Oct. 5, 2011
AUBURN - Auburn swimmers posted six NCAA provisional qualifying times and two divers earned NCAA Zone qualifying scores as the Tigers opened the 2011-12 season with a 142.5-100.5 victory over Arkansas on Wednesday at the James E. Martin Aquatics Center.
The Tigers won nine of the 13 events and posted strong times for an early-season meet. It was Auburn's fourth victory in four tries over Arkansas in dual-meet competition.
Hannah Riordan took two individual victories on the day to lead the Tigers. She earned an NCAA `B' cut in the 50 free with a 22.77 to win the event; teammate Haley Krakoski took second place with a 23.53. Later, in the 100 free, Riordan again was triumphant with a 50.24, leading an Auburn sweep with Krakoski (51.14) and Lindsey Norberg (52.33).
Sophomore Emily Bos earned a provisional cut in her first individual swim of the season, posting a 1:58.49 in the 200 back to win by more than two-and-a-half seconds. She also helped the top 200 medley relay team open the meet with a provisional cut of their own, swimming a 25.09 leadoff leg to help Abby Duncan, Megan Fonteno and Kelsey Winters to a winning time of 1:41.24.
The Tigers actually took the top three spots in the meet-opening event, with the second-place team of Erin Reisinger, Lauren Norberg, Olivia Scott and Haley Krakoski also posting an NCAA `B' cut time of 1:41.43. In third place with another provisional qualifier was Hannah Riordan, Laura Johnson, Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace and Lindsey Norberg, who posted a 1:41.96.
Junior Katie Gardocki was already in midseason form in the 1000 freestyle, posting a time of 9:46.68, falling just .02 seconds shy of a personal best and bettering what already ranks as the fifth-best time in Auburn history. She finished a full 17 seconds ahead of Arkansas All-American Chelsea Franklin to claim the victory for Auburn. She was also Auburn's top finisher in the 200 fly, taking third place in 2:06.81.
Junior Lauren Norberg picked up another individual win for the Tigers, taking top honors in the 200 breaststroke with an NCAA `B' cut time of 2:14.99. Laura Johnson was third (2:18.12) and Duncan was fifth (2:19.16).
Vanderpool-Wallace earned a victory in the 200 freestyle with a 1:48.85, and junior Becca Jones took second place with a 1:50.27.
Freshman Abby Duncan was the Tigers' top finisher in the 200 IM, posting a 2:04.53 in her first collegiate individual event, and senior Kelsey Winters was third with a 2:05.17.
In the diving well, senior Vennie Dantin got her 2011-12 season off to a great start by sweeping the top spots on both boards. She posted a 338.55 in the 3-meter event and a 301.20 on the 1-meter board - both NCAA Zone qualifying scores - to earn a pair of wins for the Tigers. Fellow senior Anna Aguero was the runner-up on 1-meter with a 270.45, also an NCAA Zone qualifier, and she took third in the 3-meter event with a 298.88. Freshman Cinzia Calabretta finished fourth in the 3-meter event, falling just short of a zone score with a 274.95, and fellow freshman Shanna Schuelein took third place on the 1-meter board with a 257.40, giving the Tigers a sweep of the top three spots.
Auburn took third place in the day's final event with the team of Siena DeVenuto, Jones, Aimee Middleton and Lindsey Norberg posting a 7:43.40 in the 800 freestyle relay.
The Auburn women will return to competition on Friday, Oct. 21, as they travel to Notre Dame for a non-conference dual meet. Auburn's men will also compete that day as they open their conference season with a dual meet at LSU.
For complete coverage of Auburn swimming & diving, visit AuburnTigers.com.
Auburn Swimming & Diving
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
James E. Martin Aquatics Center - Auburn, Ala.
Team Scores: Auburn 142.5, Arkansas 100.5 (women)
Auburn Top Finishers:
200 Medley Relay: 1. Bos, Duncan, Fonteno, Winters (1:41.24); 1000 Freestyle: 1. Gardocki (9:46.88); 200 Freestyle: 1. Vanderpool-Wallace (1:48.85); 50 Freestyle: 1. Riordan (22.77); 200 IM: 2. Duncan (2:04.53); 1M Diving: 1. Dantin (301.20); 200 Butterfly: 3. Gardocki (2:06.81); 100 Freestyle: 1. Riordan (50.24); 200 Backstroke: 1. Bos (1:58.49); 500 Freestyle: 5. Wine (5:03.54); 3M Diving: 1. Dantin (338.55); 200 Breaststroke: 1. La. Norberg (2:14.99); 800 Freestyle Relay: 3. DeVenuto, Jones, Middleton, Li. Norberg (7:43.40).