DALLAS (SMU) – In her first event of the annual SMU Classic, sophomore Carlotta Scarpitti earned a new personal best in the 400-yard individual medley with a time of 4:19.86, beating her previous time of 4:22.37 set in February. Madeleine Lewis followed, setting a new personal best time in the 100 breast, 1:02.23, earning her second place in the Championship Final.
The SMU women's swimming and diving team kicked off its 2023-24 season with night one of action at the two-day SMU Classic held at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium.
"I'm pretty proud of the girls, they did a phenomenal job," head women's swimming coach Ozzie Quevedo said. "The meet is pretty much telling us where we are right now. And in training, we have to find a way to get better and bounce back tomorrow."
As a team, the Mustangs sit in fifth place with 104 points.
The event welcomes top competition from around the country — Louisville, Auburn, Missouri, USC, Miami — and features eight swimmers and one diver from each competing institution. Each swimmer may compete in three events per day with one required to be a relay, and events are contested in two heats, with one swimmer from each school in each heat. Divers will compete on 1 and 3 meter.
The 400 medley relay team consisting of Jimena Leal, Lewis, Valentina Becerra, Johanna Gudmundsdottir touched the wall at the 3:37.39 mark. In the final women's event of the night, Lucrezia Napoletano, Indra Vandenbussche, Jenna Watson and Becerra posted a time of 7:25.30 in the 800 freestyle relay.
"I think it's just a testament of what Madeleine has been doing," Quevedo said. "As of late, I think her leadership is definitely speaking for herself. I mean, the way that she handles practice every day, her talent is sort of right there."
In diving action, Jaclynn Fowler finished sixth on 3 meter with a score of 271.75.
Team Standings
USC 175
Louisville 171
Auburn 155
Missouri 123
SMU 104
Miami 100
The final day of action is Saturday at 11 a.m. and features the 200 medley relay, 500 free, 200 breast, 200 back, 3 meter, 100 free, 200 fly, 200 individual medley and 200 free relay. The meet can be seen on PonyUp TV and live results will be available on the Meet Mobile App.
