Dec. 3, 2005
AUBURN, Ala. -
Event Winner Quotes - Final Day of U.S. Open
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Junior Hayley Peirsol and the AU women's 400 freestyle relay team both collected their second titles of the weekend and a trio of Tigers brought home third-place finishes as the Auburn men's and women's swimming teams closed out competition at the 2005 U.S. Open Swimming (LCM) Championships on Saturday night at the James E. Martin Aquatic Center.
"Overall the meet for our men and women was good," head Auburn coach David Marsh said. "The plan now will be to continue to work hard and our student-athletes will prepare for finals next week. I want to thank the community for their support and cheering on the athletes who traveled from all across the world to compete at Auburn University. I also want to extend my thanks to all of those who volunteered their time and helped make this U.S. Open a success."
Peirsol collected her second title of the weekend as the junior cruised to a 16-second victory in the women's 800 freestyle. The Auburn record-holder in the event, she split a 32.83 or lower on every 50. Freshman Chelsea Haser also had a solid swim, stopping the clock at 9:01.04, which was the ninth-best time of the field. Fellow freshman Blakely Bunch touched the wall at 9:04.63 to place 16th while freshman Julianne McLane got to the wall in a time of 9:10.59 to place 24th.
"I'm pretty happy with where I'm at right now. The win was a good sign," Peirsol said. "It's nice to have an opportunity to swim long course in-season. It's also nice to compete in this kind of meet, where you have different competition. It gives you a chance to judge where you are on your swimming and where we are in our training."
"Hayley swam an impressive race today," Marsh commented. "Her work ethic and training is really coming out in her races now and that is very exciting to see."
Auburn's foursome of freshman Margo McCawley, senior Jana Kolukanova, senior Erin Volcan and sophomore Emily Kukors combined to win the final event of the night, the 400 freestyle relay, in a time of 3:50.06. McCawley led off with a 58.82 split before giving off to Kolukanova, who went 56.89 for her 100. Volcan then took over and split 57.92 before Kukors anchored in a field-best 56.43.
Senior Eric Shanteau picked up his third top-three finish of the championships as the senior stopped the clock in a time of 2:18.60 to finish third in the 200 breaststroke finals. Freshman Andrew Callahan picked-up a 16th-place finish in the same event with a time of 2:26.61 while junior Sean Osborne won the `C' Final at 2:25.37 and freshman Jon Roberts finished 20th overall at 2:26.81.
"Emily had the best meet of anyone on our team," said Marsh. "She had several lifetime best times and I think the meet was even more fun for her with her sister being here competing."
Kukors went up to the medal stand once again as an individual she clocked a personal-best in the championship finals of the 100 freestyle. Her time of 56.49 stands as the fourth-best time in Auburn history and was good enough for third on this night.
Former AU standout Jeremy Knowles picked up a third-place finish in the championship finals of the 200 butterfly as he registered a 2:02.13. Joining him in the finals was freshman Anthony Fleming, who placed eighth at 2:05.49.
Former Tiger Margaret Hoelzer joined sophomores Kristen Hastrup and Julie Stupp in the championship finals of the 200 fly and Hoelzer got out of the water first of the AU trio, finishing fourth with a time of 2:!5.48. Hastrup was two spots behind her in sixth (2:17.96) while Stupp was next to the wall at 2:19.44.
Freshman Alicia Jensen swam to an eighth-place finish in the 200 breaststroke by stopping the clock at 2:36.97 in tonight's championship finals. Junior Anne Amardeilh placed 12th (2:37.11) and sophomore Julie Stupp finished 16th (2:40.37).
Kolukanova won the consolation finals of the women's 100 free, dropping almost two full seconds off of her prelims swim to 56.41. Volcan also swam in the consolation finals, placing 15th overall with a time of 58.60. McCawley placed 21st with a time of 58.77.
The Tigers had a pair of swimmers win the `B' and `C' Finals of the women's 200 fly as Kukors dropped almost five seconds off of her morning time to win the consolation finals at 2:15.53. Junior Tawnie Bethune won the `C' Final at 2:17.43.
Junior John Scott won the consolation finals of the 200 fly as he was less than two-tenths of a second off of his personal best in stopping the clock at 2:04.54. Freshman Logan Madson was third in the `C' Finals (2:06.12).
Senior Doug Van Wie was AU's top finisher in the men's 100 freestyle as the Charlotte, N.C., product stopped the clock at 51.78 to place 10th. Joining him in the consolation finals was classmate Kurt Cady, who touched at 52.29 to place 14th. Sophomore Matt Targett won the `C' Final at 51.09, a personal-best, while sophomore Rory Connell placed 20th (52.67).
"Matt swam a personal best in the 100 freestyle tonight," recalled Marsh. "It was nice to see him have a good race in the finals tonight."
Sophomore Cory Knopp was the top AU finisher in the 1500 freestyle as he placed 15th after registering a time of 16:10.48. Fleming, who swam his heat the race after the 200 fly, touched in a time of 16:19.25 to place 19th. Junior Daniel Slocki was 24th (16:32.91).
"Anthony swam and extremely tough double tonight beginning with the 200 butterfly followed by the 1500 freestyle," Marsh said.
US OPEN - DAY 3 - FINALS CHAMPION AND AUBURN FINISHES
WOMEN'S 800 FREESTYLE FINALS - LCM 1. Hayley Peirsol 8:34.34 9. Chelsea Haser 9:01.04 16. Blakeley Bunch 9:04.63 24. Julianne McLane 9:10.59
WOMEN'S 100 FREESTYLE FINALS - LCM 1. Amanda Weir 55.22 3. Emily Kukors 56.49 9. Jana Kolukanova 56.41 15. Erin Volcan 58.70 21. Margo McCawley 58.77
MEN'S 100 FREESTYLE FINALS - LCM 1. Nicholas Brunelli 48.98 10. Doug Van Wie 51.78 14. Kurt Cady 52.29 17. Matt Targett 51.09 20. Rory Connell 52.67
WOMEN'S 200 BREASTSTROKE FINALS - LCM 1. Megan Jendrick 2:28.89 8. Alicia Jensen 2:36.97 12. Anne Amardeilh 2:37.11 16. Julie Stupp 2:40.37
MEN'S 200 BREASTSTROKE FINALS - LCM 1. Vlad Polyakov 2:14.10 3. Eric Shanteau 2:18.60 16. Andrew Callahan 2:26.61 17. Sean Osborne 2:25.37 20. Jon Roberts 2:26.81
WOMEN'S 200 BUTTERFLY FINALS - LCM 1. Katie Hoff 2:09.81 4. Margaret Hoelzer 2:15.48 6. Kristen Hastrup 2:17.96 7. Julie Stupp 2:19.44 9. Emily Kukors 2:15.53 17. Tawnie Bethune 2:17.43
MEN'S 200 BUTTERFLY FINALS - LCM 1. Daniel Madwed 1:58.21 3. Jeremy Knowles 2:02.13 8. Anthony Fleming 2:05.49 9. John Scott 2:04.54 19. Logan Madson 2:06.12
MEN'S 1500 FREESTYLE FINALS - LCM 1. Mark Randall 15:03.62 15. Cory Knopp 16:10.48 19. Anthony Fleming 16:19.25 24. Daniel Slocki 16:32.91 27. Jeff Smith 16:37.76
WOMEN'S 400 FREESTYLE RELAY FINALS - LCM 1. Auburn `A' 3:50.06 (McCawley - 58.82, Kolukanova - 56.89, Volcan - 57.92, Kukors - 56.43) 5. Auburn `B' 3:57.83 (Caldwell - 1:00.39, Ewing - 58.66, Moss - 59.07, Amardeilh - 59.71)
MEN'S 400 FREESTYLE RELAY FINALS - LCM 1. Scottish Swimming 3:25.34 (Houston - 52.16, Hunter - 51.72, Cooper - 50.93, Renwick - 50.53) 5. Auburn `B' 3:32.83 (Schneider - 51.99, Shanteau - 52.85, N. Bovell - 52.98, Roberts - 55.01) Auburn `A' DQ