming to where I want it to be," Brown said. "I feel that the academic program at Auburn will allow me to develop and take on a career that I enjoy and I feel that I will get enough support to do that. Last, but not least, I absolutely fell in love with all the people at Auburn."
The Tigers' second signee is Lauren Duerk of Defiance, Ohio. The Florida High School State Champion in the 100 breaststroke was also named the Florida Short Course Swimmer of the Year in 2000. Duerk was an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 200 breast and the 400 IM and was a member of the Florida All-Star team. Duerk is a member of the Bolles Sharks which is coached by Larry Shofe.
"Lauren fits our profile of a hugely successful swimmer: strong aerobic background and the youngest child of six," Brackin said. "Thanks to her brothers and sisters, she is competitive and tenacious in everything she does. We look to Lauren to continue to excel in the classroom as well as confidently step into one of the strongest IM groups in the country. She will certainly elevate the racing atmosphere of the group."
The US Swimming All-American has earned NISCA Scholastic All-America honors and is a member of Who's Who in American High School students. Duerk chose Auburn over Florida and Virginia and has recorded times of 1:02.73 in the 100-yard breast, 2:17.37 in the 200 breast, 2:02.98 in the 200 IM and 4:22.92 in the 400 IM.
"I chose Auburn because I got along with the team very well," Duerk said. "The Auburn women's team had certain characteristics that I admired and I feel that I will fit in well with the rest of the team. I was also impressed with the coaches and their training methods as well as the team's accomplishments."
Incoming freshman Leslie Lunsmann comes to Auburn from Houston, Texas, as a 2001 National Junior Team member and Goodwill Games team member in 2001. Lunsmann earned a silver medal in the Goodwill Games and finished second in the 400 IM and third in the 200 IM at the 2001 Summer US Nationals meet. She is a member of The Fleet coached by Clayton Clagle and joins Fleet teammate James Galloway on The Plains.
"(Auburn assistant) Coach Crocker had the opportunity to coach Leslie at the National Distance Camp and he came back raving," Brackin said. "Leslie will make a significant contribution to the program from day one. Because she is from Clagle's program, you know she has had an outstanding developmental background. Her breakthrough swims this summer gave her the opportunity for valuable international racing experience. Leslie will come to Auburn hungry to learn from and race with some of the top IMers in the Nation. We can't wait to add her to the mix."
Lunsmann, a Scholastic All-American chose Auburn over Texas and Georgia and earned times of 2:16.17 in the 200-meter IM, 4:47.28 in the 400 IM, 2:33.01 in the 200 breast and 2:03.77 in the 200 free.
"The atmosphere and intensity of the team here was amazing," Lunsmann said. "Everyone seemed focused on the same goal. Auburn has an excellent coaching staff and the team members are awesome. It just felt like home."
Jeri Moss, a native of Riverside, Calif., comes to Auburn as the 1997 Junior National Champion in the 200 back and an Olympic Trials qualifier in the 100 and 200 back. Moss is a two-time All-American in the 100 back and the 200 fly and was recruited by UCLA, Arizona and Cal Berkeley. She is currently a member of the Irvine Novas and coached by Dave Salo.
"When Jeri talks swimming, you hear her excitement bubbling over," Brackin said. "I love the fact that she chose Auburn because she wanted to put herself in the most challenging environment. We are confident she will add valuable depth to an already impressive backstroke group. Factor in her attitude and we could see her leading that event in a season or two."
Moss has had impressive swims in the 100 back (56.60), the 200 back (2:01.08), the 100 fly (57.00) and in long course meters the 100 back (1:03.90) and the 200 back (2:18.91).
"I chose Auburn because I knew that this was the program that would bring out all of my potential and it would give me all the opportunity for success in the world," Moss said. "It is an amazing program with motivated people who want to be great."
Auburn is thrilled to add a second Irvine Nova swimmer to their roster in Erin Volcan of Anaheim, Calif. Volcan comes to The Plains as a school record holder in every event but the 100 breast. She was a 1999 Junior National Champion in the 200-meter free and was the runner-up for high point at the same meet. The Scholastic All-American finished third in the 200 back at the 2000 US Open and qualified fourth for the finals in the 200-meter back. Volcan is also coached by Dave Salo.
Volcan was a member of the Venezuelan National Team from 1997-2001, was the 2000 South American Champion in the 200-meter back in Argentina and is the National Champion and record holder in Venezuela in that event.
"A number of collegiate coaches looked at Erin solely as a backstroker, but I predict there is a lot more versatility to be developed," Brackin said. "She will join a strong group of primary backstrokers to train and race with, but both she and I are excited to have her in our talented group of IMers. Of course she will also add depth to our middle distance free. Erin has had some impressive international experience competing for her father's home country of Venezuela. Those experiences should provide poise and give her a competitive edge. While she has proudly represented Venezuela, we look to help Erin make her first USA National Team."
"I chose Auburn because I loved the school spirit, team camaraderie and it felt like the best place for me," Volcan said.
Auburn signed prize Alabama prize recruit Amy Wheatley of Montgomery, who comes to swim for the Tigers with an impressive resume. Wheatley is a seven-time YMCA National All-American, a three-time Alabama High School State Champion and a state record holder. She finished 17th at the US Summer Nationals meet in the 200 breaststroke winning the C final with a time of 2:33.95.
The National Honor Society member was an Olympic Trials and Senior Nationals qualifier in the 100 and 200 breast and was a member of the National Select Team. Wheatley is currently being coached by Auburn alumni Chris Snyder as a member of the Montgomery YMCA. She will join her sister, Lyndsey, who will be a junior at Auburn when Amy arrives on campus next fall.
"It is continually a priority to keep Alabama's best swimmers in the state ¯ at Auburn!" Brackin said. "Amy will likely follow in the footsteps of other Alabama natives who have flourished within our program. Amy's athleticism, strength and intuitive racing are some of the stellar qualities that attracted us to her. I think a lot of coaches missed out on a real find. Academically, athletically and spiritually she fits into the Auburn family perfectly."
Wheatley holds times of 2:33.95 in the 200-meter breast, 1:12.11 in the 100 breast and chose Auburn over Georgia, Tennessee and Clemson.
"I chose Auburn for its Christian attitude and the team spirit of the coaches and the team," Wheatley said.
"I am really looking forward to the arrival of our six women to campus next Fall," head coach David Marsh said. "From their enthusiastic attitude to academics to their swimming ability and their lives in general, this is going to be a group that will reach to new heights during their Auburn career."

Irish land three top swimmers to strengthen the push for a BIG EAST title
November 28, 2001

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -- (11-28-01) University of Notre Dame men's head swimming coach Tim Welsh has announced the signing of three incoming freshman for the 2002-03 school year. Patrick Heffernan (Norcross, Ga.), Jamie Lutkus (Granger, Ind.)and Stephen Shomberger (Spotsylvania, Vir.) have signed national letters of intent to enroll at Notre Dame next year and join the Irish swimming and diving team.

"When you look at the trio, they are from different parts of the country, which really expands our national base," Welsh says.

"All three members of this class will be major players in our push for a BIG EAST title and the overall effort to upgrade the program."

Heffernan attends Norcross High School and was a member of the Swim Atlanta club team. His 200 butterfly time from the 2000 season qualified him for the U.S. Junior Nationals and he boasts butterfly times (100 - 51.70, 200 - 1:53.01) that would qualify for this year's BIG EAST Championship meet.

"Patrick gives us immediate help in the 200 butterfly, where we are thin, and that will help us in the BIG EAST Championship picture," Welsh says.

Lutkus will give the Irish a local presence after a standout career at nearby Penn High School. He also swam for the Irish Aquatics club team. Lutkus posted U.S. Open qualifying times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke and the 200 and 400 individual medleys. His 200-yard breaststroke time of 2:05.99 ranked 15th in the nation for 15-16 year-olds in 2001, while his 400-yard IM time (4:00.03) was 11th.

"Jamie will be a major contributor to our program from the very beginning," Welsh says.

"We had hoped that, as we upgrade the program, we could start with an outstanding local athlete. Jamie certainly fills that category."

Shomberger will graduate from Courtland High School and swam for the Curl-Burke Swim Club during his prep career. He boasts U.S. Open qualifying times in the 100 (51.45) and 200 backstroke (1:48.92). He also won the 2001 Spring Sectional title in the 200 back and his 1:48.92 time ranked sixth in the nation for 15-16 year-olds in 2001.

"Stephen's backstroke is, at this point, ranked the highest of anyone that has entered our program," Welsh says.

"We are really excited about what he will bring to our program. Together with Patrick and Jamie, Stephen is going to help define what this program will be over the next four years."

Coughlin Smashes 200m Backstroke World Record at FINA World Cup
November 28, 2001

By Mary Wagner
(courtesy USA Swimming, with additional comments by Phil Whitten)

EAST MEADOW, New York, Nov. 27. Natalie Coughlin capped off a big night for the U.S. swimmers at the FINA World Cup in East Meadow, N.Y., breaking the world record in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:03.62.

The old mark was 2:04.44, set in August by Britain's Sarah Price at the Australian Short Course Nationals in Perth.

Coughlin also won the 50 back earlier in the
evening with a time of 27.29, a World Cup Series record.

"It was a big surprise," Coughlin said of her first world record in any event. "I just tried to focus on my underwater kick because that's my strongest point. When I looked up and saw that time, I was shocked.

"I've missed a couple world records by the narrowest of margins, so this is huge. I kind of wished the 100 back would have been my first one, but I'll take them any way I can get them."

American swimmers welcomed the world to the meet by taking 1-2-3 in the first event, the 100m freestyle.
Jason Lezak won the event with a time of 47.67, followed by fellow National Team members Scott Tucker (48.37) and Neil Walker (48.46).

"Looking at the whole field, it was an exciting, fast field with lots of great competition, and I love to get up and race against anybody," Lezak said. "Coming out of Lane 1 was good, because I breathe to the right, and I could see I was in the lead, and I just tried to hold on as much as I could.

"I felt pretty good going out at the 50, but I could tell I started to fade a little bit, but I guess the rest of the field must have faded with me."

But the Americans weren't done there. Two events later, Ed Moses won the 50m breast with a time of 27.53. Moses narrowly qualified for the finals by
tying for seventh in the prelims earlier that morning.

"I'd done a hard workout this morning, and I was pretty fatigued," Moses said. "But the key in the morning is just to make it back at night, and I got a lane, and I got the job done."

Other Americans winning gold Tuesday night were Walker in the 100m backstroke (52.71) and the 100 IM (54.22), Amanda Beard in the 200 IM (2:12.14), and Josh Davis in the 400m free (3:46.05).

American swimmers were by no means the entire story in East Meadow this evening. In other highlights, Matina Moracova of Slovakia took first in three events - the 200m free (1:55.41) 100m fly (57.43) and the 50m free (25.14). Her time in the 200 free was a World Cup record.

China's Chen Hua ran away with the women's 800 meter freestyle, touching in 8:18.50. Her teammate, double world champion Luo Xuejuan, took the 100m breast in 1:05.78

On the men's side, Aussie Jim Piper beat Moses to the wall in the 200 breast (2:09.58), while his teammate, double world champ Geoff Huegill, took the 50 fly (23.16).

Thirty year-old Franck Esposito of France breezed to a two-second win in the 200 fly (1:54.02), while 16 year-old Tobia1s Oriwol of Canada won the 400 IM in 4:16.64, beating swimming's venerable old man, Ron Karnaugh (4:18.09). Karnaugh was also third in the 100 IM.

The meet in will run through Nov. 28 at the Nassau County Aquatic Center in East Meadow. It is the only U.S. stop in the nine-meet World Cup Series.

Watch the USA Swimming World Cup on ESPN, December 21 at 3 p.m. EST. Check your TV guide for local listings.

Texas Women's Swimming Signs Seven
November 28, 2001

Co-head coaches Jill Sterkel and Mike Walker sign seven prospects for 2002-03 season

AUSTIN, Texas - The University of Texas women's swimming co-head coaches Jill Sterkel and Mike Walker announced Tuesday the signing of seven student-athletes to a National Letter of Intent for the 2002-03 academic year. Joining the Longhorns next year will be Jaclyn Faulkner (New Orleans, La./St. Mary's Dominican), Amanda Larence (Nashville, Tenn./Harpeth Hall), Meghan Peart (Green Lane, Pa./Germantown Academy), Jennifer Robbins (Atlanta, Ga./North Springs), Celeste Rogers (San Antonio, Texas/Alamo Heights), Kristin Siminski (Portage, Ind./Portage) and Erin Wehrmann (Fort Worth, Texas/Southwest).

"I am very pleased with the group of women that we have coming in," Sterkel said. "I think that we have a solid group and their strength is in the size of the class, along with the overall talent across the board. It is going to be really exciting to work with these athletes and watch their improvement over the years to come."

"This class has the rare combination of not only great athletic ability, but also personality, diversity and exceptional academic success," Walker said. "The moment they step on campus, they will bring us depth in all areas of the pool. This class truly represents the kind of well-rounded student-athletes that we are always looking for at The University of Texas."

A 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials participant, Faulkner has earned All-America honors for three consecutive years by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) in the 50, 100 and 200-yard freestyle, as well as the 200 and 400 free relay. The 1999 NISCA Louisiana Swimmer of the Year, Faulkner has led St. Mary's Dominican High to three straight undefeated seasons (1999-01), winning every dual, district and state meet. Faulkner also won the 2001 Louisiana State Championship in the 50 free (23.51), 100 free (51.07) and 100 butterfly (57.50).

Larence, who also competed at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, was a 2001 Girls Independent High School Association All-American in the 400 freestyle relay, while also earning 2000 All-America honors in the 200 IM and 200 medley relay (honorable mention). Larence is the Tennessee Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (TISCA) state record-holder in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.10).

Peart, a three-time letterwinner at Germantown Academy, has been named the Most Outstanding Swimmer for three consecutive years (1999-2001) at the Eastern Prep School Swimming Championships, following first-place performances in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free relay and 400 free relay all three years. A 1998 U.S. Senior Nationals participant, Peart has helped Germantown Academy to three straight Interacademic League titles, as well as the 1999 Eastern Prep School Championship.

Robbins was named a 2001 high school honorable mention All-American following her performance at the Georgia state championship meet where she captured wins in both the 50 and the 100-yard freestyle. An honor roll student, she also was named a 2001 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, while also garnering Georgia All-State accolades in 2000 and 2001.

Rogers is a three-time letterwinner at Alamo Heights High, where she was named a 2001 All-American and a 2000 honorable mention All-American in the 200 and 500 freestyle. The 2001 4A Texas State Champion in the 500 free and the 2000 Texas 4A State Champion in the 200 free and 200 free relay, Rogers most recently competed nationally at the 2001 U.S. Senior Nationals.

Siminski was named as a high school All-American in 2001 in the 100 free, 200 free and 100 butterfly. She was also a 1999 high school All-American in the 200 medley relay. Siminski swam at the 1999 and 2000 U.S. Junior Nationals, 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials and 2001 U.S. Senior Nationals. A three-time All-Conference performer, Siminski was named All-State in the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle in 2000.

A two-time all-state selection (2000, 2001), Wehrmann is the 2001 Texas 4A State Champion and record holder in the 200 IM. A product of Southwest High School in Fort Worth, Wehrmann helped her team to a 2001 district title and has been honored as an all-district and all-area selection for three consecutive years (1999-01). She currently holds four Fort Worth ISD records and all but one of Southwest's school records.

Check www.TexasSports.com for the latest Texas women's swimming and diving news.

Benko Wins Another Swimming Gold
November 18, 2001

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — Lindsay Benko of the United States won her third gold medal at the FINA World Cup, capturing the 400-meter freestyle Sunday.

Americans Diana MacManus and Michael Gilliam also won gold medals, MacManus won the women's 100-meter backstroke in 1:00.76, while Gilliam won the men's 50-meter backstroke in 24.64.

Benko won in 4 minutes, 7.84 seconds, and also earned the silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle. On Saturday, she picked up golds in the 200 freestyle and 200 backstroke.

Benko was part of the winning 800-meter freestyle relay team at the Sydney Olympics and is the U.S. national champion in the 200 freestyle.

Sweden's Johanna Sjoberg added two gold medals Sunday to the two she won the day before. Sjoberg won the 100 freestyle in 54.26 and the 50 butterfly in 26.68. She won the 100 butterfly and the 50 freestyle Saturday.

The two-day competition took place in the shadow the famed Maracana soccer stadium.

Florida Sweeps Florida State; Atkinson Clocks 9:34 1000 yard Free
November 16, 2001

Nov. 16. THE No. 8 Florida women's swimming and diving team moved to a 31-0 all-time mark over No. 25 Florida State as they defeated the Seminoles 172-120 at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center Natatorium Friday, Nov. 16.

The No. 11 men's team also took out the 'Noles without difficulty, 169-119.

The Lady Gators won 26 top-three finishes en route to their eighth win of the season and a still unblemished season. Sophomore Janelle Atkinson (Jamaica) scored one of the biggest wins of the night in the 1000-yard freestyle taking the event by more than 38 seconds in an eye-popping 9:34.85.

The Lady Gators had nine events in which they scored at least a one-two punch in taking first and second places. The 200-yard freestyle was just such an event, with junior Diane Tennison (Lafayette, La.) taking the gold (1:51.24). Following Tennison was junior Anna Chapman (St. Simons Island, Ga.) in second (1:51.37) and sophomore Sara McLarty (DeLand, Fla.) in third (1:51.75).

The men's team mirrored the women's with 26 top-three finishes. Their first win came from the diving team in freshman Zach Wilcox (Yarrow Point, Wash.) who took the one-meter springboard event (306.08). The men's biggest victory also came in the 1000-yd. free as they took all four of the top spots. Freshman Jan Wolfgarten (Frankfurt, Germany) won the event (9:34.22) over junior Matt Yacco (Fairfield, Conn.) (9:34.32). Taking third was freshman Scott Kaufmann (Sparks, Nev.) (9:35.92) followed by freshman Steve Friedlander (Coral Springs, Fla.) (9:40.68), whose score was exhibitioned.

"It was a strong team effort all the way around," head coach Gregg Troy said. "It was a good meet for the team. They have been a little frustrated with their performances these last couple of weeks and they finally stepped up and raced real well. We had one really amazing swim in the 1000 freestyle finish of Janelle's [Atkinson]. If she continues on that pace, she can beat the school record in the 1650-yard freestyle."

The Gators will now take a break until Nov. 29 when they travel to Long Island, N.Y. for the U.S. Open. The tournament will last through Dec. 2 which will be followed by a month long break for both teams. They return home on Saturday, Jan. 5 when they take on Penn State for the first time in school history at 1 p.m.

BYU Skips By San Diego State
November 16, 2001

PROVO, Utah, November 16. THE BYU women's swimming and diving team easily won against San Diego State 150-91, Friday. This marks the first dual meet ever between the two teams. The Cougars won eight of 13 events and are now 3-0 on the season in dual meet action.

There was no men's meet, as San Diego State does not have a men's team.

All-American Cortnee Adams led the way once again with a win the 50 free, posting a time of 23.68, tops in the Mountain West Conference so far this season. Adams was also the anchor for both winning relay teams in the 400-medley and 400 free.

Sophomore Tamber Covington won two events including the 400 I.M. and 200 breast. Heidi Leitz won the 100 free, competing in the event for the first time this season. Freshman Nichole Burrows competed very well finishing second to MWC Swimming of the Week Meghan Casillan in the 200 back.

"First off, I thought that San Diego State swam very well and have some nice athletes," said head coach Stan Crump. "Tonight we swam better in the backstroke and the breaststroke was competitive as usual."

Kelli Einfeldt once again led the divers, winning both the 1-meter and 3-meter events. Sophomore Rachelle Routsong dove well, posting second place finishes in both events behind her teammate.

BYU switched up some events and rested some key swimmers for their meet tomorrow against Pacific which will start at 1 p.m. in the Richards Building pool. The meet will mark the first dual meet between the universities, and both the men's and women's will compete.

Tar Heels Lead NIKE Cup After First Day
November 16, 2001

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Nov. 15. NORTH Carolina leads after the first day of the 2001 Nike Cup Swimming and Diving Championships at the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium.

The Tar Heel women lead with 296 points, followed by LSU with 247 points and Virginia Tech in third with 207 points. Carolina leads the men's competition with 312 points with LSU second with 246 and Virginia Tech in third with 199.

Carolina's men won all three individual swimming event titles on Thursday night with sophomore Yuri Suguiyama winning the 500-yard freestyle, senior Chris Helin capturing the 200-yard individual medley and senior Kevin Erndl taking top honors in the 50-yard freestyle.

UNC's women won the 200-yard freestyle relay championship and individual wins were captured by senior Katie Hathaway in the 200-yard individual medley and sophomore Jessi Perruquet in the 50-yard freestyle.

LSU's men's team won the 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard medley relay titles while Virginia Tech took top honors in the 400-yard medley relay for women.

Kentucky's Chrissy Miller won the 500-yard freestyle for women.

LSU captured both diving titles contested on Thursday with Jessica Wantz winning the women's three-meter diving and Kyle Vanarsdall winning the men's one-meter diving.

Competition continues at UNC's Koury Natatorium with session three beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday.

DU=Duke; UK=Kentucky; KC=Kenyon College; UNC=North Carolina; VT=Virginia
Tech; ECU=East Carolina ; SU=Syracuse; LSU=Louisiana State

MEN'S TEAM SCORES:
1. NORTH CAROLINA 312
2. LSU 226
3. VIRGINIA TECH 199
4. KENTUCKY 175
5. EAST CAROLINA 124
6. DUKE 77
7. KENYON 66
8. SYRACUSE 4.

Stanford Strikes it Rich, Signs Four Top Swimmers; Texas Signs Top Diver
November 14, 2001

STANFORD, Calif., Nov. 14. THE rich keep getting richer! The Stanford women's swimming and diving program has announced the signing of four student-athletes to national letters of intent to attend Stanford in 2002-2003. Texas signed one of the nation's top high school diver.

The four incoming swimmers are Kristen Caverly (San Clemente, CA/San Clemente HS), Laura Davis (Concord, CA/Clayton Valley HS), Carly Geehr (Newport Beach, CA/Newport Harbor HS) and Anna Strohl (Cleveland, OH/Hawken HS).

"On paper, this is one of our best classes during my tenure at Stanford," said head coach Richard Quick. "When you sign two national champions, that is a pretty good accomplishment. We feel great about this class and where they're going to take Stanford swimming in the future."

Caverly is a three-time national champion with a pair of victories in the 200 meter IM (1999, 2001) and one in the 200 meter breast (2001). She currently ranks among the world's best in the final 2001 world rankings in the 400 meter IM (8th), 200 meter IM (15th), 200 meter breast (21st), 100 meter breast (58th) and 200 meter back (93rd). Caverly was a member of the 2001 U.S. National "A" Team and finished second in both the 200 meter breast and 400 meter IM at the 2001 Goodwill Games. She was also fourth in the 200 meter breast at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.

"Kristen is a world class swimmer who is on an amazing improvement curve," said Stanford head women's swimming coach Richard Quick. "She competes at an elite level in a number of events, and we are more than pleased she will be representing Stanford."

Davis won a national title in the 200 meter IM in 1999 and has a wealth of international swimming experience. She finished second in the 200 meter breast, 100 meter fly and 400 meter IM at World Cup 1 in 2000. She also finished fifth in the 200 meter IM at the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials. As a prep junior, Davis won national public high school championships in both the 200 yard IM and the 100 yard fly.

"Laura is one of the most versatile swimmers in the nation," said Quick. "She will play a significant role for our team the next four years. She brings a great deal of international experience, an outstanding work ethic and great energy to a team situation."

Geehr won a Junior National title in the 200 meter breast in 1997 at the age of 12 years old and holds several age group records. She also had a big World Cup 5 meet in 2000, finishing fourth in the 400 meter IM, as well as fifth in the 200 meter IM and 200 meter breast.

"We feel that Carly is one of the most talented swimmers in this class," stated Quick. "We look for her to fully recover from injuries that have hampered her the last two years and return to world class form. Carly could be the real find of this class."

Strohl won a Junior National title in the 500 yard free in 1998.

"Anna brings a lot to the table," said Quick. "She has the ability to swim a lot of events, in addition to having a great attitude, work ethic and strong club background. We look for Anna to quickly return to the national and international scene."

Stanford is currently the top-ranked collegiate women's swimming and diving team in the nation. The 2001-2002 team won all three of its dual meets this fall, including victories over defending national champion Georgia and perennial national power Texas. Last year, the Cardinal finished second at the 2001 NCAA Women's Swimming and Diving Championships. Stanford won six NCAA titles during the 1990's.

University of Texas women's diving head coach Matt Scoggin announced Wednesday the signing of Melanie Panek (Houston, Texas/Houston Learning Academy) to a National Letter of Intent for the upcoming 2002-03 academic year.

Panek finished second on the one-meter springboard at the 2001 U.S. Indoor Nationals in April and won the platform competition at the 1999 U.S. Junior Nationals. Most recently, Panek was a member of the 2001 U.S. Goodwill Games which competed this past summer in Brisbane, Australia.

"Melanie is an extremely talented and strong diver who will immediately have a strong impact on our springboard events," Scoggin said. "She also will be asked to compete for UT on the platform where she will be a huge asset for us. We are very excited to have Melanie join our program."

Michigan State Sweeps Toledo
November 14, 2001

TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 14. THE Michigan State men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept another Mid-American Conference team Tuesday at the University of Toledo. The Spartan women won 192-108, while the men escaped with a six-point victory, 153-147.

Working on a three meet win streak, the women won 13 events to defeat Toledo 192-108. The 200 yard medley relay team, consisting of junior Kathryn Duncombe (Erie, Pa.), freshman Jessica Henning (Sandusky, Ohio), junior Heather Wellings (Simpsonville, S.C.), and freshman Alicia Copestick (East Liverpool, Ohio), set a new pool record by .67 seconds, touching in 1:48.55.

Copestick contributed to another relay win with the 400-yard free relay (3:35.11) as well as winning two individual events, the 50-yard free (24.51) and the 100-yard free (53.39).

Senior Ildiko Szekely (Budapest, Hungary) also guided the Spartans, winning the 100-yard butterfly (57.40) and the 200 fly (2:05.00).

Senior Carly Weiden (Kentwood, Mich.) swept both women's 1-meter and 3-meter boards.

On the men's side, senior Aaron Mahaney (Easton, Pa.) captured first in the 200-yard fly (1:55.34) as well as third in the 1000-yard freestyle (9:39.73).

Junior Dave Sloan (Pittsburgh, Pa.) took first in the 100-yard (59.69) breaststroke and third in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:11.67) and 200-yard individual medley (1:57.95).

Freshman Justin Laskowski (Bay City, Mich.) took first in the men's 1-meter dive.

Head coach Jim Lutz remarked, "The women swam well throughout the meet. Toledo had a really strong men's team, but we came back and won it in the end."

Florida = FAST!
November 13, 2001
By Josh Jeffrey
NOV. 13. FLORIDA'S high school swimmers issued a challenge to the rest of the country last weekend with fast times at the Florida district qualifying meets. Though many swimmers did not taper for these in lieu of next weekend's state meets, there was no dearth of swift swimming.

In District 1A, The Bolles School Sharks blanketed finals, usually taking the top two or three spots in every event, but the real noise was made further south by one Christina Swindle of Miami Gulliver Prep. The youngster showed just why she is being touted by some as the next great American sprinter, posting times of 22.96 and 50.11 in the 50 and 100 freestyles. As a sophomore last season, Swindle broke state and national high school records with times of 22.62 and 49.33, and was named Swimming World's female "High School Swimmer of the Year."

She'll have no easy time of claiming fastest female in Florida this year though, with sophomore Rhiannon Jeffrey of Delray Beach's Atlantic High hot on her heels. The fast-rising speedster posted a 23.27 in the 50 free, faster than the 23.35 she posted to win the 3A state title last year. Jeffrey, who now swims in 2A, also won the 100 in a time of 51.65, not quite as fast as the 50.35 she swam in winning states last year, but she'll certainly have a chance to improve on that this weekend.

Also impressive in District 2A were St. Thomas swimmers Victoria Genova, Vladislav Polyakov, and Bryan Goldberg. Goldberg picked up a double in the 200 and 500 free with times of 46.23 and 1:40.02 respectively, while Genova won the 100 fly in a fast 56.32. Polyakov took the district title in the 100 breast in a quick 56.52, a full second faster than he swam last year in winning the state title, and plenty of reason to believe the 13 year-old state record of 55.56 is definitely under fire.

In District 3A, Clearwater's Stephanie Margalis, kid sister of World Championship team member Robert Margalis, took the 200 free in 1:51.57, the fastest time in the state this season. Spruce Creek's Ryan Lochte took the 200 and 500 free titles in 1:40.15 and 4:32.30, and Sarasota's Annie Babicz posted wins in both the 100 fly and 100 breast. Babicz, last year's state champion in both events, posted impressive times of 56.70, and 1:03.21, the latter over a second faster than her state winning time in 2000. This week, Annie may be trying to pull a 'Tori', as in Tori DeSilva, who set the current state records in both events at the 1989 meet with times of 55.11 and 1:02.35.

The waters heat up again this weekend in Fort Lauderdale, which will host the state meets for 1A through 3A successively from Thursday through Saturday.

Will Christina Swindle rebreak her national records? Will they be rebroken the following day when Jeffrey swims? Can Babicz and Polyakov take down some of the oldest state marks on the books? Does anyone have the depth or talent to stop the Bolles juggernaut?

Stay tuned!

LARAMIE, Wyoming, Nov. 12. THE University of Wyoming's men's and women's swimming and diving teams experienced tremendous success against the University of Denver Pioneers on Saturday. The Cowboys outscored the Pioneers 145-96 and the Cowgirls won 164-78.

Women's Events
The women started the meet off by going 1-2-3 in the 1000-freestyle. Ashley Mallett, Kristin Lewis and Erin Hennings finished with the three top times, respectively.

Junior Allison Schmid won the 200 freestyle with her season best time (1:57.90). She also took the 500 freestyle (5.22:84).

Several Cowgirls contributed to the win over Denver, as seven different women finished with first place in various events. Sophomore Channing Kimball won the 1-meter diving competition with 201.23 points. Her teammates Lauren Colaric and Shea Boyle followed closely to round out the top three spots with 200.85 and 193.73 points, respectively. Colaric went on to win the 3-meter diving competition with 238.05 points.

Men's Events
Junior Damian Storz finished with his best time of the season in the 1000-freestyle, 9:47.60, giving him the victory. He also won the 200-butterfly with a 1:55.77 time and took second place in the 200-breaststroke.

Also contributing to the Cowboys' victory were Grant Kritzinger, Guy Fulfer, Per Malmberg and Jon McNeely, who all finished first in their respective events.

Senior Oscar Delgado continued his diving success over the weekend as he won both the 1-meter and 3-meter diving competitions for the fourth time this season.

The Cowgirls travel to Albuquerque, NM for a dual against the University of New Mexico Lobos on Nov. 17 at noon

STORRS, Conn., Nov. 11. THE University of Notre Dame men's swimming and diving team (4-2) split a pair of dual meets at Connecticut on Saturday afternoon, defeating the host team 184-115, but dropping its second dual meet of the season to Rutgers 160-139.

Senior co-captain Jonathan Pierce led the way for the Irish, winning three individual events and establishing himself as the distance freestyle specialist to beat at the 2002 BIG EAST Championship. Pierce began the meet with a victory in the 1,000 free (9:39.63), followed up with a victory in the 500 free (4:40.06) and completed the trifecta by touching the wall first in the 200 individual medley (1:55.91).

Notre Dame's Andy Maggio won the one-meter diving event (271.40 pts.) to post the fourth event victory for the Irish, while freshman Frank Krakowski ended up as the fifth Irish winner with a 51.90 first-place effort in the 100 butterfly.

Senior David Horak swam a solid meet for the Irish, earning three top-five finishes in the 100 backstroke (second), 200 backstroke (third) and 100 butterfly (second). Sophomore J.R. Teddy also posted multiple top-five finishes in the 200 butterfly (second) and 500
freestyle (second).

The Irish will return to action on Thursday, Nov. 15, at the Rolfs Aquatic Center against Western Ontario (7 p.m.).

COLUMBIA, S.C., Nov. 11. THE NO. 17 South Carolina men's swimming and diving team (4-1, 2-1) upset the No. 11 Florida Gators, 129-114, in dual meet action at the Carolina Natatorium, Saturday morning. The women's
swimming and diving team (3-2, 2-2) fell to the No. 8 Gators, 139-104 also in dual meet action.

Senior All-American Zsolt Gaspar, and sophomores Istvan Bathazi, Tamas Szucs each won two separate individualheats for USC.

"I'm pleased with the performances, and any time you can beat Florida, it is a great thing and a boost for the program," said Head Coach Don Gibb. "This will be a confidence builder heading into our meet with
Clemson. The team had some nice aggressive racing today, and we had really good fan support.

The men's team broke out to its first team lead with a victory in the 200 freestyle. Sophomore Tamas Szucs, junior Maciek Kajak and senior Javier Botello finished 1-2-3 for the Gamecocks. Szucs finished first with a time of 1:37.76. Gaspar earned first place in the 50
freestyle (20.13) and 200 butterfly (1:48.39). Sophomore Chris McCrary notched a top finish in the 100 freestyle with a time of 45.53.

In the diving portion of the event, senior Brandon Hulko won the one-meter diving competition with a score of 297.75. Hulko also earned a second place finish in the three-meter diving competition with a score of 315.60.

"Brandon looked very good on the one-meter board today and he did a good job overall," said USC Head Diving Coach Todd Sherritt. "(Freshman) Dean Emmerton had a good three-meter board and I think he will be someone to watch in the next couple years."

For the USC women's squad, sophomore Anna Nyiry won the 50 free (23.63) and freshman Heather Skaggs earned a first place finish in the 100 free (51.15). Also earning a first place finish for the Gamecocks was freshman Capi Adams in the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.73.

On the women's side, sophomore Holly Hodges won both the one-meter and three-meter diving competitions with scores of 275.33 and 265.05 respectively.

"Holly did a nice job on both boards and she is doing a good job with some of the things she is working on," said Coach Sherritt. "I would like to see her begin to dominate a little more and just edge out a win every night."

The Gamecocks will be back in action next Friday, Nov. 16 at the Carolina Natatorium for a 5 p.m. dual meet vs. in-state rival Clemson.

Texas A&M Defeats North Texas, 173-113
November 10, 2001

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Nov. 10. THE Texas A&M women's swimming and diving team rebounded from a tough loss at the University of Texas last night to defeat North Texas 173-113 in its home opener at the Student Rec Center Natatorium on Saturday.

The Aggies captured first place in 14 of 16 events, including both diving competitions. North Texas was awarded first place in two of the final three events as A&M did not score each of the final three races.

Three Aggies were double winners in the meet. Senior All-American Clara Ho took first in both the 100 freestyle and 200 butterfly while teammate Alex Baldree was golden in both the 100 breaststroke and 1000 freestyle.

Two-time All-American Meghan Zack continued her hot streak on the springboards by winning both the one- and three-meter competitions. Zack beat teammate Katie Williams 296.32 to 282.38 on the low board while earning a 305.85-281.33 win on the low board.

Freshman distance star Tiffany Moore captured first in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:55.12. Moore has won a race in all of A&M's four dual meets this season.

The Aggies opened the meet on fire by going one-two in the 400-yard medley relay. The underclassmen foursome of Christina Thompson, Kelsey Savage, Katy Lietzau and Danielle Townsend edged out senior Clara Ho and freshmen Courtney Patterson, Emily Semrau and Sarah Yates 4:00.49 to 4:01.14.

A&M continued its dominance with 1-2-3 finishes in the next two events. Baldree Laura Fry and Amy Allen turned the trick in the 1000 freestyle while Moore, Danielle Townsend and Kimarie Durso did so in the 200 freestyle.

The Aggies' most dominating event proved to be the 50 freestyle with maroon-and-white swimmers claiming each of the top five spots. Sophomores Michelle Bird and Carli Watts led the barrage of maroon in one of the sport's most glamourous events.

Not to be outdone, A&M swimmers earned each of the top five spots in the 500 freestyle, though only two of them counted in the team scoring. Senior Shannon Steel won the race in 5:10.57 while sophomore Kelli Deavenport was tops among scoring swimmers at 5:11.32.

With the win, the Aggies even their overall record at 2-2, and stay undefeated in non-conference action at 2-0.

Texas A&M will travel to Dallas to face Southern Methodist University on Friday in a dual meet scheduled for 2 p.m.

Cal & Virginia Dominate Rice Invitational
November 10, 2001

HOUSTON – California and Virginia overwhelmed the field, with the seventh-ranked Golden Bears taking five out of 14 out.

Washington junior Kim Harada (200 backstroke), Rice junior Mandy Mularz (100 free), and Missouri freshman Mariona Costa (200 breaststroke) were the only swimmers not on the top two teams to win individual titles. In the meet's final event, the teams swam an unusual 10x50 free relay, with Rice slipping past Cal to close out the competition.

A day after five pool records fell in the Continental Airlines Classic, two more records went down on Saturday. Cal's 200 medley relay team set a new pool mark of 1:45.11 in the meet's first event, and Golden Bear junior Natalie Coughlin posted a pool-record 53.65 in the 100 backstroke. Coughlin also won the 500 free and now holds six pool records at the Rice Pool.

Rice senior Katie Hermann swam a 24.60 to finish third in the 50 free, won by Cal's Danielle Becks, while sophomore Jackie Corcoran, Hermann, and senior Rachel Armstrong finished 3-4-5 in the 200 free behind winner Megan Roesch of Virginia.

The Owls next travel to Austin for the Texas Invitational Dec. 1-2.

California takes Continental Airlines Classic
November 9, 2001

HOUSTON – California won six of 11 events to take the title at the second annual Continental Airlines Classic, finishing with 227 points Friday in a meet that saw four meet and pool records fall at the Rice Pool.

Virginia won three events to finish second with 195 points, while Rice nabbed one event and three second-place finishes to end up in third place with 178 points. Washington (172), Missouri (172) and Penn State (155) rounded out the field.

California started strong with a meet and pool record-setting 3:44.67 in the 400-medley relay. Then Virginia junior Mirjana Bosevska ran away with the 1000-yard freestyle; her meet and pool-record 9:53.75 was the first of two victories on the night, along with the 500 free (4:54.41).

Washington freshman Hannah Jo set the night's third meet and pool record, winning the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:22.76.

Rice junior Mandy Mularz won the 100 freestyle in 51.41 and swam a season-best 23.04 in the 50 free to place second behind 2001 NCAA Swimmer of the Year Natalie Coughlin of California, who set the meet's final pool record with a time of 22.90. Mularz also swam in the 400 freestyle relay that finished second to the Golden Bears to clinch third place for Rice.

Rice freshman Lauren Hill added a second-place finish in the 200 breaststroke, notching the second-best time ever (2:17.94) for an Owl for the second straight week.

The same six squads will go at it again tomorrow, with the Rice Invitational beginning at 10 a.m.

Duke Kahanomoku Postage Stamp to be Released
November 8, 2001

Don Gallagher, Volunteer from the Surfrider Foundation, reports that the US Postal Service will soon release a commemorative Duke Kahanomoku postage stamp. Don has been campaigning for a Duke stamp for over 20 years, and finally, it will be released in August of 2002!

This stamp will honor Hawaiian swimmer, surfer and Olympic Games gold medalist Duke Kahanomoku, who was renowned not only for his athletic prowess but also for his grace, humility and good sportsmanship. He is widely considered to be the father of modern surfing, and for much of his life he served as a living symbol of Hawaiian hospitality and goodwill to the rest of the world. The portrait on the stamp, an oil painting by Michael J. Deas, is based on a 1918 photograph from the collection of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Visible in the background are depictions of Diamond Head and two surfers riding a wave at Waikiki Beach

For additional information, please visit the US Postal Service Web Site (www.usps.com).

Naber Earns NCAA Silver Anniversary Award
November 6, 2001

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 6. SWIMMING legend John Naber is among the six NCAA Silver Anniversary Award recipients announced today by the NCAA Honors Committee.

The Silver Anniversary Award recognizes former student-athletes who have distinguished themselves since completing their college athletics careers 25 years ago.

Past aquatics winners include three-time Olympian, Dr. Gary Hall Sr., and Olympic diver Cynthia Potter.

This year's honorees have achieved a wide range of accomplishments since they graduated from college. For instance, two of the six were gold-medal winners in the 1976 Olympic Games, one was a United States Secretary of Transportation, one is a winner of 34 Ladies Professional Golf Association career titles, one is the leader of the nation’s largest compensation and benefits consulting company, and another is a former NBA player and the basketball coach at a large university.

This year’s honorees are:
· Richard C. Chapman, Augustana College (South Dakota), basketball, president and chief executive officer of a compensation and benefits consulting company.

· Maurice "Bo" Ellis, Marquette University, basketball, men’s head basketball coach at Chicago State University.

· Herman R. Frazier, Arizona State University, track and field, director of athletics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

· Betsy King, Furman University, golf and basketball, professional golfer.

· John Naber, University of Southern California; swimming and diving; operator of Naber and Associates, a firm that provides motivational speakers and other services.

· Rodney E. Slater, Eastern Michigan University, football, an attorney at a Washington, D.C., law firm.

The recipients will be honored Sunday, January 13, at the Honors Dinner during the annual NCAA Convention in Indianapolis.

The award winners were selected by the NCAA Honors Committee, which is composed of eight athletics administrators at member institutions and nationally distinguished citizens who are former student-athletes. The members of the NCAA Honors Committee are: Harry Carson, president, Harry Carson, Inc.; Eugene F. Corrigan, commissioner emeritus, Atlantic Coast Conference; Joseph Crowley, regents’ professor/president emeritus, University of Nevada; Clyde Doughty Jr., athletics director, New York Institute of Technology; Jack Ford, ABC news anchor/correspondent; Jo Ann Harper, senior associate athletics director, Dartmouth College; Karen L. Johnson, director of institutional research, Alfred University and Valerie Richardson, assistant commissioner, West Coast Conference.

Potential candidates are nominated by NCAA member institutions and selected by the committee.

Stanford Tops Women's, Men's NCAA Polls
November 5, 2001

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Nov. 5. STANFORD UNIVERSITY tops both the men's and women's rankings in the season's first poll of the nation's top college swim teams. The poll wsa released today by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

The Cardinal women ranked first with 199 points, with the triple defending champion Georgia Bulldogs second with 188. The Cardinal defeated the Dawgs in a dual meet last week.

Fast-rising Auburn is ranked third (182) while Texas, which will host the NCAA Championships in March, is fourth (171).

The Cardinal men rank first with a perfect 200 points, eight ahead of double defending champion Texas. Tennessee, with 178, is ranked just two points ahead of USC for the third spot.


College Swim Coaches Association of America
Top 25 Pre-NCAA Championship Poll

Women
1 Stanford 199 (7)
2 Georgia 188 (1)
3 Auburn 182
4 Texas 171
5 Arizona 170
6 USC 159
7 California 154
8 Florida 153
9 UCLA 130
10 Penn State 125
11 SMU 121
12 Virginia 105
13 Arizona State 102
14 North Carolina 97
15 Notre Dame 83
16 Michigan 77
17 Indiana 75
18 Miami 66
19 Alabama 48
20 LSU 37
21 Northwestern 32
22 Rice 26
23 Villanova 23
24 Minnesota 13
25 Princeton 12
Wisconsin 12
Florida State 12


Men
1 Stanford 200 (8)
2 Texas 192
3 Tennessee 178
4 USC 176
5 Auburn 167
6 California 158
7 Arizona 146
8 Minnesota 143
9 Michigan 138
10 Virginia 118
11 Florida 114
12 Georgia 111
13 ASU 108
14 Texas A&M 94
15 Wisconsin 92
16 Penn State 83
17 South Carolina 67
18 Pittsburgh 57
19 SMU 54
20 Northwestern 39
21 Harvard 31
22 Alabama 27
23 UNLV 26
24 Purdue 25
25 LSU 21

Scholarship Swim In Memory of Two Masters Swimmers Killed in Terrorist Attack Set for November 10 November 5, 2001

NEW YORK, Nov. 5. ON September 11, 2001, USMS lost two Masters swimmers, Andrew Fisher and Doug Irgang, both members of Asphalt Green Masters Swimming in New York City in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center that took more than 5,000 innocent lives.

Andrew Fisher was attending a conference at Windows on the World in the World Trade Center, and Doug Irgang worked at Sandler O'Neil, an investment firm located in the World Trade Center. Andrew and Doug were passionate about swimming, attending workouts regularly and participating in meets and open water swims.

In order to assure the legacy of Doug and Andrew’s commitment to swimming the Masters Team, along with Asphalt Green and members of Doug and Andrew’s families and Doug’s fiancée, have established the Andrew Fisher and Doug Irgang Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund will provide financial support each year to young swimmers who have the capacity to become highly competitive swimmers and show dedication and a passion for the sport, but have a limited financial capacity to pursue their dream.

On Saturday, November 10, Asphalt Green will host "Swim for the Future," a scholarship swim in memory of Doug and Andrew. The event will take place at the Asphalt Green pool on 91st Street and York Avenue from 6 p.m. - midnight.

The event will commence officially at 8:00 p.m. with a special ceremony for Andrew and Doug's families as well as the local fire and police departments. Asphalt Green requests that those wishing to participate or to sponsor a swimmer should register by November 6, 2001. Call 1-800-NYC-SWIM, or log on to www.asphaltgreen.org.

Bowen Leads Auburn to Team Title at Mustang Classic
November 4, 2001

DALLAS, Texas, Nov. 3. IF anyone had any lingering doubts about Maggie Bowen's commitment to "being the best she can be," they were quickly washed away here this weekend beneath the waves of venerable Perkins Natatorium.

Bowen, an Auburn junior, who struck gold at last summer's IX World Championships in the 200 meter individual medley after winning both IMs at NCAAs in March, won the medleys here during the SMU Women's Classic while helping coach David Marsh's Lady Tigers to their second-consecutive meet crown.

Auburn splashed to a 346-323 victory over host SMU here this evening, while UCLA -- defending Pac-10 champs -- was third. Auburn won last year's event
with 313 points.

After going a nation-leading 1:58.88 200 IM in the SMU dual Thursday evening, Bowen came back to win in a meet-record 1:59.91 here, following her meet-record 4:13.60 400 IM Friday night.

"We could never get that separation between us and Auburn," SMU head swimming coach Steve Collins said. "It just happened that most of the events we were most strong in, Auburn was strong in them as well."

SMU tallied three first-place showings, but couldn't catch Auburn and American/NCAA record-holder Bowen, who finished as high-point swimmer for the second-straight year. Bowen ended the night in fine fashion, as she hooked up with SMU's Alenka Kejzar in a classic battle in the meet's final individual race, the 200 medley.

When the defending NCAA champ touched at the finish her winning effort registered as a meet record, while Kejzar -- who's pr is a 1:59.59 that earned her second at last spring's WAC Championships -- finished second in 2:01.38. During Friday's 400 IM Bowen and Kejzar finished first (4:13.60) and second (pr 4:14+), respectively, with both bettering Bowen's meet record
from last year.

Bowen's American/NCAA record in the shorter medley is 1:55.49, set during the Division 1 Championships last March in East Meadow. That win plus the 400 IM crown were instrumental in Auburn's fourth-place team finish. She broke the old mark of 1:55.54 set by Stanford's Summer Sanders during the 1992 Champion-ships in Austin.

Bowen winning 400 IM at NCAAs was a pr and school-record 4:07.26. Her time is just .20 off Georgia's Keegan Walkley's Southeastern Conference record
4:07.06, and with the confidence that comes from a World Championship title that standard may well come a cropper at this year's NCAAs at -- where else?
-- Georgia the third weekend in March.

(Bowen's winning 200 IM swim at Fukuoka was 2:11.93, a mere. 02 off Sanders' Americn record 2:11.91 from the Barcelona Olympics a decade ago. The win came at the expense of, among others, the defending Olympic champ, Ukraine's Yana Klochkova, who won at Sydney in 2:10.60. The official world record is 2:09.72 by China's Wu Yanyan from the Chinese National Games in Shanghai four years ago, but many observers suspect that time was accomplished with a little help from Wu's chemical friends, and thus believe Klochkova's time should be the recognized mark.)

In any event, Bowen looked sharp here this weekend and Marsh is delighted she's come back so strongly. A lock to win two at NCAAs? Presumably except -- EXCEPT -- Stanford's Shelly Ripple, 200 IM runner-up and the race's top qualifier, is also back for her senior season.

And...if Cal's Natalie Coughlin opts to swim the 200 IM opening night it could become another "barn burner." Last season Coughlin didn't swim the
200 IM, opting to double on Day 2 (100 back-fly) and swam the 200 back Day 3. She did, however, lead off Cal's 400 medley relay opening night and set an American record for the 100 back, which she promptly broke the following day in the race itself. Coughlin also set NCAA records in the fly and 200 back and her double-century dorsal time is the American record too.

To begin tonight's competition, Auburn padded its lead via a win in 400 free relay (3:24.63). Then SMU soph Georgina Lee, Britain's national record holder in
the 200 fly, dominated the 500 free (same event she set a WAC record in last February), winning in 4:50.33.

Teammate Alenka Kejzar, a Slovenian Olympian, followed Lee's victory with a first-place showing in the 200 back (1:58.84). SMU's Anu Koivisto, a sophomore Finnish Olympian who's defending WAC 200 back-200 IM champ and who set a meet-record in the 100 back Friday, won the 200 consols tonight. Her pr is 1:55.85, third nationally last season.

UCLA's Elvira Fischer, a senior who transferred from Nebraska where she was a multi-Big 8 champ and also saw duty as an Austrian Olympian at Sydney, won the 200 breast in a seasonal pr 2:15.94. Miami's Diver of the Meet Michelle Davison then won her second event in as many nights, capturing the 3-meter competition with a score of 344.70. Davison set a meet record Friday on the 1-meter board.

Bruin soph Sara Platzer next won the 100 free, and SMU's Lee won her second race of the night, the 200 butterfly, in an NCAA "B" qualifying 1:59.31.

After Bowen's record-setting performance in the 200 IM, the Tigers ended the night on top by finishing first in the 200 free relay.

UCLA wound up third with 292 points, while Rice, Pacific, and Miami rounded out the bottom three.

Florida State Beats Georgia Tech
November 4, 2001

ATLANTA, Nov. 3. THE Florida State University women's swimming and diving team, led by sophomore Chelsie Lerew's record-breaking one-meter diving, defeated Georgia Tech, 146-86, in Atlantic Coast Conference action Friday evening in Atlanta. The Lady Seminoles (5-0, 2-0 ACC) placed first in 12 of the night's 13 events.

Lerew, last year's ACC Diver of the Year, broke the FSU one-meter event record with a score of 302.33. This is the second time in Lerew's career that she has set the standard at FSU on the one-meter. As a
freshman, Lerew broke the record with a score of 285.23 during the 2000-2001 season. On the three-meter, Lerew took first place with a score of 294.15.

Freshman Angie Leach led all FSU swimmers, winning the 500 and 1000-yard freestyles with times of 5:03.52 and 10:20.38, respectively.

Senior captain Amber Goodwin won the 100 backstroke, touching the wall at 58.84. Fellow seniors Candice Nethercott and Keryn Krynauw won the 100 butterfly (56.17) and 100 breastroke (1:05.19), respectively.

Freshmen Jennie Lyes won her third-straight 50 free with a time of 23.85 and Emily Breen placed first in the 200 free at 1:55.75. Sophomore Loren Hansen touched the wall first in the 100 free (53.11) to
round out the individual wins for the Lady Seminoles.

In relay action, FSU's 400 medley relay team of Breen, Krynauw, Nethercott and Lyes placed first with a time of 3:55.57. The Lady Seminoles' 400 free relay team of Leach, sophomores Amy Lo and Jennifer Smith and freshman Golda Marcus turned in a winning time of 3:36.51.

The Lady Seminoles return to action tomorrow when they tomorrow when they travel to South Carolina to take on conference opponent Clemson at 10 a.m.

Clemson Sweeps Florida State
November 5, 2001

CLEMSON, SC., Nov. 5. THE Lady Tigers of Clemson University sneaked by the Seminoles of Florida State on Saturday, edging their ACC rivals 122-121. In the men's meet, Clemson overwhelmed FSU 156-85.

The Clemson women move to 1-1-1 while the men improved to 1-1. The Seminole men and women both dropped to 5-1.

Clemson won the first three events until the Lady Seminoles reeled off five-straight top finishes. FSU's first win came in the 50-yard freestyle, when freshman Jennie Lyes touched the wall first in 23.70. The win proved to be Lyes fourth in a row this season.

The winning continued for the Tribe in the next event, the 200 individual medley, as sophomore Emma Dutton placed first with a time of 2:07.16. Sophomore diver Chelsie Lerew, who set the FSU record on the one-meter board (302.33) in Friday night’s victory over Georgia Tech, won the event with a score of 293.25.

Freshman Lisa How placed first in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:04.69, which is her best time of the year. Senior All-American Christy Cech finished off the run with a first-place time of 52.02 in the 100 free. The win was Cech’s fourth of the season in the 100 free. The Lady Seminoles final win of the day came on the three-meter event, as freshman diver Courtney McClow won for the second time this year with a score of 276.38.

Freshman diver Louie Gagnet swept the one and three-meter events for the fourth-straight dual meet to lead the Seminoles. On the one-meter, Gagnet scored 293.40 and later turned in a top mark of 338.18 on the three-meter board. Gagnet currently holds the school record on the three-meter with a score of 363.85.

The lone highlight for the FSU men came in the 50-yard freestyle, which the Seminoles placed first, second and third. Junior Nnamnse Ammons won his fourth 50 free in as many meets, touching the wall at 21.27. Sophomore Wickus Neinaber placed second for the Tribe (21.29) and junior Matt Carmen finished third (21.33).

The Seminoles return to action on November 16, when they travel to Gainesville, Fla. to take on in-state rival Florida at 4 p.m.

Auburn Men Swim Fast at War Eagle Invitational
November 4, 2001

AUBURN, Ala., Nov. 4. AUBURN University's Tigers showed they won't be pussycats at the 2002 NCAAs, posting some fast early-season times at the War Eagle Invitational.

Kevin Clements started the meet out with two victories on Friday night in the 500 free and the 400 IM. He posted a time of 4:29.90 in the 500 freestyle and
3:50.52 in the 400 IM, the fastest time in the nation thus far this year. Teammate James Galloway swam a strong 4:30.06 in finishing second in the 500.

The meet also saw strong swims from Pat Calhoun and Mark Gangloff in the 100 breaststroke. Calhoun's time of 56.50 earned him first while secondc place finisher Gangloff went 56.99.

Auburn's backstrokers also had good swims as they took the top four places of the meet in the 100 backstroke. Kirk Hampleman (50.17) won the event, while Jon Karr placed second (51.57). Bryce Hunt and Scott Talbot
rounded out the field with a third (52.19) and fourth (52.91) place finish respectively.

The meet's most spectacular swim was turned in by France's Franck Esposito, who cloked 1:43.22 in winning the 200 fly. The time ties him with Ugur Taner as the sixth fastest performer ever in the event.
Esposito will be training with the Tigers for a month. He is ranked third in the world in the 200-meter butterfly.

Wolverines Bite the Dawgs
November 4, 2001

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Nov. 3. THE University of Michigan Wolverines put the bite on the Georgia Bulldogs today,
defeating the visitors 131-111 at the Canham Natatorium in Ann Arbor Saturday afternoon.

The Wolverines improve to 4-0 for the first time since 1994-95, while the bulldogs drop to 2-2.

The Wolverines won the first six events before a Georgia swimmer finally got to the wall. Overall, Michigan posted nine wins versus four for Georgia.

The hosts won all the freestyle events, with freshman Brendan Nelligan taking the two distance events and
junior Garrett Mangieri taking the sprints.

Nelligan won the 1000 free in 9:14.72, one second ahead of teammate Andrew Hurd, then came back to win the 500 in 4:32.35, leading a one-two-three Wolverine sweep.

Garrett took the 50 in 21.24 and the 100 in 45.23.

Daniel Ketchum won the 200 in 1:39.86.

Sophomore diver Jason Coben was the only other double winner in the meet, winning both diving events with ease. Coben scored 328.35 points on the one-meter board and 349.87 on the 3-meter.

Micigan's two other victories were by Tim Siciliano in the 200 IM (1:50.22) and the "A" medley relay team of Jordan Watland, Jeff Hopwood, Tony Kurth and Mangieri (3:21.86).

"Michigan was better than we were today," said Georgia head coach Jack Bauerle. "I thought we could have swum a little bit better. We are not quite as healthy as we need to be, certainly to take on a team like Michigan.

"We swam a little tired, but the good side is that is from good hard work. We wanted to get two meets under the belt, which we did. We wanted to get two wins,
which we didn't. The competition will definitely be good for the guys down the line."

Georgia won four events on the day, including the 400-yard freestyle relay. The foursome of Jason Gagnon, Nicolas Kintz, Marc Lindsay and Matt Brado clocked in with a time of 3:09.32. Kyle Salyards took first in the
200-yard breaststroke in with a time of 2:05.27. Andrew Mahaney's time of 1:48.66 was good enough for a first-place finish in the 200-yard butterfly, while Lindsay took top honors in the 200-yard backstroke (1:48.22)

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, Nov. 3. THE Texas A&M men's swimming team kept its undefeated streak alive with a 1,175.5-953.5 defeat of Southern Methodist University at the Reveille Invitational at the Student Rec Center Natatorium on Saturday.

Despite exhibitioning (not scoring) the final two events and suffering a double disqualification on one relay, the Aggies increased their margin of victory over the Mustangs from 173 to 222 on the final day. A&M swimmers also captured all three individual events, giving them sweep for the entire meet.

The Aggies began the final day with a 1-2-3 finish in the 800-yard medley relay. The team of Patrick Kennedy, Alfredo Jacobo, Scott Hansen and Scott Mueller beat out the foursome of Riley Janes, Zach Widener, Joel Travnicek and Josh Hill 7:38.84 to 7:44.73.

In the 25 freestyle, the fastest event possible in the pool, the maroon-and-white earned another sweep of the top three spots. Janes, the five-time All-American, outraced freshman Robbie Taylor 9.58 to 9.69. Sophomore Matt Rose finished third at 9.73.

In perhaps the most taxing, as well as most dramatic, event of the meet, the 1000 freestyle relay, the duo of Patrick Dideum and Scott Mueller outtouched SMU's Michael Jacobssen and Chris Epp by less than one-half second in an eight minute-plus race. The Aggies swam a time of 8:22.24 to the Mustangs' 8:22.65. In this race, each swimmer alternated swimming 100-yard legs five times each.

Patrick Kennedy, a winner in the 800 medley relay, led A&M to a 1-2-3-4 finish in the 400 backstroke. Kennedy's time of 3:56.92 outdistanced that of teammate Josh Hill, who clocked in at 4:02.55.

After nearly wining the quarter-mile backstroke, Hill returned to the pool in the very next event and teamed with Scott Hansen and Joel Travnicek to win the 900 butterfly relay. The trio outswam SMU's "A" team 8:17.29 to 8:35.12.

SMU claimed first and second in the 900 breaststroke relay after both A&M teams were disqualified for leaving early on the relay exchanges.

Despite exhibitioning the final individual event, the 800 individual medley, A&M swimmers claimed each of the top two spots. Scott Mueller hit the wall first in a time of 8:35.13, while Kennedy was a distant second in 8:52.79. Officially, SMU's Jacob Rodriquez was first in a time of 8:54.28.

In the day's final event, the 500 freestyle relay (which A&M also exhibitioned), the Aggies were first in a time of 3:29.64. SMU, which was officially first, placed second in 3:34.72.

"This meet was so much better than we thought it would be," said head coach Mel Nash. "The toughness that our kids showed was really head and shoulders above what we were hoping for. Across the board, our people kept coming strong event after event after event. What Scott Hansen did with his small bout of mono bodes well for what he'll do when completely healthy. Scott Mueller was quietly outstanding, winning the 800 IM and continually passing people on relays. Josh Hill and Matt Day showed exceptional toughness in swimming the 400 back and coming right back and swimming the 900 fly."

Texas A&M will take two weeks off before returning to the pool on Nov. 16-18 at the Indiana Invitational in Bloomington.

ALBION, Mich., Nov. 3. THE longest winning streak in Hope athletic history came to an end Saturday as the women's swimming team suffered its first MIAA dual meet loss in nearly a decade.

The Dutch hosted a double dual meet against Calvin and Olivet. Hope's 184-13 victory over Olivet extended its league dual meet winning streak to 50 in-a-row, but a 139-101 loss to Calvin 139-101 ended it. Hope had not lost a league dual meet since 1992 and the loss was only Hope's second in 18 years (97-2).

Hope's only double winner was sophomore Michelle Smith in the 200 freestyle (1:57.37) and 1000 freestyle (11:05.00). Other Hope winners were Elizabeth Fredericks in the 200 butterfly (2:10.74) and Erin VandenBerg in the 500 freestyle (5:27.64).

The men's team remained unbeaten in dual meets edging conference opponents Calvin (120-110) and lashing Olivet (213-12). Coach John Patnott's Dutchmen are 3-0 on the young season.

Brian Slagh was a triple winner capturing three freestyle events -- 200 (1:44.49), 500 (4:44.96)
and 1,000 (10:16.36).

Other Hope winners were Ian Kobes, 200 backstroke (2:02.30); Josh Boss 200 breaststroke (2:12.06) and Chris Working (3-meter diving).

U.S. Stars to Compete in Qantas Skins on Dec. 5
October 30, 2001

SYDNEY, Oct. 30. UNITED STATES Olympic stars Lindsay Benko, Chad Carvin and Jason Lezak, British duo Zoe Baker and Paul Palmer, and Canadian Olympic breaststroker Morgan Knabe will be among the star attractions for the 2001 Qantas Skins at the Sydney Aquatic Centre on December 5.

The innovative Skins meet is one of the most popular nights on the Australian Swimming calendar and, for the first time, the one-night spectacular will be swum midweek on Wednesday December 5.

Benko is an Olympic gold medalist in the USA 4x200m freestyle relay at the Sydney Olympics, who injured her knee on the eve of this year's World Championships in Fukuoka. She bounced back to win the 200 meters freestyle at the Goodwill Games - defeating world ranked number one Australian Elka Graham.

The pair will lock horns again at the Skins in the middle-distance freestyle event along with rising stars Linda McKenzie and Amanda Pascoe.

The middle distance event for men will see Carvin - an Olympic silver medalist in the USA 4x200m freestyle relay in Sydney last year clash with Australia's world record breaking 1500m freestyle king Grant Hackett, world record breaking 4x200m freestyle relay swimmer William Kirby and British middle distance champion Paul Palmer - a silver medalist over 400m freestyle at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

Lezak, the US relay star, will meet his old foe, Olympic gold medalist Ashley Callus in the 4x50m freestyle event, which saw the likeable Aussie hang-on to snatch the AUS$5,000 (US$2,500) first prize check last year.

In the breaststroke event for women, British world championship bronze medalist Zoe Baker, who was just outside the short course world record for 50m breaststroke at last week's Novo Nordisk Sprint Cup in New York will take on Australia's three premier breaststrokers: Leisel Jones, defending Qantas Skins champion Brooke Hanson and Tarnee White in what will be another classic showdown.

In the men’s event, defending champion Morgan Knabe will meet Australia’s "big four" Olympians Phil Rogers and Regan Harrison, last year’s Skins finalist Jim Piper and Pan Pac gold medalist Simon Cowley.

Here is an insight into the Qantas Skins:

BIRTH OF THE SKINS: The Qantas Skins is a unique invitation-only international swim meet first swum in Sydney in 1996 after the Atlanta Olympics, the brainchild of swimming's marketing and media men Mike Bushell and Ian Hanson.

UNIQUE SKINS FORMAT: The Qantas Skins format sees Australia's finest World Championship and Olympic swimmers up against some of the world's biggest names in a knockout format for a slice of the AUS$120,000 (US$60,000) prize pool. The race format is divided into three categories as follows:

50m Sprint Series: The 4x50 meters sprint series is contested by men and women in butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Each sprint series race starts with a total of five swimmers; the last placegetter is eliminated after each 50m sprint, until there are only two swimmers standing for a final face off in a gripping man-on-man/woman-on-woman dash to decide the winner. Each sprint race is swum every two minutes with prize money awarded accordingly to the competitors placing.

The Mystery Medley: is contested by a minimum of five swimmers for both men and women over 200 meters. Each of the lanes is allocated a different medley order, drawn randomly, prior to the event. Competitors are disqualified if they fail to swim the order allocated to their lane. Prize money for this event is awarded on overall placings.

400m freestyle: The 400 meters freestyle is contested by a minimum of five swimmers for both men and women. It is swum as 2 x 200 meter events with a one-minute rest between each 200 meters; the clock commences when the last competitor touches the wall. The prize money for this event is decided on an overall placings, based on each competitor's accumulated time for the two 200 meter events. Bonuses can also be awarded to the winner of each of the 200 meter events.

2001 QANTAS SKINS: Will be swum at the Sydney Aquatic Centre, Homebush Bay on Wednesday, December 5 and in another Qantas Skins first, this year's meet will be swum mid-week.

WHO IS SWIMMING THIS YEAR'S QANTAS SKINS: The Australians will be spearheaded by Grant Hackett, Matt Welsh, Geoff Huegill and Giaan Rooney, Leisel Jones, International swimmers will include some of the world's biggest names.

US SEEKING SKINS REVENGE: The USA swimmers, smarting after their demise at the hands of the Dolphins at this year's World Championships and Goodwill Games, will be among those determined to make a splash at this year's Skins.

PAST QANTAS SKINS STARS: In the past, the Qantas Skins has attracted such international swimming stars as South African, Penny Heyns, Dutch pairing, Pieter van den Hoogenband and Inge de Bruijn, Americans Jenny Thompson and Gary Hall Jr. and The Flying Fin, Jani Sievinen.

USC Women Upset Texas, 164-135
October 27, 2001

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 27. THE University of Texas women's swimming and diving team dropped its second contest of the season, falling to Southern California, 164-135, on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the McDonald's Swim Stadium in Los Angeles. With the loss, Texas drops to 1-2 on the season, while USC is victorious in its season-opener to move to 1-0 on the year.

Junior Erin Phenix (Cincinnati, Ohio/Ursuline) took top honors in the 50-yard freestyle, touching in 23.60. In the 100 freestyle, freshman Sarah Wanazek (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield East) captured first place in 50.96, an NCAA 'B' consideration time. She was followed in second by Phenix (51.15).

Also notching individual victories on the day were senior transfer Lauren Thies (Portland, Ore./Lincoln/ Stanford) and junior transfer Joscelin Yeo (Republic of Singapore/California). Thies won the 500 freestyle, timing 4:50.59, while Yeo touched first in the 100 butterfly (54.98). Both times were good for NCAA 'B' consideration.

The Longhorns also picked up a win in the 400 freestyle relay for the second consecutive meet, with the team of sophomore transfer Jenna Bridges (Tallahassee, Fla./Bolles School/Virginia), junior Tanica Jamison (Dublin, Calif./Dublin), Thies and sophomore transfer Lacey Elliot (El Paso, Texas/ Franklin/SMU) timing 3:25.98.

The Texas women's swimming and diving team returns to action on Friday, Nov. 9, when it hosts Texas A&M at the Jamail-Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas

Virgina Men Beat Clemson, Women Dump Clemson, Rice
October 28, 2001

CLEMSON, S.C., Oct. 27. THE University of Virginia men's and women's swimming and diving teams successfully opened Atlantic Coast Conference action with victories over Clemson, while the UVa women also posted a win over Rice at the McHugh Natatorium in Clemson, S.C.

The Cavalier men improved to 2-0 on the season with a 148-89 win over Clemson, while the Virginia women notched a 155-87 victory over the Tigers. The Cavalier women also registered a 128.5-75.5 win over Rice to improve to 3-0 on the season.

Men's Meet
The Cavalier men won 11 of 13 events in the meet with sophomore Luke Anderson (Charlottesville, Va./Bolles School) winning a pair of individual events. He won the 200 free in a time of 1:40.80 and then took the 100 free with a time of 45.92. Anderson also anchored UVa's 400 medley relay team that won the first event of the meet with a time of 3:24.39. Joining Anderson on the winning medley relay were Luke Wagner (Englewood, Colo./Regis Jesuit), Gary
Marshall (Bartlesville, Okla./Bartlesville), and Adam Kerpelman (Lutherville, Md./St. Paul's School).

Wagner also won the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:47.99, while Kerpelman posted a time of 21.03 in winning the 50 free. Kerpelman and Wagner also swam legs on UVa's winning 400 free relay that touched in 3:07.65. Freshman Chris Cooper (Sparta, N.J./Sparta) and sophomore Ian Prichard (Ventura, Calif./Buena) swam the third and fourth legs of the 400 free relay. Prichard also won the 500 free in a time of 4:28.57.

Junior Dan DeMarco (Great Neck, N.Y./Great Neck South) won the other distance freestyle event as he clocked a winning time of 9:22.74 in the 1000 free. DeMarco was also second to Prichard in the 500 free with a time of 4:38.80. A pair of freshmen, Michael Raab (Rockville, Md./Walter Johnson) and Bo Greenwood (Manakin, Va./ Goochland) rounded out UVa's swimming event winners. Raab won the 200 butterfly in 1:49.09, while Greenwood took the top spot in the 200 individual medley (1:51.49). Greenwood was also second in the 200 fly (1:50.20).

Pete Amstutz (St. Joseph, Mich./St. Joseph) won the three-meter diving competition with a six-dive score of 299.48. He was second on the one-meter board with
264.53 points.

Women's Meet
The Cavalier women took nine of 13 events in defeating Clemson and Rice. UVa had three individuals win a pair of events. Sophomore Amy Baly (Atlanta, Ga./Marist School) won the two distance freestyle events with times of 10:03.48 in the 1000 and 4:56.89 in the 500.

Carlie Dykehouse (Gainesville, Fla./Trinity Prep) was also a double event winner for the second consecutive week as she won the 200 free and 200 butterfly. Dykehouse won the 200 free with a time of 1:51.36 and then posted a time of 2:03.79 in winning the 200 butterfly. She was also second to Baly in the 500 free with a time of 4:59.21.

Alison Sharp (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock) swept the two diving events. She scored 255.90 points in winning the one-meter competition, then won the three-meter event with 259.28 points.

Junior Mirjana Bosevska (Skopje, Macedonia/Trinity Prep) rounded out UVa's individual event winners. Bosevska was victorious in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:20.89 and also finished second in the 200 backstroke (2:05.71). The Cavaliers, with a team of Carrie Ellis, Megan Roesch, Andrea Georoff and Lindsey Crane won the 400 free relay in 3:29.01.

Rice's Mandy Mularz had a big day, winning the 50 free in an impressive 23.33, easily defeating Virginia's Carrie Ellis (24.11), then taking the 100 free in 50.90, again leading Ellis (51.38) to the wall. To cap off her day, Mularz, a junior, led off Rice's 400 freestyle relay in a school record 50.80.

The Virginia women's swimming and diving team returns to action at the Rice Invitational on November 9-10. Both Cavalier squads then host Penn State on Sunday, November 18 at 11:00 a.m. at the UVa Aquatic and Fitness Center.

Houston Wins Second Straight Dual Meet
Hopkins Wins Two Individual Events, Part of Two First-Place Relay Teams

Oct. 27, 2001

MONROE, La. - The University of Houston swimming and diving team used a solid team effort Saturday to cruise to a 197-90 win over Louisiana-Monroe at the ULM Natatorium.

The Cougars, who won their second straight dual meet in as many weeks, captured first place in 10 of the 16 events during the day's schedule. In the remaining six events that UH did not place first, the Cougars rebounded to take second and third places.

Junior Falon Hopkins led all Cougar swimmers by taking first place in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. With her time of 25.00 in the 50 freestyle, the Houston native established a new Cougar season-best.

Hopkins also claimed first place in the 100 butterfly with a mark of 59.92. Other Cougar winners and their events were Veronica Smith (3-meter diving), Lucile Turpin (200-yard butterfly), Elissa Nelson (100-yard freestyle), Stacey Ebeling (200-yard breaststroke), Jessica Dewitt (200-yard individual medley) and Lindsay Harvey (1-meter diving).

Dewitt set a new Cougar season best in the 200-yard individual medley with her time of 2:12.39, shaving nearly a second of the previous UH best.

Two-time national champion Yulia Pakhalina was held out of the meet by the Cougar coaching staff.

In addition to the individual events, the Cougars also claimed first place in both the 200-yard medley and the 400-yard freestyle relays. In the 200 medley, the UH team of Hopkins, Ebeling, Kristin Bay and Kristen Douglass took home top honors with a time of 1:53.22.

The 400 freestyle team of Bay, Nelson, Douglass and Hopkins also won with a mark of 3:45.81.

UH returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday when it faces Arkansas at Fayetteville, Ark., to start a two-meet road swing. After facing the Razorbacks, the Cougars continue north to meet host Southwest Missouri State and Kansas in Springfield, Mo., on Saturday.

Notre Dame Upends American
October 27, 2001

By Alan Wasielewski
WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 27. THE University of Notre Dame men's swimming and diving team utilized its depth and speed to complete its two-day trip to Washington, DC, 2-0 with a 174-142 victory over American University on Saturday afternoon. The Irish previously defeated George Washington 150-85 on Friday, Oct. 26.

"It was a very good meet for us," Irish head coach Tim Welsh said. "We were much improved and it was by far our best effort of the season so far."

Notre Dame claimed nine event titles in the meet on Saturday, including two individual victories by freshman Frank Krakowski and junior diver Andy Maggio.

Krakowski began the meet as a member of the victorious 200 medley relay team, then came back later in the meet to win the 50 freestyle (21.79) and 100 butterfly (52.19). The Irish rookie eventually played a part in posting 29 points on the scoreboard for his team.

Maggio helped the Irish divers complete a dominating weekend. After sweeping the top three spots in both boards against George Washington on Friday, Maggio combined with Tong Xie and Joe Miller to finish one-two-three in one-meter diving and one-two-four in the three-meter event. Maggio won both competitions with scores of 312.08 (one meter) and 255.98 (three meter). Over the course of the weekend, the Irish divers surrendered just one point to the opposing teams.

Sophomore J.R. Teddy, who won the 500 freestyle on Friday, showcased his all-around ability by taking first place in the 200 butterfly on Saturday. Teddy's 1:53.67 time proved to be faster than his BIG EAST
Championship effort at the end of the 2000-01 season.

Senior co-captain Jonathan Pierce took home first in the 1,000 freestyle, with a solid 9:33.73 time (defeating the closest American University swimmer by nine seconds). Senior David Horak, who won the 100 backstroke at George Washington on Friday, continued to own the backstroke lane with a individual victory in the 200 back on Saturday.

The other individual winner for the Irish was freshman David Moisan in the 200 breaststroke (2:10.70), but nine individual winners is not the only highlight for the Irish on the day. Welsh was impressed by the Irish ability to both win some races, but also score valuable points in the events in which the Irish were not victorious.

"It was an impressive display of power and depth," Welsh said.

"We had enough speed to win, but enough depth to outscore them as well. It was a great end to our trip and we are a very happy group right now."

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