Nov. 28, 2001
This Week
Competing away from the dual meet format, Arizona State's men's and women's swimming and diving teams will have a chance to compete against some of the nation's best at the prestigious Texas Invitational, which runs from Friday, Nov. 30, to Sunday, Dec. 2. Held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas, the three-day meet will feature morning preliminary sessions and evening finals.
The Polls
The College Swimming Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) releases national rankings on a bi-weekly basis. The second poll of the season -- released prior to ASU's upsets of USC and UCLA (women only) -- placed the ASU women 11th in the nation and the men 13th. A complete list of those current rankings appears on Page 2 of this release. The next poll will be released November 29, just before the Sun Devils take to the water in Texas. For more information, access www.cscaa.org.
Texas Invitational -- The Field
The Sun Devil men will meet swimming and diving teams from No. 2 Texas, No. 4 USC, No. 5 Auburn, No. 6 California, No. 9 Michigan, No. 14 Wisconsin, No. 18 Southern Methodist, No. 23 Harvard and unranked Texas Christian. No. 8 Arizona will send only its swimming team.
The Sun Devil women will meet swimming and diving teams from No. 1 Stanford, No. 3 USC, No. 4 Auburn, No. 6 Texas, No. 7 California, No. 15 Wisconsin, No. 23 Rice and unranked Nebraska and Texas Christian. No. 5 Arizona will send only its swimming team.
Additional diving teams appearing at the meet will represent Hawaii, Houston, Southern Methodist, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas A&M.
Texas Invitational -- Finals Schedule
Friday, Nov. 30 -- 200 free relay, 500 free, 100 fly, 200 IM, 50 free, 400 medley relay.
Saturday, Dec. 1 -- 200 medley relay, 400 IM, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back, 800 free relay.
Sunday, Dec. 2 -- 1650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 400 free relay.
Texas Invitational -- Last Time
Highlighted by Scott VonSchoff's first-place finish in the 200 free, the Sun Devil men accumulated 210 points to place eighth. With 128.5 points, ASU's women finished in 11th-place.
ASU, Last Time In The Pool
In landmark victories for both programs, the 13th-ranked Sun Devil men upset No. 4 USC, while the 11th-ranked women downed No. 3 USC and No. 10 UCLA, over the Nov. 16-17 weekend. The Sun Devils' team wins over USC marked the first time either program had defeated the Trojans since 1992. Pushing their records to 3-0 (men) and 4-0 (women) overall, ASU is off to its best collective start since the 1993-94 season, when the men won their first four meets and the women won three straight to start the year. Also that weekend, ASU's men and women easily defeated the exhibition SoCal All-Stars squads.
Up Next For The Sun Devils
The Sun Devil teams have only one meet left in the 2001 calendar year, when they welcome teams from the University of Washington to Mona Plummer Aquatic Center, Saturday, December 29, at noon. The following weekend ASU hosts the University of British Columbia (Jan. 4), the annual Sun Devil Invitational (Jan. 5, women only) and Michigan (Jan. 5, men only).
Stand-out Sun Devil Swimmers & Divers
Sarah Baham (All-American -- Senior) --
Against USC (11/17), Baham recorded the third-fastest (54.92) and 10th-fastest (2:00.84) times in the nation this season, respectively, in the 100 and 200 fly. She is undefeated in 100 fly through four races.
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 (11th), 50 free 23.65 (7th), 100 free 51.48.
Nick Brunelli (All-American -- Sophomore) --
Sweeping the 50 and 100 free vs. USC (11/17), Brunelli continued to post times near his all-time bests. His 44.78 in the 100 free is the third fastest time in the nation this year, while his 20.46 in the 50 free ranks fifth. He is also ranked 16th in the 200 free at 1:39.71.
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.
Natalie Burgess (Senior) --
In one of her two wins on the 3-meter springboard this season, Burgess approached her ASU record mark of 341.40, with a 339.10. She has one win from the 1-meter spring board (259.58 vs. Hawaii), although her season best came vs. Wisconsin 275.30.
NCAA History * 2001: All-America: 200 free relay (11th), 400 free relay (8th), 100 free qualifier.
Top Collegiate Scores (ASU rank) * 1-meter, 6-dive optionals 284.07 (1st), 3-meter, 6-dives 341.40 (1st), platform, 10 dives 340.00.
Christian Harcsas (Junior) --
Earning his first collegiate win, Harcsas won the 200 back vs. USC (11/17) in 1:47.10, the fourth-fastest time in the nation this year. In the 100 back, he has the country's 13th-best time at 50.03. Based on those collegiate best efforts, Harcsas is now ranked among ASU's all-time top-10 in both backstroke events.
NCAA History * None.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 100 back 50.03 (9th), 200 back 1:47.10 (6th).
Claire Hedenskog (All-American -- Junior) --
Matching her career-best in the 50 free, Hedenskog swam 23.64 vs. UCLA (11/16), which ties her for the 23rd best time in the nation this season. Her season best in the 100 free was a 51.31 vs. USC (11/17).
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) --
Although he has lost to his teammate only once, Hussein is behind teammate Christian Harcsas in the national rankings, standing fifth in the 200 back (1:47.20) and 14th in the 100 back (50.08).
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) --
Leading the Sun Devils in their upset wins over UCLA and USC, Kov?cs recorded the fastest times in the nation this year in three events, the 100 breast (1:00.77), 200 breast (2:11.07) and 400 IM (4:13.15). In addition, Kov?cs swam the nation's seventh-fastest 200 IM this year, 2:01.87. Beyond her national standings, Kov?cs ranks second in ASU history in both breaststrokes and the 400 IM, and stands fourth in the 200 IM. Through a combined 12 races at those distances, she is undefeated.
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 1:00.77 (2nd), 200 breast 2:11.07 (2nd), 200 IM 2:01.87 (4th), 400 IM 4:13.15 (2nd).
Anders Lyrbring (All-American -- Junior) --
With a season-best 1:39.36 in the 200 free, established vs. USC (11/17), Lyrbring is tied with his teammate Gavin Meadows with the 10th-fastest time in the country this year. His season-best in the 500 free is 4:34.78, accomplished vs. Hawaii.
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) --
Notched a 49.20 in the 100 fly vs. USC, his best time in more than two seasons. Earned an important win in the 100 breast for the Sun Devils with a 56.98 vs. USC (11/17).
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, 100 breast 56.98.
Riley Mants (All-American -- Senior) --
Seemingly lost in the shadow of Kov?cs, Mants has turned in some solid times this season, including the 23rd-best 200 breast in the nation this year, with her 2:17.72 performance against the Trojans (11/17). Her season best in the 100 breast is a 1:04.02, set vs. UCLA (11/16).
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) --
Victorious in the 100 back vs. UCLA (11/16), Shald swam the 11th-best time in the nation this year at 56.02.
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.
Amanda Stanford (Senior) --
Stanford became the ninth-fastest swimmer in school history in the 1000 free with her victorious 10:00.80 pace vs. UCLA (11/16). She established another personal best vs. UCLA with her 4:55.30 in the 500 free.
NCAA History * None.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 200 free 1:50.91, 500 free 4:55.30, 1000 free 10:00.80 (9th), 1650 free 16:50.63.
Florencia Szigeti (Freshman) --
With her 50.68 in the 100 free vs. UCLA and her victorious 1:48.61 in the 200 free vs. USC, Szigeti charged onto the ASU all-time top-10 lists (6th and 5th, respectively) and is listed with the 12th and 6th fastest times in the nation this year.
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 50.68 (6th), 200 free 1:48.61 (5th).
Brooke Townsend (Sophomore) --
Although not an NCAA Championship event, Townsend is ranked 19th this season in the 1000 free after a personal best 10:04.18 vs. UCLA (11/16). Her season-best effort in the 500 free was a 4:54.23, also against UCLA. In another note, Towsend (an Australian) sang the American national anthem prior to the Sun Devils' meet with USC.
NCAA History * None.
Top Collegiate Times (ASU rank) * 200 free 1:50.14, 500 free 4:49.04 (8th), 1000 free 10:04.18, 1650 free 16:40.73 (10th).
Bo West (All-American -- Senior) --
West jumped into the national standings with a personal best 1:48.33 in the 200 back vs. USC (11/17), to rank 15th. His season-best in the 200 free was a victorious 1:40.04 vs. Wisconsin (11/2).
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 1:48.33 (7th).
Sun Devil Men's Relays --
With a 2:59.39 that edged USC by two tenths of a second, ASU's men's 400 free relay team clocked the fastest time in the nation thus far this season. The men are also ranked sixth in the 200 free relay (1:22.48) and the 200 medley relay (1:30.65).
Sun Devil Women's Relays --
Tying the second-fastest effort in school history, ASU's women's 200 medley relay team swam the fourth-fastest time in the nation this year with a 1:42.64 vs. UCLA. The Sun Devils are also ranked fifth in the 400 free relay (3:25.15) and are tied for 14th in the 200 free relay (1:34.99).
