Dec. 2, 2005
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.thesundevils.com) -- Sophomore swimmer Caitlin Andrew (San Antonio, Texas) broke her own school record in the 100-yard backstroke Friday at the Texas Invitational hosted by the University of Texas at Austin. Her record-breaking time of 53.90 was also good enough for an automatic bid to the NCAAs. Andrew also swam on the 200-yard medley "A" relay team that qualified for a NCAA consideration time.
In the preliminary rounds at the Ohio State University Swimming and Diving Invitational, ASU senior diver Joona Puhakka (Helsinki, Finland) broke his own one-meter school diving record for the second meet in a row with a 439.10. He set his previous record with a 438.00 when ASU hosted USC Nov. 19. Puhakka won the final by scoring a 417.80.
On the women's side, the Sun Devils had four swimmers that recorded NCAA consideration times in the 200-yard freestyle. Leading ASU was sophomore Ellis Schieman (Shaker Heights, Ohio) who recorded a 1:49.20 while finishing second in the B final. Freshman Jen Beckberger recorded a season-best and NCAA consideration time of 1:59.54. Beckberger also swam the last leg of the 200-yard medley relay for the "A" team. Also recording NCAA consideration times were seniors Sally Brown (Andover, Mass.) and Sandra Steffensen (Treeleborg, Sweden). Senior Heidi Schmidt (Visalia, Calif.) touched the wall in 1:03.58 for a NCAA consideration time in the 100-yard breaststroke.
The ASU men's team had three swimmers record NCAA consideration times. Sophomore C.J. Nuess (Medical Lake, Wash.) touched the wall in 3:52.43 for a NCAA consideration time in the 400-yard IM. Sophomore Lucas Azevedo was clocked at 1:38.08 in the 200-yard freestyle and freshman Marcus Titus (Tucson, Ariz.) finished in sixth-place in the A final with a time of 54.77 in the 100-yard breaststroke.
ASU swimming will compete for the final day of the Texas Invitational tomorrow and diving will continue with the one-meter and three-meter springboards at the OSU Swimming and Diving Invitational.
-- Arizona State Swimming & Diving --