Dec. 1, 2006
West Lafayette, Ind. - Melissa Marik, Abby MacGregor, Julie Stupp and Kara Denby swam to victory in the women's 400m medley relay on Friday evening at the U.S. Open. Former Tiger Kirsty Coventry captured the win in the 100m back and Doug Van Wie was runner-up in the men's 100m back.
The relay squad trailed the King Aquatic Club squad throughout the first three legs of the race, but Denby made up ground of the freestyle leg, splitting 56.08, to pull ahead of Leona Jennings for the team crown.
Tiger Olympian Coventry turned in a new U.S. Open meet record in the 100m back for the win - 1:01.34 - and Van Wie finished in second in the event - 55.69. Margaret Hoelzer, one day removed from a victory in the 200m back, finished third in the 100m back. She also swam to a runner-up finish in the B final of the 100m fly (1:02.05).
Three more Tigers swam in A finals on Friday evening - Emily Kukors (4th, 200m free, 2:02.72 and 7th, 400m IM, 4:55.36), Eric Shanteau (3rd, 400m IM, 4:19.93) and Julie Stupp (6th, 400m IM, 4:53.28).
The men's 200m fly and women's 200 IM B finals were filled out by Tiger swimmers. Former Tiger Jeremy Knowles was second (55.34) and John Scott came in eighth (56.50). Newcomer Ava Ohlgren won the B final of the women's 400m IM (4:51.38) and senior Adrienne Binder touched the wall in third (4:52.94).
Also swimming in B finals was Scott Goodrich in the 100m back (4th, 58.08), Gisela Morales in the 100m back (5th, 1:04.26) and Andrew Callahan in the 400m IM (3rd, 4:30.99).
Swimming in C finals were Pascal Wolloch (100m back), Tyler McGill (100m fly), Jordan Anderson (100m fly), Ohlgren (200m free) and Hayley Peirsol 400m IM). The men's 400m medley relay's came in 11th and 15th. The women's B 400m medley relay ended up eighth (Emile Ewing, Alicia Jensen, Kara Nelson and Maggie Bird - 4:22.78).
The 2006 U.S. Open resumes Saturday morning at 9 a.m. ET with prelims in the men's and women's 100m freestyle, 200m breaststroke and 200m butterfly. Timed finals for the women's 800m free and men's 1500m free will also be held throughout the day Saturday.