The Week that Was: Week 9
11/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 25, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - It was a long weekend for the Crimson Tide, with Alabama in two different locales, the swimmers staying at home in Tuscaloosa, facing off against Auburn over two days while the divers made the trip to Atlanta to face Auburn in the midst of the Georgia Tech Invitational Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In Tuscaloosa, the Tide and Tigers also went long course (50-meters), which fit in with Alabama's training over the past few months, while the divers added the platform event to the normal dual meet slate of one and three-meter diving.
"This weekend we had some really strong swims, looking really good in the distance events and getting nine NCAA `B' cuts, which is good to have under our belts as we close out the fall training cycle," head coach Eric McIlquham said. "It was a good weekend, but we can't let up at all. We have to keep pounding away because our focus remains on the championship season."
The Crimson Tide men went the distance against Auburn, sweeping the top spots in the 200, 400 and 1500-meter freestyles, 200 and 400m IMs, 200m breaststroke, 200m butterfly and the 800m freestyle relay. The Tide actually took first and second in the 400m freestyle, 1500m freestyle and 400 IM and one-two-three in the 200m freestyle.
Junior All-American Mark Randall led the charge for the Tide, winning the 200, 400 and 1500m freestyles. His times, when converted to short course yards, put him atop the national rankings in the 500 freestyle, second in the mile and eighth in the 200 freestyle. He is a second faster than the nation's second place 500 freestyler. Freshman Joe Ziegler clocks in at No. 8 nationally in the 500 freestyle after the weekend.
Sophomore Denes Zubcsek's winning 200m butterfly time against the Tigers vaulted him to a second place national ranking this week while senior All-American Chris Perry's 100 backstroke time ranks him ninth in the 100 backstroke.
On the women's side of the slate sophomore Kate Shannon Gray had an outstanding weekend in the individual medley events, posting times that rank her fifth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 400 IM nationally. Sophomore Ida Persson posted a huge time in the 50 freestyle, pushing her to sixth nationally.
Off the boards, freshman Carrie Dragland won the platform at the Georgia Tech Invitational and the three-meter board against Auburn. Sophomore Lauren Dunn took first against Auburn off the one-meter board. Dunn was second off the three-meter while Dragland was second off the one-meter against Auburn.
Players Mentioned
