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Mustangs Host National Powerhouses At SMU Classic:

Friday, Oct. 18 & Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013

Indiana, Louisville, Miami, UNC and USC Will Visit Perkins Natatorium For The Annual Classic

More season info:
http://www.smumustangs.com/sports/w-swi ... 13aae.html

Pony Up!

Planning to be there tonight w daughter and some of her swim team friends from Frisco Centennial.

DALLAS (SMU) - The SMU women's swimming and diving team finished fifth, with a team score of 275.50, on the final night of the SMU Classic at the Perkins Natatorium.

The Mustangs were narrowly edged out by the University of North Carolina, who finished fourth with a team score of 276. Southern California (312), who owned the lead after night one, finished on top after the completion of night two. Indiana University (304.50) was second, while the University of Louisville (280) finished third. The University of Miami rounded out the group, finishing sixth, with a team total of 176.

"This was just a really big step for our team," Head Coach Steve Collins said. "Going against some of the top teams in the country we really performed well. I was really pleased."

Junior Rachel Nicol led SMU on night two with a first-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke. The Lethbridge, Alberta, native finished the event over three seconds ahead of her closest competitor at 2:10.02.

"Rachel Nicol, this weekend, really took a step forward when you're looking at the national scene," Collins said. "In a field like this to dominate in an event like that is just really special."

Juniors Isabella Arcila and Nathalie Lindborg helped add to the team's total with second place finishes in the 200-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle, respectively. Lindborg's time of 49.97 was just two hundredths shy of winner Ally Hardesty from UNC.

"Nathalie went 49 in the championship heat and I just couldn't be happier about her swim," Collins said.

Nicol and Arcila, along with senior Monika Babok and junior Nicole Parmenter, finished less than one second behind the team from USC in the 200-yard medley relay, in a time of 1:40.08, for SMU's other second-place performance.

"Our medley relays both nights were fantastic," Collins said. "It was a team effort, and that's something we really work on as a group."

Other notable performances were turned in by senior Nina Rangelova, who placed third in the 500-yard freestyle, freshman Lauren Lamb, who was fourth in three-meter diving, and Arcila, who won the consolation heat of the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 49.87. Arcila's performance was the fastest finish in either heat at the event.

"Isabella was just fantastic this weekend in the backstroke and the freestyle and won the consolation heat in the 100 free tonight with a time that would have actually been the fastest in the competition," Collins added.

The Mustangs are back in action Nov. 1 and 2. SMU will travel to Rice on the Friday evening, followed by a Saturday match-up at Houston. For ways to follow the meets check SMUMustangs.com.