Dec. 7, 2008

Hodgson Breaks ACC Record In 200 Back On Final Day Of USA Short Course Nationals
If the Florida State swim team was looking to make a statement at the 2008 ConocoPhillips USA Short Course Nationals they can consider that mission accomplished. Junior Andy Hodgson capped a historic performance by the Seminoles by breaking the ACC record in the 200 back on the final day of the meet.

Hodgson touched the wall in 1:41.99 breaking Virginia’s Luke Wagner’s seven year-old mark of 1:42.67. Hodgson’s swim earned him third place, two spots behind Olympic Gold Medalist Ryan Lochte.

In total the Seminole men broke six school records at the three day meet, a remarkable performance at the half way point in the season.

The FSU women were led by Stephanie Sarandos who finished seventh in the 200 back with a NCAA provisional qualifying time of 1:57.23. Sarandos swam a collegiate best 1:56.81 in the prelims.

Virginia’s Christensen Sets Another Conference Record
Third-year Mei Christensen set an Atlantic Coast Conference record for the second consecutive day as the Virginia men’s and women’s swimming teams concluded the UVa Invitational Saturday at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. The Cavaliers set two ACC records, four school records and 11 pool records during the three-day meet.

Christensen supplemented her 100 back record set Friday with a win in the 200 back, touching at 1:54.71 for an NCAA B time. The previous conference record was set in 2008 by Clemson’s Michelle Parkhurst (1:55.33) and the previous school record was held by former Cavalier Brielle White (1:55.67). Christensen broke the Aquatic and Fitness Center pool record (1:56.42) she set earlier in 2008.

The women additionally ended the night with a school record in the 400 free relay. The squad of Kristen Moores, Kristen Wallace, Christensen and Megan Evo also set a pool record in the event, finishing in 3:18.61.

Georgia Tech Completes U.S. Short Course Nationals
Ryann Kopacka set a school record in the 200-back as the Georgia Tech swimming teams completed the final day at the 2008 ConocoPhillips Short Course National Championships Saturday night at the Georgia Tech Aquatics Center.

With a record in the women's 400-free relay as well, the Yellow Jackets set 10 school records on the weekend competing against the best swimmers in the nation, including several Olympians. Tech will now be off for final exams and winter break and get back to meet action next month.

Overall, Tech placed third in the college and university division for the whole meet and was the highest ACC school. It was behind only Florida and Auburn. The men were fourth and the women finished fifth.

NC State Wraps Up Stay at Husky Invite
NC State men’s and women’s swimming wrapped up its stay at the Husky Invitational with the third and final day of action on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Anna Linkenauger swam the second fastest 200 breaststroke on the team this season with a 2:20.10, good for 11th overall. Jen Kopenitz added a 2:03.04 for eighth in the 200 backstroke after offering a 2:01.82 in the prelims. Erica Smith also swam a 2:23.18 in the 200 backstroke prelims, while Kopenitz clocked in with a 54.22 in the 100 freestyle prelims.

On the men's side, Stephen Mellor put up the fastest Wolfpack time on the season with a third place finish of 1:46.32 in the 200 backstroke. In the 1650 freestyle Mason McGee added another top time on the year with a 15:31.83, while Andrew Lester’s 16:05.85 is the third quickest. McGee finished in the fourth place, while Lester took 13th.

Clemson Concludes Competition at Georgia Invite
The swimming and diving team competed at the Georgia Invite in Athens during the weekend against some of the nation's top teams, and came away with several impressive times. The highlight of Saturday action was junior Tom Recko's 200 back, which was the top qualifying time for the event in the session. Recko posted a 1:46.12, the second-best effort of his career.

Several other Tigers hit personal bests during the Saturday prelims, including sophomore Meggie Mizelle, who improved her 200 butterfly time by six hundredths of a second to 2:02.76. She currently holds the seventh-best time in Clemson history.

The Tigers will break for final exams and will return to the pool in the new year with the swimmers heading for winter training and a meet at Florida Atlantic on Jan. 2, while the divers will compete in the Tennessee Diving Invite from Jan. 3-5.

Hurricanes Swimming & Diving Finish Fifth at OSU Invite
The University of Miami swimming and diving team finished fifth on the women's side on Sunday with a total of 371 points at the Ohio State Invitational held at the McCorkle Aquatics Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Hurricanes men's diving team finished with 49 points, all by junior All-American Reuben Ross.

Miami turned in their second first place award of the weekend over in the diving well as All-American and defending National Champion Brittany Viola continued her mastery of the platform event with a score of 308.80 to collect her first platform title of the year in her very first appearance on the 10-meter level. For Viola, it was her third platform award in as many tries dating back to last season's NCAA and ACC Championships.

Viola, a junior from Orlando, Fla., still owns the pool record at the McCorkle Aquatics Center with a score of 362.60 turned in on the platform last year.

Brummond, Hoffman Compete On Platform In Final Day Of Invitational
The Duke diving team completed competition Sunday afternoon at the Ohio State Invitational, with junior Julie Brummond and freshman Shawn Hoffman representing the Blue Devils in the finals-only platform event at the McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion at OSU.

Duke had competed in the one- and three-meter events earlier this weekend and ended with the platform today. Hoffman, a freshman, competed on the platform for the first time this season in his first collegiate invitational meet, taking eighth overall with a score of 245.35. The field included the reigning NCAA champion in the event, the Buckeyes’ Sean Moore, and several 2008 Olympians. Moore took first with a pool-record 434.60 Sunday.

On the women’s side, Brummond turned in a ninth-place overall finish in her first platform performance of the season with a 204.60.