Swimming and Diving Recap: Alabama Men Win Tennessee Invitational
11/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 22, 2010
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama swimming and diving team wrapped up an outstanding weekend at the Tennessee Invitational that included a school record, 13 swims that rank in the Crimson Tide's all-time top-10 and 18 individual and relay wins.
"We came away from the weekend with a some tremendous performances, including several that should carry through to the NCAA Championships," UA head coach Eric McIlquham said. "Now we can focus in on training, our upcoming exams and the second half of the season."
The Alabama men also came away with the team win, score 1191 points, more than 200 better than second place Virginia Tech and third place Tennessee. The Tide women finished fourth with 745 points. Alabama's men are now 5-0 overall and 4-0 in Southeastern Conference competition with wins over Auburn, LSU, Tennessee and Kentucky.
The Tide men won all five relays while in Knoxville, including taking first and second in the 800 freestyle relay as well as the 200 medley relay.
"To win all five relays against the quality of competition we saw this weekend really shows our versatility as a team and to go one-two in not just one, but two relays shows the quality of our depth," McIlquham said.
Four men jumped on to Alabama's all-time top-10 lists, including freshman Vlad Caciuc who is now eighth in the 50 freestyle after posting a 20.24; freshman Alex Coci, who is seventh in the 100 butterfly after touching the wall at 48.31; freshman Devan Terry, who is ninth in the 200 individual medley with a 1:50.15; and freshman Hunter Hinson, who is ninth in the 400 IM with a 3:55.28.
Terry won three individual events, including the 100 and 200 breaststrokes as well as the 200 IM, giving him the most Tide wins on the weekend. All three of his wins came with career-best times.
Senior Catalin Cosma won the 500 and 1650 freestyles and ranks in the nation's top-10 in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyles after his distance domination in Knoxville.
On the women's side of the slate, senior Kate Shannon Gray broke the Alan Jones Aquatic Center records in the 200 and 400 IM as well as bettering her own school mark in the 200 IM. She also posted career-best times in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, where she is now ranked seventh and fourth all-time for the Tide, respectively.
There are three rookies who joined Gray on the UA all-time top-10, including Kristel Vourna, who is third in the 50 freestyle at 22.92, fourth in the 100 freestyles with a 50.19 and fifth in the 100 butterfly after touching the wall at 53.82; Marissa Dressel, who is eighth in the 500 freestyle with a 4:54.12; and Lauren Piper, who is fourth in the 100 backstroke with a 55.21 and the 200 backstroke with a 1:59.71.
Players Mentioned
