Swimming and Diving Freshman Has Dynamite Debut at SMU Classic
10/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Alabama swimming and diving coach Eric McIlquham took a contingent of nine women to the SMU Swim Classic to square off against some of the nation’s top teams in an early season showdown held in Dallas, Texas this weekend.
The Crimson Tide’s squad, made up of eight swimmers and one diver came away with fourth place in the team competition with 258 points. Host school SMU won the meet with 328 points.
The meet served as a coming out party for Tide freshman Agustina de Giovanni, who redshirted last season. In her first competition wearing the crimson and white of Alabama, de Giovanni was dominating in the 500 freestyle, posting a 4:48.37, five seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. Her time not only blew away the competition in Dallas, but puts her second all-time for the Crimson Tide, less than a second and a half off Laurence Bensimon’s 1985 school record.
De Giovanni was also second in the 200 IM with a 2:02.60, a time that ranks her fourth all-time for the Tide. She also posted the third fastest time of the meet in the 200 freestyle with a 1:51.36.
Senior Victoria Genova picked up a victory of her own in arguably the most exciting race of the meet when she out touched FSU’s Lauren Brick by .05 to win the 200 butterfly with a 2:03.04. Senior Melina Bassino was second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 56.67.
Alabama returns to action Friday, November 10 in Baton Rouge, La. where the women will face off against LSU and Arkansas and the men will take on LSU.
