Swimming..WAC/NIC Titles

[Mustangs35SMU]

Men's
The SMU men's swimming & diving team is in the lead after Thursday's record breaking day two of action at the National Independent Conference Swimming and Diving Championship in Rochester, Mich. The Mustangs have 326 points. Hawai'i is in second with 292 points going into Friday's day three of action.

Thursday's action was highlighted by SMU's school record breaking time of 1:18.77 in the 200 free relay. Camilo Becerra, Eric Hadley, Per Nylin and Justin Stephenson teamed up for the first place time that was also a new NIC and pool record at the Oakland University Aquatic Center. The mark bettered the previous NIC, pool and Mustang school record time of 1:19.21 set in 2002 at the NICs.

In the night's 10th event, SMU junior Camilo Becerra captured the Mustangs first individual conference crown of the year as the JUCO transfer from Colombia touched first in the 50 free with a NCAA ‘B’ qualifying time of 19.79. Teammate Per Nylin finished third with a NCAA 'B' qualifying time of 20.13.

Diver Philip Griffin followed Becerra with a first place score of 575.05 in the three-meter competition to take home the gold. Teammate Beau Sydes finished third with a score of 504.20 in the event.

Hawaii’s Andrew Affleck began the meet setting a new pool record in the 500 free with a time of 4:21.36. He beat his old pool record of 4:23.95 that was set at last year’s 2003 NIC meet. Out-swimming the competition in the 200 IM was Hawaii’s Cheyne Bloch who set a new NIC and pool record with a time of 1:46.37. He bettered his old pool record of 1:46.43, which was a tie set in 2002 at the NIC meet, and the NIC record of 1:46.40, which was set in 1998. SMU's Ian Clark finished second in the 200 IM with a time of 1:48.53.

The NIC meet continues on Friday with prelims set to begin at 11 a.m. and finals slated for 6:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per session and is open to the public.

Women's
Day two of the 2004 Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championship had very strong performances from the No. 10 ranked SMU women's swimming & diving team. The defending champion Mustangs have captured three gold medals, including two Thursday, while second place Hawai‘i has taken first in four races over the first two days of action. SMU currently stands in first with 334 points.

SMU took first, second and third in the 500-yard freestyle with senior Georgina Lee taking first with an automatic qualifying time of 4:43.51. Teammates Marizanne Grundlingh and Sarah Daly took second and third, respectively. Lee improved upon her silver in the 500 at last season’s championship. Lee also swam the fastest time in the WAC this season.

In the 200-yard individual medley, Hawai‘i captured first and second, with freshman Nicole Mackey taking first and junior Yan Chen earning second for the second-straight season. Mackey’s time of 2:00.18 is an NCAA automatic qualifying time and improves upon her WAC-leading time of 2:02.19. SMU’s Michelle Vlasacova finished third with a time of 2:04.35.

The Rainbow Wahine won their third gold medal when junior Dena Quick swam an automatic qualifying time of 22.72 in the 50-yard freestyle, almost a second faster than her fastest time this season. SMU sophomore Laura Pomeroy took second, swimming 22.91, while teammate Dallas Marshall took third with a time of 23.47. Pomeroy improved upon her bronze medal performance at the 2003 championship.

In the one-meter diving finals, Hawai‘i once again took first and second with sophomore Qiongjie Huang and Maggie Roberts taking first and second, respectively. Huang won with a score of 283.05, followed by Roberts with 267.45. SMU’s Elizabeth Pike finished third with a scored of 260.00.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the SMU team of Laura Pomeroy, Michelle Vlasacova, Dallas Marshall and Leane Darling won with a time of 1:31.74. Hawai‘i was second with a time of 1:32.67, while Nevada was third with a time of 1:37.67. The Mustangs have placed at least one in the top three in every event so far.

After two days of competition, SMU has taken sole possession of first place with 334 points, followed by Hawai‘i with 258 points. Nevada is third with 208 points. Rice stands in fourth followed by San Jose State and Fresno State, respectively. Action continues tomorrow at Palo Alto College Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas at 11:00 a.m. with the preliminaries and at 6:30 p.m. for the finals of the 400-yard individual medley.

[Water Pony]

Thanks for the update. The Men appear to be exceeding expectations and I am glad Georgianna made it back from Europe and is competing.

[Water Pony]

Congratulations to both the Women's and Men's Swimming & Diving Teams for winning their respective conference championships, the WAC and NIC.

Going into Nationals the Women and their swimmer of year, Georgina Lee, look to do very well.