
Alabama Swimming Posts Top-8 Finishes at U.S. Open
12/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ?? The University of Alabama Swimming and Diving teams continue to shine at the U.S. Open held at Purdue University’s Boilermaker Aquatics Center, posting a pair of top-8 finishes in the 400-meter medley relay to cap day two.
The U.S. Open is the first big meet of the competitive year. Close to 1,000 swimmers have packed the deck at poolside, and the competition is top-notch including more than two-dozen Olympians.
Junior Luke Dickson, senior Hunor Mate’, freshman Alin Mihalca and senior Apostolis Tsagkarakis combined to take third place in the 400-meter medley relay with a 3:49.09. Club Wolverine, which was led by U.S. Olympians Michael Phelps and Klete Keller, won the race with a 3:46.96.
“Tolis brought us home with a great anchor leg,” Alabama head coach Eric McIlquham said. “Luke, Hunor and Alin also had strong splits. It was a good way to finish off day two.”
Alabama won the men’s 400m medley relay a year ago at the U.S. Open, but posted a faster time tonight in a field that was much deeper and stronger than 2005.
The Tide women also put together a strong relay, with freshman Agustina de Giovanni, junior Erin Sparks, senior Victoria Genova and senior Melina Bassino posting a 4:22.13 in the 400m medley, taking seventh.
Genova also finaled in the 100m butterfly, taking 14th place with a 1:02.46, just off U.S. Olympic Trials cut. In other action, Mihalca finished 22nd in the 200m freestyle with a swim of 1:54.74.
The Open comes to a close tomorrow with races in the 100, 800 and 1500m freestyles, 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and the 400m freestyle relays.