Jan. 21, 2006
Gainesville, Fla. - In exciting SEC swimming and diving action Saturday afternoon at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, the Tiger men kept the crowd on their heels, winning 152-148, for the team's ninth win this season. Auburn's women completed the Tiger sweep, winning 178-120. AU men won 10 of 16 events and the women took nine of the 16.
"I would call this a classic SEC meet," head coach David Marsh commented. "I thought last week was exciting but I think today's meet may have trumped that being an SEC meet. I really want to give credit to Eric Shanteau who now two weeks in a row had to win and has delivered. Through the lineup we had some strong performances and we had some disappointments."
"We are turning around in some areas and with some people we still have a lot of improving to do," co-women's head coach Dorsey Tierney-Walker said. "The thing I was most pleased with today was the consistency in racing such as Adrienne who did the mile, 500 free and 400 IM, all three of which were very good. I attribute that to her conditioning and her willingness and excitement in doing any race we put her in. That is reflective of our team's mentality - whatever it takes type of attitude."
Two diving records were broken on 3-meter, five Tigers picked up two individual wins each and four women earned four automatic qualifiers. Adrienne Binder dominated the distance events - winning the 500 and 1650 free with her first automatic marks of the season. Swimming for just the second time in his collegiate career, Cesar Cielo captured the double victory in the 50 and 100 free's. Emily Kukors had a pair of wins in the 100 and 200 free's; the 200 with an automatic qualifier.
Diver Steven Segerlin put the men on the board with 10 points as the diver picked up the win on 1-meter, his fifth this season, with a total of 335.03 points. Newcomer Corey Lynn Gerlach grabbed second for the women with a score of 239.47. Scott Morgan ended up fifth with 232.05 points.
"It was a good a day for us," head diving coach Jeff Shaffer said. "I was a little disappointed after the 1-meter but it was great to see Corey, especially, regroup and come back on 3-meter. It was her best performance of the year and I think she learned a lot from this meet. Steve on 3-meter put some corrections we have been working on in practice in a meet situation and came away with a new school record. Scott continues to impress me. His last dive didn't go the way we hoped but it was a new dive with a higher degree of difficulty and I felt at that time it was worth the risk as we were in a tough team battle. I am happy we were able to contribute on both the men and women's side, it was very exciting."
The first men's race, the 200 medley, set the tone for the meet, as the Tigers darted to the wall in a season best time of 1:28.63, anchored by Cielo who turned in a blistering 19.72 split, the best of any competitors, to pick up the win. In an exciting women's 200 medley relay, the Tigers touched the wall in a narrow second place with a season best time of 1:41.91 (Gator wining time - 1:41.41). Jana Kolukanova anchored the relay and posted the fastest split of the field with a time of 22.46.
"We swam faster than we have all year even though we did not win," Tierney-Walker said. "We challenged Jeri on the 50 fly which she has never done before and I think she stepped up. Overall we were very solid. Emile Ewing had a good meet, Margo McCawley continues to improve wherever we put her. Tawnie is finally back and Kristen Hastrup had a great 500 free and 200 fly. Conditioning and confidence in racing were the difference."
Auburn's women went one, two in the 1650 free, both with automatic qualifying times. Swimming the event for the first time this season, Binder (15:56.41) finished ahead of teammate Hayley Peirsol (16:12.74). Newcomer Chelsea Haser improved her provisional qualifier by seven seconds, to place fifth (16:51.56). On the men's side newcomer Anthony Fleming picked up a provisional qualifier with a third place finishing time of 15:28.08.
Kukors picked up AU's third automatic qualifier with a winning time of 1:46.23 in the 200 free. Kukors already had the `A' cut that she earned at the U.S. Open in December, but today's time was an improvement. Newcomer Margo McCawley picked up the provisional qualifier and second place with a personal best time of 1:48.60. For the AU men, George Bovell took the 200 free title with a time of 1:38.43 and Alexei Puninski was third (1:39.12).
Auburn's women dominated the 100 back with newcomer Rachel Goh touching first with a provisional qualifier - 54.93. Teammate Jeri Moss was second with an improved `B' cut time of 55.42. Senior captain Doug Van Wie came in second with a bettered `B' cut of 48.31, followed by Scott Goodrich in third (49.83).
"The addition of Rachel has been wonderful for us," Tierney-Walker commented. "Not only from a performance standpoint but also because of her personality. She is a great fit our team and is a very hard worker and is very committing in what she is doing and I think that is a great influence on our team."
Auburn controlled the men and women's 50 freestyle as Cielo and Kolukanova picked up the win. Cielo sprinted to the win in an improved provisional time of 20.04 and was followed by teammate Scott Goodrich who had a season best time of 20.51. Kolukanova finished with a time of 23.11.
"Cesar and Jakob have been an incredible addition to our program and it really showed through today in the sprint freestyle's," noted Marsh.
Breaking her own Auburn record by just over 10 points, Gerlach defeated the Gator competition by more than 80 points to grab her second straight win on 3-meter. She did so with a score of 344.03. Segerlin won the 3-meter in similar fashion, as he broke Caesar Garcia's record, held since 2003, by over 12 points - 394.80. Teammate Morgan was fourth with a total of 271.88.
"Steve winning both diving events again this week was once again key," Marsh said.
Picking up their second individual win of the meet, Kukors took top honors in a time of 50.15 and Cielo touched with a bettered `B' cut of 44.20. Kukors was followed by Kolukanova (50.39) and Jakob Andjkaer was second for the men (44.47).
After winning the 100 back in her first collegiate meet, Goh had another impressive performance in the 200 back, finishing second with a provisional time of 1:59.63. Moss was the third place finisher with a time of 1:59.93. On the men's side, Van Wie was the top finisher for Auburn, coming in third with a bettered `B' cut of 1:45.66.
Shanteau picked up an individual win the 200 breast, turning in a time of 1:58.82. Duerk, Stupp and Anne Amardeilh all posted provisional marks in the 200 breast, finishing second, third, fourth, respectively.
With her second automatic qualifier of the day, Binder was just three seconds off a personal best performance in the 500 free - 4:43.81. The Tigers swept the event as Peirsol was second (4:49.17) followed by Hastrup (4:51.50). Slocki was the highest finisher in the men's 500 free, coming in fifth (4:32.82).
In the women's 100 fly, Bethune finished second with an improved provisional qualifier of 54.22. Kukors touched just behind her in third (55.41). The AU men didn't fare as well, as Puninski was the top finisher in fourth (49.05).
"The women had an outstanding meet overall," Marsh said. "I was very pleased with the performances top to bottom. Adrienne certainly had, maybe, the best meet of her college career. She just continues to improve every week. Margo McCawley is one of the most improved freshman in the nation and we continue to watch Emily Kukors hard work pay off. The individual medley was the event that I enjoyed the most, in terms of, seeing all three swimmers who work so hard, come through is very satisfying."
Shanteau picked up his second win of the competition, this time in the 400 IM with a time of 3:47.87. With the fifth automatic qualifier of the afternoon, Duerk took on the individual win in a time of 4:15.37. Her teammates helped solidify the sweep as Binder was second (4:15.73) and Stupp third (4:16.72).
"I was very pleased with our entire individual medley and breaststroke group," Tierney-Walker said. "Lauren, Julie, Anne, Danielle and Adrienne - they have worked very well together all year and I think it shows in a race like the 400 IM where they pushed the pace a little."
It came down to the wire for the Tiger men but Auburn came out on top with 400 free relay finishes of one, two. Andjkaer, Puninski, Cady and G. Bovell solidified the team victory with a winning time of 2:55.02, a season high. G. Bovell sprinted to the finish with a split of 43.38, the best of the competition. The women's 400 free relay closed out the team victory for Auburn as Margo McCawley, Kolukanova, Moss and Kukors touched in 3:20.48, an improved provisional time.
NEXT MEET: Auburn returns home Friday, Jan. 28, to face Florida State and Arkansas (women only) and the eight seniors will be recognized at the meet.
Auburn Men's Results
1-meter diving: Steven Segerlin - 335.03, 1, Scott Morgan - 232.05, 5
200 MR: Van Wie, Maras, Puninski, Cielo - 1:28.63, 1 ... Wike, Osborne, Weniger, Lundquist - 1:29.56, 3 .... Schneider, Roberts, Scott, Johnson - 1:34.38, 6
1650 Free: Anthony Fleming - 15:28.08, 3, Andrew Callahan - 15:51.01, 5, Daniel Slocki - 15:57.77, 6, Jeff Smith - 16:09.70, 7
200 Free: George Bovell - 1:38.43, 1, Alexei Puninski - 1:39.12, 3, Mark Johnson - 1:40.19, 4, Jakob Andjkaer - 1:40.98, 5, Kurt Cady - 1:42.24, 6
100 Back: Doug Van Wie - 48.31, 2, Scott Goodrich - 49.83, 3, Nick Bovell - 51.14, 5, Joey Schneider - 52.32, 6
100 Breast: James Wike - 55.61, 1, Sean Osborne - 56.17, 4, David Maras - 56.88, 6, Jon Roberts - 57.22, 7
200 Fly: Eric Shanteau - 1:47.55, 3, Mark Johnson - 1:50.97, 5, John Scott - 1:51.68, 6, Anthony Fleming - 1:53.55, 8
50 Free: Cesar Cielo - 20.04, 1, Scott Goodrich - 20.51, 2, Bryan Lundquist - 20.67, 4, Luke Weniger - 21.49, 8
3-meter diving: Steven Segerlin - 394.80, 1, Scott Morgan - 271.88, 4
100 Free: Cesar Cielo - 44.20, 1, Jakob Andjkaer - 44.47, 2, Scott Goodrich - 45.08, 4, George Bovell - 45.43, 6, Jeff Smith - 46.40, 8
200 Back: Doug Van Wie - 1:45.66, 3, James Wike - 1:47.24, 4, Nick Bovell - 1:50.25, 7
200 Breast: Eric Shanteau - 1:58.82, 1, Sean Osborne - 2:02.16, 5, Jon Roberts - 2:04.85, 6, Andrew Callahan - 2:06.05, 8
500 Free: Daniel Slocki - 4:32.82, 5, Anthony Fleming - 4:35.03, 6, Jeff Smith - 4:42.16, 7, John Scott - 4:50.02, 8
100 Fly: Alexei Puninski - 49.05, 4, Jakob Andjkaer - 49.41, 5, Bryan Lundquist - 50.03, 6, Luke Weniger - 50.05, 7
400 IM: Eric Shanteau - 3:47.87, 1, James Wike - 3:54.23, 4, Mark Johnson - 4:06.16, 7, Nick Bovell - 4:06.35, 8
400 FR: Andjkaer, Puninski, Cady, G. Bovell - 2:55.02, 1 ... Cielo, Lundquist, Van Wie, Goodrich - 2:56.47 ... Weniger, Osborne, Callahan, Scott - 3:10.87 ... Schneider, Fleming, Roberts, Maras - 3:11.01, 6
Auburn Women's Results
1-meter diving: Corey Lynn Gerlach - 239.47, 2
200 MR: Goh, Amardeilh, Moss, Kolukanova - 1:41.91, 2 ... Morales, Jensen, Bethune, Ewing - 1:43.81, 3 ... Volcan, Duerk, Nelson, LeClair - 1:46.14, 5
1650 Free: Adrienne Binder - 15:56.41, 1, Hayley Peirsol - 16:12.74, 2, Chelsea Haser - 16:51.56, 5, Julianne McLane - 17:04.90, 8
200 Free: Emily Kukors - 1:46.23, 1, Margo McCawley - 1:48.60, 2, Erin Volcan - 1:51.40, 6, Daniela Brands - 1:53.71, 7
100 Back: Rachel Goh - 54.93, 1, Jeri Moss - 55.42, 2, Gisela Morales - 56.72, 4
100 Breast: Julie Stupp - 1:03.20, 2, Lauren Duerk - 1:04.09, 3, Alicia Jensen - 1:04.44, 4, Anne Amardeilh - 1:04.49, 5
200 Fly: Kristen Hastrup - 1:59.57, 2, Tawnie Bethune - 1:59.91, 3, Danielle LeClair - 2:01.66, 6, Kara Nelson - 2:04.99, 7
50 Free: Jana Kolukanova - 23.11, 1, Margo McCawley - 23.61, 3, Emile Ewing - 23.71, 4, Rachel Goh - 23.95, 5
3-meter diving: Corey Lynn Gerlach - 344.03, 1
100 Free: Emily Kukors - 50.16, 1, Jana Kolukanova - 50.39, 2, Emile Ewing - 51.53, 4, Gisela Morales - 53.29, 6
200 Back: Rachel Goh - 1:59.63, 3, Jeri Moss - 1:59.93, 3, Erin Volcan - 2:00.99, 4, Julianne McLane - 2:04.37, 7
200 Breast: Lauren Duerk - 2:15.53, 2, Julie Stupp - 2:15.61, 3, Anne Amardeilh - 2:17.60, 4, Alicia Jensen - 2:19.15, 5
500 Free: Adrienne Binder - 4:43.81, 1, Hayley Peirsol - 4:49.17, 2, Kristen Hastrup - 4:51.50, 3, Chelsea Haser - 4:56.57, 7
100 Fly: Tawnie Bethune - 54.22, 2, Emily Kukors - 55.41, 3, Margo McCawley - 55.66, 4, Kara Nelson - 56.42, 5
400 IM: Lauren Duerk - 4:15.37, 1, Adrienne Binder - 4:15.73, 2, Julie Stupp - 4:16.72, 3, Danielle LeClair - 4:23.81, 7
400 FR: McCawley, Kolukanova, Moss, Kukors - 3:20.48 ... Volcan, Ewing, Hastrup, Stupp - 3:27.93 ... Amardeilh, Morales, Nelson, Brands - 3:30.50