Dec. 3, 2003
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TEMPE, Ariz. -- This week, the Arizona State swimming teams (No. 13 men, No. 16 women) are traveling to the annual Texas Invitational hosted by the University of Texas at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin. The competition begins on Thursday, December 4, and runs through Saturday, December 6.
The Polls
In the third poll released by the CSCAA for the 2003-04 season, the ASU men are ranked 13th while the women are ranked 16th. This is a reverse from the previous poll, when the men were 16th and the women were 13th. For the complete poll, visit www.cscaa.org.
ASU, Texas Invitational Lineup
The Sun Devils are traveling with two men and four women for the meet. Senior Ahmed Hussein and sophomore Tom Hickman will represent the men while senior Petra Banovic, junior Sarah Fischer, junior ?gnes Kov?cs and freshman Abra Armour will represent the women. According to the latest Taper & Shave College Quick 50, Hussein is currently eighth in the nation in the 200 back (1:46.15) and 16th in the 100 back (49.57). Kov?cs is currently second in the NCAA in the 100 breast (1:01.08), second in the 200 breast (2:11.12), fourth in the 200 IM (2:00.11) and ninth in the 400 IM (4:17.33).
Men, Last Year at the Texas Invitational
The men finished fifth at last year's Texas Invitational with 454.50 points. Nick Brunelli led the way for ASU, finishing second in the 100 free (43.92) and fourth in the 50 free (20.11). Leonardo Martins clocked a career-best 2:00.23 in the 200 breast to put himself third all-time in the Sun Devil record books for that event. In the diving pool, Joona Puhakka dominated the competition, winning the 1-meter (362.05) by over 45 points and the 3-meter (628.55) by over 80 points.
Women, Last Year at the Texas Invitational
The women also finished fifth at last year's meet with a total of 419 points, and set five school records in the process. ?gnes Kov?cs recorded some outstanding performances, including the school record in the 200 IM (1:58.13) and the Sun Devils' only first-place finish for the weekend with a blistering 59.92 in the 100 breast. Kov?cs' 200 IM time is the only school record achieved at the meet that is still standing. Diver Trisha Tumlinson recorded two of the school records at the time--which she subsequently broke--finishing second in both the 1-meter, championship dive (291.95) and the platform (453.15).
ASU, Last Time In The Pool
The men's team defeated No. 5 Southern California 172.50-127.50 on November 15, while the women's meet went to USC by the closest of margins, as the No. 5 Trojans squeezed by the Sun Devils 150-149. Competition was conducted in short course meters. The men's upset charge was led by All-Americans Nick Brunelli, Ahmed Hussein and Joona Puhakka, who each won every event they entered. Hussein won both backstroke races, claiming first in the 100m back (55.33) and the 200m back (1:58.48). On the women's side, ?gnes Kov?cs had a big day, as the All-American dominated the breaststroke events (100m-1:08.77; 200m-2:27.10), earned second in the 200 IM (2:14.06) and recorded NCAA automatic qualifying times in all three of those races.
Up Next For The Sun Devils
The Sun Devil swimming and diving teams don't compete again until Janurary 3, 2004, when they host Washington for a 9 a.m. meet at the Mona Plummer Aquatic Center.