Tide Freshman Swims Monster Mile at Auburn
11/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
The Alabama Swimming and Diving teams fell to the Nos. 1 and 2 teams in the nation Friday night in Auburn.
The No. 21 ranked Alabama men fell to No. 1 Auburn 142-91 while the women fell to the No. 2 ranked Auburn women 144.5-79.5. The Tide men and women both go to 2-2 overall and 0-2 in the Southeastern Conference while the Tiger men go to 7-0, 3-0 SEC and the Auburn women are 6-0, 3-0.
"We ran into a very good Auburn team today," Alabama head coach Eric McIlquham said. "There is a reason they are ranked where they are. But we had some bright spots and we just have to keep working away at it."
One of those bright spots was freshman Mark Randall who posted a 15:12.13 in the 1650 freestyle, becoming the eighth fastest miler in school history and, in just his third meet at Alabama, posted the fastest time at that distance for the Tide in 15 years.
"Mark just continues to prove that he is going to be one of the all-time great distance swimmers here at Alabama," McIlquham said.
Randall finished nearly 30 seconds ahead of a very competitive pack. In the 200 breaststroke, junior Vlad Polyakov once again finished way out in front, touching at 1:55.82, more than seven seconds before anyone else in the race. Junior Apostolis Tsagkarakis won the 100 freestyle with a 45.67. For the women, senior Crystal Rasmussen won the one-meter board with 241.05 points.
Alabama returns to action Nov. 30- Dec. 4 at the U.S. Open back down on the plains in Auburn.
