March 14, 2006
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This Week
Arizona State University women's swimming and diving is traveling to Athens, Ga. this week to compete in the NCAA Women's Swimming Championships March 16-18.
The Polls
In the poll released by the CSCAA, the ASU men are ranked 25th. For the complete poll, visit www.cscaa.org. In the poll released by collegeswimming.com, the men's team is ranked 24th. For the complete poll, visit www.collegeswimming.com.
Women, Last Time In The Pool
ASU women's swimming competed at the Pac-10 Swimming Championships held in Long Beach, Calif. Feb. 22-25 with the Sun Devils finishing sixth. At the meet, sophomore Caitlin Andrew (San Antonio, Texas) finished second in the 100-yard butterfly and fourth in the 100-yard backstroke. In the 100 back, she set a school record with a time of 53.81. Freshman Amy Konowalik (Derby, England) finished ninth in the 400-yard IM and first in the A consolation recording a NCAA consideration time of 4:21.16. Freshman diver Erin Hobbs (Calgary, Alberta) finished eight in the one-meter dive for the Sun Devils recording a score of 232.70. In the three-meter dive, Hobbs finished 12th with a score of 261.30.
Puhakka In The Zone
Senior diver Joona Puhakka (Helsinki, Finland) became an eight-time Zone E champion this season when he won the one-meter and three-meter springboards at zones. In the finals on the one-meter springboard, Puhakka recorded a 427.40 to set a record in the event for a championship round. At the Pac-10 Diving Championships held in Federal Way, Wash. at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center, Puhakka came away with two more Pac-10 championships. He earned titles in the one-meter and three-meter springboards becoming the first diver in Pac-10 history to win four consecutive Pac-10 titles in an event. In all, Puhakka has earned eight Pac-10 championships, six Zone E championships and four national championships. He was also honored as Pac-10 Diver of the Year three straight years (2003-05) and National Diver of the Year in 2005. Puhakka competed for Finland in the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics.
Andrew Has The Answer
Sophomore Caitlin Andrew (San Antonio, Texas) finished in second place in the 100-yard butterfly at the Pac-10s. She also recorded a school record in finishing fourth in the 100-yard backstroke by touching the wall in 53.81. Andrew also swam the opening leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay team that recorded ASU's fifth-fastest time in history by touching the wall in 3:21.33. She currently holds school records in the 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly. Andrew recorded her school records in the 100-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke this season, with the record in the 100 back coming in the Pac-10 Championships. Also, Andrew has the school's second-fastest time in ASU history in the 50-yard freestyle and the 200-yard backstroke. At the FINA World Cup Series held in East Meadow, N.Y. Feb. 3-4, Andrew was the third-highest American woman in the medal count. In the 50-meter backstroke Andrew touched the wall in 27.84 to capture the title. She also finished in second in the 100-meter backstroke and third in the 50-meter butterfly by recording times of 1:00.25 and 26.49 in the events respectively. Last season, Andrew was the Pac-10 champion in the 100-yard butterfly.