University of Houston Athletics
Swimming and Diving Upsets Arkansas on Monday
1/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Jan. 4, 2005
HONOLULU, Hawai'i - The University of Houston swimming and diving team wrapped up its stay in Hawai'i in impressive fashion Monday by taking a 60-44 win over Arkansas in a tri-meet at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatic Complex.
The Cougars' win was their first against a Southeastern Conference opponent since an 81-59 win at Arkansas on Nov. 1, 1997.
In their other meet of the day, the Cougars dropped a 65-29 decision to Pacific, which was ranked as high as No. 15 in some national polls this season.
As many as 30 collegiate teams are holding their winter training in the Aloha State in late December/early January. While the Cougars have been training hard and competing tired, many of the team's swimmers stepped up with impressive performances, head coach Mark Taylor said.
As usual, the Cougar divers dominated their event, with junior captain Azul Almazan and sophomore Anna Kiess placing 1-2 on the 1-meter springboard.
Senior captain Kristin Bay finished second in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.06, while sophomore Szintia Szanto placed second in the 200-yard butterfly with a clocking of 2:07.37.
Szanto also finished third in the 200-yard breaststroke, while junior Stacey Williams earned a similar finish with a time of 2:12.88 in the 200-yard individual medley.
Monday's meet was the second meet for the Cougars during their trip to Hawai'i. On Friday, the swimmers competed at the Duke Kahanamoku Sprint Meet.
At that event, Bay finished second in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 58.66, and second in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 28.08.
Szanto earned a second-place showing a time of 59.90 in the 100-yard butterfly, while junior Tatjana Banjeglav finished third in the 50-yard breaststroke with a time of 32.55.
Freshman Nicole Vaiana finished third in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 56.48.
On the relays' side, the Cougars' 200-yard medley relay team of Bay, Szanto, Williams and senior Meagan Wien finished second with a time of 1:53.61.
The Cougars' 10-woman 500-yard freestyle relay team of Bay, Liz Goeggel, Wien, Alejandra Salazar, Szanto, Banjeglav, Vaiana, Amy Duke, Williams and Jenny Hagen finished first with a time of 4:24.15.
Players Mentioned
