Oct. 24, 2001
This Week
After opening the season in Honolulu, Hawaii, ASU returns to Tempe, where Sun Devil swimmers will compete in the intrasquad ASU Pentathlon, Friday, October 26, at Mona Plummer Aquatic Center at 3:00 p.m.
The Polls --
The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) releases national rankings on a bi-weekly basis. The 2001-02 preseason poll (and/or the first set of rankings) has not yet been released. Last year, the preseason poll was posted October 26. For more information, access www.cscaa.org.
This Week
In what has become an annual event, ASU swimmers will square off in intraquad competition in the ASU Pentathlon. While the men and women will compete separately, every ASU swimmer will compete in the following five events: 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley. The times from all five events will be added together, with the swimmer with the lowest five-event total winning the meet.
ASU, Last Time In The Pool
The Sun Devils opened the 2001-02 season recording convincing victories at the University of Hawaii (men: 193-101, women: 230-70). The ASU men swept the top-three spots in six events, while the women took first-place points in all 16 races. ?gnes Kov?cs made her collegiate debut by swimming onto three ASU all-time lists, now ranking second in both the 100 breast (1:02.14) and 200 breast (2:11.87), and 6th in the 200 IM (2:02.96). Nick Brunelli began his sophomore season with a sweep of the 50 (20.62) and 100 free (45.65).
Stand-out Sun Devil Swimmers & Divers
Sarah Baham (All-American -- Senior) --
At Hawaii (10/19), Baham demonstrated the dominance that made her ASU's school record holder in the butterfly events, placing first easily in 56.95 for the 100 fly and 2:03.67 for the 200 fly.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 100 fly (10th), 200 fly (10th), 200 medley relay (12th), 400 medley relay (8th). 2000: All-America: 100 fly (8th), 200 fly (10th), 400 medley relay (10th). 1999: All-America: 800 free relay (16th).
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 fly 53.68 (1st), 200 fly 1:58.22 (1st), 200 IM 2:04.93, 400 IM 4:24.49 (10th), 50 free 23.65 (7th), 100 free 51.48.
Nick Brunelli (All-American -- Sophomore) --
Brunelli won the 50 free and 100 free at Hawaii (10/19) with respective times of 20.62 and 45.65. Now beginning his sophomore season, Brunelli has recorded faster times in both events only at the 2001 Pac-10 and NCAA Championships.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free relay (11th), 400 free relay (8th), 100 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 20.34 (10th), 100 free 44.48 (10th-t), 200 free 1:39.70, 100 back 49.27 (5th), 200 back 1:49.82, 200 IM 1:52.91.
Claire Hedenskog (All-American -- Junior) --
At Hawaii (10/19), Hedenskog won the 50 free in 24.00 and finished second to teammate Florencia Szigeti in the 100 free with a time of 52.27. Last season, Hedenskog swam sub-24 seconds in the 50 free six times in 13 chances.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 medley relay (12th), 400 medley relay (8th), 100 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 23.64 (6th), 100 free 50.61 (3rd), 200 free 1:50.27.
Ahmed Hussein (Sophomore) --
Hussein was a double-winner at Hawaii (10/19), touching the wall first in the 100 (50.12) and 200 back (1:47.70). Last season, Hussein swam below 1:49.00, three times in seven 200 back races.
NCAA History * None.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 back 49.54 (6th), 200 back 1:46.16 (3rd), 100 fly 52.44, 200 IM 2:01.22.
?gnes Kov?cs (Reigning Olympic and World 200m Breast Champion -- Freshman) --
After swimming what is believed to be among the fastest times ever recorded a Mona Plummer Aquatic Center in the 200 breast with here 2:12.18 performance at the ASU Intrasquad (10/13), Kov?cs officially opened her collegiate career vs. Hawaii (10/19) by swimming onto three ASU all-time top-10 lists. In the 200 breast, Kovacs touched the wall in an NCAA 'A' qualifying time of 2:11.27, the second-fastest time ever recorded by a Sun Devil. Her 100 breast effort of 1:02.14 was an NCAA 'B' time and placed her second all-time at ASU in that event as well. Finally, with another NCAA 'B' qualifying effort, Kovacs became the sixth-fastest ASU swimmer ever in the 200 IM at 2:02.96. She won all three events.
NCAA History * None.
International History * 2000 Olympics: Gold medal 200m breast, fifth-place 100m breast. 1996 Olympics: Bronze medal 200m breast. 2001 World Championships: Gold medal 200m breast. 1998 World Championships: Gold medal 200m breast.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 breast 1:02.14 (2nd), 200 breast 2:11.27 (2nd), 200 IM 2:02.96 (6th).
Anders Lyrbring (All-American -- Junior) --
Finishing runner-up to teammate Gavin Meadows, Lyrbring placed second in the 200 free (1:40.27) and 500 free (4:34.78) vs. Hawaii (10/19). Although he competed in the event only three times last season, Lyrbring's effort in the 500 free was just shy of his 2000-01 season best of 4:34.65.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free relay (11th) 400 free relay (8th), 800 free relay (4th), 100 free and 200 free qualifier. 2000: All-America: 200 free (16th), 200 free relay (9th), 800 free relay (2nd), 100 free and 400 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 20.53, 100 free 44.23 (10th-t), 200 free 1:35.89 (4th), 500 free 4:23.96.
Simon MacDonald (All-American -- Senior) --
Clocked in at 20.89 for the 50 free and 50.70 for the 100 fly vs. Hawaii (10/19). Although his career-best in the 50 free is 19.94, last season MacDonald never dipped below the 20-second barrier, although he swam sub-21 seconds in seven of 11 attempts.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free relay (11th), 400 free relay (8th). 2000: All-America: 200 free relay (9th), 200 medley relay (place), 50 free and 100 free qualifier. 1999: All-America: 200 free relay (8th), 400 free relay (11th), 800 free relay (13th), 200 medley relay (11th), 400 medley relay.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 19.94 (5th), 100 free 44.55, 100 fly 48.54.
Riley Mants (All-American -- Senior) --
Finishing second to Kov?cs, Mants was just off an NCAA 'B' standard (2:18.35) in her first 200 breast of the season, clocking 2:18.98 vs. Hawaii (10/19). She also placed fourth in the 100 breast at 1:05.59.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 breast (15th), 200 medley relay (12th), 400 medley relay (8th). 2000: All-America: 400 medley relay (10th). 1999: All-America: 100 breast (11th), 200 breast (4th).
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 breast 1:02.44 (3rd), 200 breast 2:12.47 (3rd), 200 IM 2:02.95 (5th).
Gavin Meadows (All-American -- Senior) --
Placing first in both, Meadows swam 1:39.38 in the 200 free and 4:33.25 in the 500 free vs. Hawaii (10/19).
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free (12th), 800 free relay (4th), 500 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 free 44.99, 200 free 1:36.31 (7th), 500 free 4:21.85 (7th).
Miranda Shald (All-American -- Sophomore) --
Won the 100 back easily vs. Hawaii (10/19) in 59.24, placed fourth in the 100 fly in 1:00.64.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 medley relay (12th), 400 medley relay (8th), 100 back qualifier.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 back ~55.22 (1st), 200 back 2:06.64, 100 fly 56.09 (9th), 50 free 25.37.
Florencia Szigeti (Freshman) --
Nearly swimming onto ASU's all-time top-10 list in the 100 free, Szigeti placed first vs. Hawaii (10/19) in 51.11. Beda Leirvaag is currently 10th on ASU's all-time 100 free list with her 1986 effort of 51.00. Szigeti also placed first in the 200 free in 1:52.84.
NCAA History * None.
International History * South American record holder in short-course 200-meter free 1:59.43 (1:47.00, converted), Argentine short-course record holder in 100m free 56.19 (50.34 converted).
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 free 51.11, 200 free 1:52.84.
Brooke Townsend (Sophomore) --
Behind Szigeti, Townsend placed second in the 200 free vs Hawaii (10/19) with a time of 1:54.55. In the 500 free, Townsend took first in 4:58.42.
NCAA History * None.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 200 free 1:50.14, 500 free 4:49.04 (8th), 1000 free 10:06.15, 1650 free 16:40.73 (10th).
Bo West (All-American -- Senior) --
Placing third in both, West timed in at 1:40.44 for the 200 free and 1:52.19 for the 200 back.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 800 free relay (4th), 200 free qualifier. 2000: All-America: 800 free relay (2nd), 100 free, 200 free and 400 free qualifier. 1999: All-America: 200 free (11th), 200 free relay (8th), 400 free relay (11th).
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 50 free 20.70, 100 free 44.75, 200 free 1:36.52, 500 free 4:24.64, 100 back ~49.86 (8th), 200 back 1:50.05.
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