Jan. 7, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas - Two of the nation's elite swimming and diving programs faced off Thursday as the No. 5/8 Auburn Tigers took on the No. 1/5 Texas Longhorns at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas. The Longhorn men edged out the Tigers, 130.5-110.5, while Texas topped the Auburn women, 134-107.
"I'm extremely happy with the way the team came out and competed together," Brett Hawke, head coach, said. "We made a complete turnaround from the invitational here last month and showed positive signs for the future. We didn't come here to lose, but we still have our sights set on the NCAA title in March."
The 400 medley relay squad of Kohlton Norys, Adam Klein, Jordan Anderson and Adam Brown gave the Tigers a good start, finishing first in a NCAA "B" cut time of 3:13.44. Two races later, senior captain Tyler McGill put together a strong performance in the 200 free to finish tied for first with one of the nation's bests in Dave Walters. The pair finished in a B time of 1:37.34. McGill also swam individually in the 200 fly, taking second with a B cut of 1:47.27.
Another highlight for Auburn was a Tiger 1-2 finish in the 200 back. Norys touched in first with a B time of 1:46.44, while senior Pascal Wollach came in just .41 behind him in 1:46.85 to take second. Junior Adam Klein had a first-place finish for Auburn in the 200 breast, touching in a B cut of 1:57.87.
Swimming in his first-ever collegiate meet, junior Adam Brown came out strong individually and took a second-place finish in the 50 free with a B time of 19.93. Fellow Brit and classmate Christopher Fox was runner-up in the 100 free, touching the wall in 44.57.
"It was great to see Adam compete so well in his first collegiate meet," Hawke said. "He swam very fast and I'm excited with what he brings to the table in the next couple months."
Senior diver Kelly Marx picked up a pair second-place finishers on the springboard events. He opened on the one-meter, recording a Zone score of 333.14. Marx tallied another Zone score on the three-meter with 390.60 points.
Finishing 2-3 in the 200 IM were junior Andrew Mitchell and freshman Kyle Owens. Mitchell tallied a B time of 1:48.44, while Owens came in at 1:49.45. Freshman Chris Kramer came from being in fifth at one point to finish third in the 1000 free (9:24.51), while senior Will Dove took fourth in the 500 free (4:31.91).
The Tigers and the Longhorns battled to the end, seeing each teams' top 400 free relay squads fight for first. The quartet of Brown, Fox, Norys and McGill came in just .16 behind the Longhorns to take second in 2:55.35.
Auburn recorded 1-2 finishes in the women's 200 back and 50 free, seeing senior Melissa Marik take first in the 200 back with a B cut of 1:57.84 and Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace capture a 50 free win in 23.26. Marik was closely followed by junior Erica Meissner, who finished in a B time of 1:58.72. Freshman Hannah Riordan took second in the 50 free in 23.44.
The 400 free relay of Caitlin Geary, Becca Jones, Ava Ohlgren and Marik closed out the meet handly. The squad finished first in a B time of 3:20.63, almost two seconds ahead of the second-place Longhorns.
Sophomore Vennie Dantin had a solid meet for the Auburn divers. The Conroe, Texas, native captured the one-meter title with a Zone score of 271.72 and finished second on the three-meter with a score of 308.33. Classmate Anna Aguero picked up a pair of fourth-place finishes on the one-meter (253.72) and three-meter (274.28).
Senior Ohlgren picked up a pair of second-place finishes in the 200 IM (1:59.65) and 200 Fly (2:00.74). Also coming in second place in their respective races were Geary in the 100 free (50.80), Stephanie Horner in the 500 free (4:50.79) and Micah Lawrence in the 200 breast (2:12.75).
"Caitlin had her best meet of the year today and really put together a great turnaround," Hawke said. "The sprint freestyles for the women were very strong and I'm happy with the progress they are making. Stephanie is really getting better and better and becoming a great asset for this team."
Opening the meet for the Tigers was the 200 medley relay, seeing the quad of Meissner, Lauren Norberg, Jenny VonJouanne and Lindsey Norberg take second in 1:43.94.
Geary was Auburn's top finisher in the 200 free, taking third with B time of 1:48.55. Junior Micah Martindale also finished third in the 1000 free with a time of 10:06.29.
The Tigers continue their Texas road swing, traveling to College Station to face the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday. The women will also compete against the SMU Mustangs at the meet, which starts at 11:30 a.m.
Auburn Swimming and Diving
Thursday, January 7, 2010
At University of Texas
Lee And Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center; Austin, Texas
Team Scores:
Women: Texas - 134; Auburn - 107
Men: Texas - 130.5; Auburn - 110.5
Auburn Best Finishes- Women: 200 Medley Relay - 2. Meissner, Norberg, Von Jouanne, Norberg ( 1:43.94); 1000 Free - 3. Martindale (10:06.29); 200 Free - 3. Geary (1:48.55); 50 Free - 1. Vanderpool-Wallace (23.26); 200 IM - 2. Ohlgren (1:59.65); 1-meter - 1. Dantin (271.72); 200 Fly - 2. Ohlgren (2:00.74); 100 Free - 2. Geary (50.80); 200 Back - 1. Marik (1:57.84); 500 Free - 2. Horner (4:50.79); 3-meter - 2. Dantin (308.33); 200 Breast - 2. Lawrence (2:12.75); 400 Free Relay - 1. Geary, Jones, Ohlgren, Marik (3:20.63).
Men: 400 Medley Relay - 1. Norys, Klein, Anderson, Brown (3:13.44); 1000 Free - 3. Kramer (9:24.51); 200 Free - T1. Mcgill (1:37.34); 50 Free - 2. Brown (19.93); 200 IM - 2. Mitchell (1:48.44); 1-meter - 2. Marx (333.14); 200 Fly - 2. McGill (1:47.27); 100 Free - 2. Fox (44.57); 200 Back - 1. Norys (1:46.44); 500 Free - 4. Dove (4:31.91); 3-meter - 2. Marx (390.60); 200 Breast -1. Klein (1:57.87); 400 Free Relay - 2. Brown, Fox, Norys, McGill (2:55.35).