Feb. 22, 2006

Results

HOUSTON (SMU) - The 2006 C-USA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship and Men's Invitational got underway on Wednesday, Feb. 22, at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center in Houston, Texas. After the first day of the four-day event, SMU leads on the women's side with a total of 80 points, followed by Rice (66), East Carolina (62), Houston (62), Tulane (58) and Marshall (52). On the men's side, East Carolina holds a convincing first place position with 122 points, followed by SMU (97) and Hawai'i (88).

The half-day opener began with the 1-meter men's diving and followed up with the finals in the men's and women's 200-yard medley relay, 1-meter men's diving and men's and women's 800-yard freestyle relay.

In its first time competing in the Conference USA Men's Swimming and Diving Invitational, Hawai'i jumped to a great start. The Rainbow Warrior Mats Wiktorsson took the top spot in the first event of the day in the 1-meter men's diving preliminary event with a score of 312.75 en route to capturing a first place finish later in the day. Wiktorsson took home the title with a score of 336.35, a CRWC pool record. SMU's Philip Griffin also beat the pool record tally of 302.95 with his 334.70 mark. East Carolina's Robbie Derr wrapped up the top three as the senior recorded 266.35 points.

In the women's 200-yard medley relay, SMU's tandem of Roxane Akradi, Tamara Sambrailo, Petra Klosova and Laura Pomeroy touched for the win with a CRWC pool record and Conference USA meet record with a time of 1:40.92, which also sets a NCAA B Qualifying time. The previous record was set last year as the TCU Horned Frogs swam 1:44.11. Houston's team of Andrea Pa'lmai, Szi Szi Szanto, Lauren VanCleave and Sasha Schwendenwein came in second for the first event of the championship, breaking the Cougar's program record with a time of 1:44.30.

SMU's men's team of Ian Clark, Alex Hetland, Luka Vrtovec and Per Nylin won the men's 200-yard medley relay with another meet record time of 1:29.01. The time set a NCAA B Qualifying time, while the runner-up tandem of University of Hawaii's Thomas Winkler, Nicola Xella, Greg Wilson and Dave Abrams also came in just under the previous meet record of 1:30.53. The foursome touched with a time of 1:29.35.

The final event of the evening, the women's 800-yard freestyle relay, was highlighted by SMU's relay squad (Candace Blackman, Jennifer Blackman, Katie Roberts and Celina Lemmen). The team had a time of 7:10.93, which also set a C-USA Championship meet, CRWC pool record and an NCAA A Qualifying time. Rice's crew of Carly Miller, Brittany Massengale, Carey Hain and Caitlin Warner came in second with a time of 7:24.62, bettering the previous meet record time of 7:25.96. That mark was set by a 2005 TCU squad.

The Mustang's men tandem of JD White, Justin Smith, Shane Milu and Ian Clark won the men's 800-yard freestyle relay with a time of 6:38.27. That mark bettered the previous meet record of 6:39.12, set by Louisville's 2005 squad. The Rainbow Warriors came in second with a time of 6:47.59, while East Carolina touched at 6:58.87.

The 2006 C-USA Women's Swimming and Diving Championship and Men's Invitational will continue tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 23 with prelims beginning at 10 a.m. (CT). Wednesday's finals are slated for 6 p.m. For a complete list of results, please go to:

http://uhcougars.collegesports.com/sports/w-swim/spec-rel/hou-c-usa-06-championship.html

Women's Team Scores
SMU              80
Rice             66
East Carolina    62
Houston          62
Tulane           58
Marshall         52

Men's Team Scores
East Carolina    122
SMU              97
Hawai'i          88