Nov. 23, 2002
Results
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The no. 16 Arizona State women's swimming team finished up their southern California trip on Saturday with a 174-125 loss to the #7 USC Trojans at the McDonald's Swim Stadium in Los Angeles. Claire Hedenskog and ?gnes Kov?cs were the lead performers for the Sun Devils, as both swimmers earned or lowered their times for NCAA consideration on their way to two first-place finishes apiece.
Senior All-American Hedenskog pulled off an impressive double by finishing first in both the 50 free (23.54) and the 100 free (50.95), the seventh and eighth events of the day, respectively. Her 50 free time is good for NCAA "B" consideration, as is her 100 time, lowering the previous "B" time she recorded in this distance against UNLV and NAU. Sophomore All-American Florencia Szigeti finished third in the 50 free (24.06) and second in the 200 free (1:50.90), both were her fastest times of the year in the respective events.
Sophomore All-American Kov?cs continues her stellar start to the season and further lowered her nation-leading time in the 200 breast to 2:12.69, an NCAA automatic qualifying time. She also recorded her fastest time of the year in the 100 breast (1:02.07), which gives her another NCAA automatic qualifying time. She finished first in both events. Kov?cs earned a second-place finish in the 400 IM (4:17.31), lowering her NCAA "B" time she recorded earlier this month against Wisconsin. Melissa Bartlett finished third in the 400 IM (4:30.21) and improved her season-best time by six seconds.
Both ASU relays recorded their fastest times of the year, with the 200 medley relay (1:44.94) earning a first-place finish. The 400 free relay (3:29.51) managed a second-place finish.
On the men's side, the Sun Devils and Trojans swam for time-trial purposes only. Sun Devils who finished first, in some unusual distances, were: David Kolozar (300 fly -2:50.03; 150 fly - 1:19.44), Christian Harcsas (300 back - 2:53.61; 150 back - 1:19.99; 50 back - 24.07), Leonardo Martins (300 breast - 3:13.93), Nick Brunelli (150 free - 1:11.44), and Ace Tate (50 fly - 22.36).
In distances more regularly seen, Brunelli touched the wall first in the 50 free (20.71) with Bobby Zaabadich coming in second (20.96). In the 100 free, Zaabadich finished second (46.02). Russell MacDonald finished second in the 100 breast (57.89), one-hundredth of a second off of his season best he recorded against Wisconsin. Tate recorded his best time of the season in the 100 fly (50.48).
The Sun Devils are again on the road for their next meet, this time in Austin, Texas for the Texas Invitational. This meet is the weekend of December 6-8.