Complete Results
MANSFIELD, Texas (SMU) – Junior
Matea Samardzic led the SMU women's swimming and diving team with three Championship Final appearances at the Art Adamson Invitational hosted by Texas A&M Nov. 17-19 at the Mansfield ISD Natatorium. As a team, the Mustangs finished fifth, posting a three-day team score of 359.
The junior earned her highest finish in the 200-yard backstroke as she out-touched the field and dropped her season-best time to 1:53.54 for the win. In the 100-yard backstroke, she placed third posting another NCAA Provisional Standard of 53.83. In the 400-yard individual medley, Samardzic clocked a 4:12.22, which is not only an NCAA B cut, but also the second-fastest on the all-time performers list at SMU. The time was good for fourth in the event.
Senior
Kirsty McLauchlan also scored for the Mustangs in the 400-yard individual medley, while freshman
Agata Magner picked up points in the 200-yard backstroke.
Senior All-American and butterfly specialist
Marne Erasmus made a pair of trips to Championship Finals. In the 100-yard distance, Erasmus clocked a season-best 52.23 to stay under the NCAA Provisional Standard, before going 1:59.64 in the 200 for fifth place.
Freshman
Erin Trahan was also in the A Final of the 200, placing sixth at 2:00.11, and was also 11th overall in the 100 with a season-best 54.34, giving her the first NCAA B cut of her career.
Both
Tara-Lynn Nicholas and
Anna Cheesbrough won Consolation Finals, with Nicholas posting a 2:13.46 in the 200-yard breaststroke, and Cheesbrough topping the field in the 200-yard butterfly at 1:59.31. Nicholas also placed third in the 100 breast Consolation Final.
The duo of
Hannah Rogers and
Vicky Cunningham led the sprint freestyle group as Rogers posted a 23.47 for 16th in the 50 free, and Cunningham was 12th overall in the 100 distance at 50.21. Cunningham was also 10th, posting a season-best 1:48.69 in the 200, with
Maddie Hoch close behind touching in 1:49.63, good for 14th.
El Yellin and
Alexandra Manasso scored for the Ponies in the mile, placing 13th and 16th, respectively.
SMU had a successful showing in relay events, finishing in the top five in three of five. In medley relay action, Samardzic, Nicholas, Erasmus and Rogers were fifth in the 200 distance (1:40.44), while Cunningham joined the same trio for a fourth place finish and season best in the 400 distance (3:37.65).
In freestyle relays, the Mustangs were fifth in the 800 (Samardzic, Hoch,
Ursa Bezan, Cunningham), and sixth in both the 200 (Rogers, Trahan, Erasmus, Cunningham) and 400 (Hoch, Samardzic,
Adrienn Santa, Cunningham).
Select Mustangs will compete at USA Nationals in Atlanta Dec. 1-3, and at the Arena Pro Swim Series in Austin Jan. 13-15. The team returns to action Jan. 20 when it heads to College Station for a dual meet with Texas A&M. Check SMUMustangs.com for ways to follow.
