Women's team laps competition
By NOREEN GILLESPIE
Saint Mary's Editor
Powering their way to an unbeaten record so far this season, the Irish women swimmers and divers improved to 6-0 with three dual meet wins this weekend.
Beating Miami of Ohio 223-77, the women secured two additional victories by defeating Kenyon 242-58 and Pittsburgh 198-102, winning 12 of the 16 events.
While the scores posted improved the team's record, the meet was good, but not great according to Irish head coach Bailey Weathers.
"It's a hard thing when you swim three different teams," Weathers said. "You go in worrying about all three, and you have to put your best lineup forward. The lineup we swam this weekend was the best one we could put together swimming three teams."
Distance events proved to be the high point of the meet, with junior Kristen Van Saun coming away with double wins for the Irish. Completing the 1650 freestyle in 16 minutes, 47.91 seconds, Van Saun returned in the 500 with a first place finish and a season-best time of 4:57.70.
Irish butterfliers dominated the waters Saturday, with the women capturing first, second and third place finishes in the 200 butterfly against all three teams. Led by senior Alison Newell's first place finish in 2:04.79, freshman Amy Derger claimed second in 2:05.08. Senior Elizabeth Barger completed the trio's effort, capturing third in 2:07.93.
Sprint freestylers also turned in solid performances, with junior Carrie Nixon and sophomore Brooke Davey teaming up for a one-two finish in the 50 freestyle. Nixon's first place finish posted at 23.50, followed by Davey in 24.47. Nixon finished off the sprints with another first place finish in the 100 freestyle in 51.48.
Single event wins came from the 400 medley relay team of sophomore Kelly Hecking, sophomore Alison Lloyd, Barger and Nixon, freshman Lindsay Moorhead in the 200 freestyle, Hecking in the 100 backstroke, and senior Shannon Suddarth in the 200 breast stroke. The 400 freestyle relay team of Moorhead, Davey, Nixon and junior Brenda Reilly finished the day with a final win.
The divers came up short of a win, but they found solid performances in sophomore Heather Mattingly's second place finishes on the one-meter and three-meter boards, and senior Rhiana Saunders fourth place finishes in the one-meter and three-meter events. Senior Gina Ketlehohn wrapped up with fifth place finishes on each board.
Heading into this weekend's Minnesota Invitational, the women look to incorporate speed to strengthen solid performances, said Weathers.
"We're faster than we've been all season, but we still need to get better speed-wise," Weathers said. "We still have to continue to build speed. We've done quality work, and have a good training base. We've done the right things in the weight room. The last thing we've got to do is incorporate that speed."
But as far as lineups go, the women look at one of the more solid squads in recent history.
"This is one of the more balanced teams that we've had," Weathers said. "We've got solid athletes in every event. It will be interesting to see where we are as the season goes on."
All Sports Stories for Tuesday, November 16, 1999
