MIAA SWIMMING AND DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY TWO REPORT (FEB. 20, 2004)
EAST GRAND RAPIDS * Heading into the final day of competition at the MIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at East Grand Rapids High School, it's Hope College leading the pack in both the men's and women's meets.
The Hope women continued to widen their lead over second place Calvin as the Flying Dutch built a first place total of 399 points, 96 points ahead of second place Calvin (303). On the men's side, Hope moved ahead of eight-time defending champion Kalamazoo and into first place with a total of 382 points, 37 points ahead of the Hornets. The Calvin men are in third with 210 points, 26 points ahead of fourth place Albion.
In the women's competition, Hope captured five of a possible nine events including a meet record and NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 7:45.58 in the 800 freestyle relay. The Flying Dutch team of Michelle Smith, Audrey Arnold, Sarah Smith and Lisa Smith shattered the previous record of 7:48.13 set by its 1995 team. Earlier in the evening, Arnold defended her title in the 100 backstroke with an NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 1:00.72. Calvin freshman Liz Ingebrigtsen (Bensenville, IL) had Calvin's top finish in the event, placing fifth in 1:02.71. Hope's biggest event of the evening came in the 100 butterfly as the Flying Dutch took four of the top six places led by Lisa Smith who clocked in with an NCAA III A' cut qualifying time of 57.53. Calvin's top point-producing event on Friday was the 400 IM with the Knights going 2-4-6-7-8. Calvin sophomore Abby Johnson (Grand Haven HS) led the Knight brigade with a second place and NCAA III B' cut qualifying time of 4:39.!
15 but was unable to defend her title in the event as Hope's Megan O'Neil nipped her at the finish, clocking in with a B' cut qualifying time of 4:38.73.
Calvin did receive an sizzling performance from freshman Rebekah Weima (Grand Rapids Christian HS) who captured the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:51.29. In the morning prelims, Weima shattered a Calvin and MIAA record in the event with a time of 1:50.94 that is currently the fastest time in the country at the NCAA Division III level.
Weima also anchored Calvin's 800 freestyle relay team of senior Brittney Stevens (Mankato, MN), senior Ginni Baker (Kalamazoo Christian HS) and Johnson that took second with a strong NCAA III B' cut qualifying and school record time of 7:48.49, breaking the previous school record of 7:52.81 set earlier this year.
Other winners in the women's competition Friday included Kalamazoo freshman Elizabeth Garlow in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.12, NCAA B' cut); Albion freshman Lindsay Brown on the one-meter diving board (367.15) and Hope's 200 medley relay team of Arnold, Kristen Hanna, Erika Steele and Lisa Ekdom (1:52.00).
Calvin senior Sara TerHaar (Bradenton, FL) was part of a 2-6 Calvin finish in the one-meter diving competition as she took second with a score of 352.80 with sophomore Julie Erickson (Libertyville, IL) taking sixth (288.30).
Other notables for the Calvin women on Friday included freshman Alex Wilson (Ellsworth, OH) in the 400 IM (4:45.40) and freshman Barbara Frazier (Placerville, CA) who was sixth in the 400 IM (4:58.06) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.45).
In the men's competition, Hope was able to take over the team lead through quality depth and several timely finishes. Calvin's highlight of the evening came in the 100 butterfly as junior Peter Boumgarden took home the gold in the event for the third straight year, clocking in with a time of 51.01.
Hope's victories came in the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Hope's winning 200 medley relay team was made up of Ian Kobes, Ross Geurink, Travis Barkel and Jeff Huydlaff and clocked in with a B' cut qualifying time of 1:34.29. Hope's Kurt Blohm used a powerful finish down the stretch to capture the 200 freestyle with a B' cut qualifying time of 1:41.93 while Kobes defended his title in the 100 backstroke with a B' cut qualifying time of 52.07.
Calvin had a strong performance in the 200 freestyle as senior Brad White (Traverse City) took second (1:43.32 B' cut) while Tuuk was fourth with a career-best time of 1:44.85.
Kalamazoo received first place finishes in the 400 IM by Scott Whitbeck (4:09.32, B' cut), Andrew Kurtz in the 100 breaststroke (56.62) and in the 800 freestyle relay. Kurtz defended his title in winning the 100 breaststroke while his time was an NCAA III A' cut qualifying time.
Calvin sophomore Luke Bagnall (Marshalltown, IA) also continued his strong MIAA meet in placing third in the 400 IM with a career-best time of 4:14.17. Bagnall then joined Tuuk, White and Boumgarden for an thrilling competition in the 800 freestyle relay with Kalamazoo. Calvin came into the event as the three-time defending champion and held the lead going into the final 50 yards but Whitbeck, serving as Kalamazoo's anchorman came up with a furious effort to edge Boumgarden and the Calvin squad as the Hornets clocked in with an NCAA III B' cut time of 6:56.06 with Calvin finishing a close second with a B' cut time of 6:56.70.
The final day of competition begins tomorrow with prelims at 10:00 a.m. and final events at 6:00 p.m.
Jeff Febus
Sports Information Director
Calvin College
(616) 526-6169 Office
(616) 526-8551 Fax
Received on Fri Feb 20 22:37:26 2004
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