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October 26, 2007 > Sports > Swimming starts season smoothly with double dual victories

Swimming starts season smoothly with double dual victories

By Tracy Dansker | For the Thresher

The only thing that could have disappointed the swim team last weekend was an overnight flight delay that stranded the squad in Corpus Christi, Texas. Rice won all four double dual meets in Las Cruces, N.M., offsetting any airline troubles with an impressive showing against New Mexico State University and Northern Colorado University.

The Owls will now face less stringent travel strains as they face Brigham Young University, Florida International, New Orleans, and cross-town rival University of Houston at the Phill Hansel Duals. The meets will be held at the University of Houston Recreation Center Natatorium on today at 5 p.m. and tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Last Friday’s meet opened with the 400-yard medley relay, where Rice finished third and fifth. However, the Owls quickly picked up the pace and took seven first-place finishes in the remaining 10 swimming events. Senior Brittany Massengale dominated her competition in the 1,000-freestyle, finishing in 10 minutes, 11.23 seconds, more than 20 seconds faster than anyone else.

Scoring key points behind Massengale were junior Caitlin Warner and freshman Karen Gerken, who took third and fourth place, respectively. Massengale also finished first in the 500-freestyle, followed closely by second-place teammate Caitlin Warner.

Junior Carlyann Miller took first in the 200-freestyle by a slim margin with a time of 1:55.24 — teammate and junior Keri Hyde slipped in behind her at 1:55.94. Miller also took first in the 100-freestyle in 52.52 seconds.

Rice’s scoring was not limited to upperclassmen. Freshman Ashten Ackerman clinched first place in the 400-individual medley, closely followed by fellow freshman Kait Chura, who took third.

“The freshmen really were tough and showed a lot of strength out there swimming a lot of different events,” assistant coach Jada Hallmark (Sid ‘01) said. “They were very versatile, and we can rely on them a lot to be competitive and score some points.”

Sophomore Angela Wo secured herself first place in the 200-butterfly, while Hyde grabbed second, only 0.19 seconds behind, to round out Friday’s action.

Zelnick, Wo and juniors Diane Gu and Skylar Craig took second-place in the 200-medley relay to start Saturday’s meet. The squad then dominated the 1,000-freestyle, as Massengale, Gerken, freshmen Sarah Korellis and Chura took first, second, third and fifth, respectively.

“The girls in the middle of the lane of the pool were surprised to have this girl on the outside beat them,” Hallmark said.

The 200-butterfly and 500-freestyle were also strong events for the Owls as they earned first- and second-place in both. Later, sophomore Justine Lin got first place in the 200-backstroke with a time of 2:09.93. Sealing the win, the team of Gu, Hyde, Zelnick and Miller took first place in 200-freestyle relay with a time of 1:37.21.

“The most pivotal moment was when we won that last 200-free relay,” Gu said. “If we just kept going the way we were going we probably wouldn’t have won, but we stepped it up and overcame them.”

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