Arlene Semeco Takes Silver at Pan American Games
7/19/2007 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL ?? Former Alabama All-American swimmer Arlene Semeco took the silver medal in the 50-meter freestyle at the Pan American Games one day after breaking the Pan Am record in that event.
Semeco touched at 25.22, finishing just behind Brazil’s Rebeca Gusmau, who set a Pan Am record of her own with a 25.05, on the way to the gold. Puerto Rico’s Vanessa Vega Garcia took the bronze medal with a 25.46.
"This has been a real breakthrough for Arlene," Alabama head coach Eric McIlquham said. "To earn a silver medal at a competition of this level, to make it to the podium sets her up well for the coming months and her push for the 2008 Olympics."
Semeco, who owns the Alabama school record in the 50 freestyle, broke the Pan American Games record in the 50m freestyle in the semi-finals, posting a 25.14. The Venezuela native broke the previous mark, set by the United State’s Kara Lynn Joyce in 2003, by a tenth of a second.
Rising Crimson Tide sophomore Agustina de Giovanni, representing her native Argentina, advanced to the semi-finals of the 100m breaststroke, finishing ninth, just 6/100ths out of the championship finals.
"Competing at the Pan Am Games is certainly going to help Agustina prepare for next season," McIlquham said. "She came very close to making the finals of the 100 and will swim the 200 breaststroke next which is a better event for her."
