WRITTEN BY SHARON ROBB
January 22, 2013
South Florida Aquatic Club’s Tiffany Oliver and Alex Rodriguez came up big for Florida State’s big road trip this past weekend.
The nationally-ranked Seminoles went 2-1 against South Carolina and No. 18 Arkansas in Columbia, S.C.
The No. 13 men’s team defeated the Gamecocks, 180.5-117.50 and No. 22 ranked Seminoles’ women’s team defeated South Carolina, 190-109 but lost to Arkansas, 167-133.
“The girls had a great day,” FSU coach Neil Harper said. “For a mid-January meet in the heat of training, I think that we are right where we should be this season. Our kids did a great job.”
SOFLO’s Tiffany Oliver, a junior, won the 50-yard freestyle in 23.36 and 100-yard freestyle in 50.13, finishing both events ahead of teammate Kaitlyn Dressel, a sophomore.
Oliver was also a member of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay that won in 3:22.40.
“It was a good test,” Harper said. “I think any time you can get a good SEC win is awesome. The guys stepped up and did a great job.”
Rodriguez, a junior, won the 100-yard breaststroke in 56.81 finishing ahead of teammate Juan Sequera in 57.22.
FSU junior Paul Murray, a Florida Gold Coast swimmer, won the 50-yard freestyle in 20.07 and 100-yard freestyle in 44.64.
On Saturday, FSU finished its dual meet season with four more wins with the Seminoles defeating Georgia Tech and N.C. State in Raleigh, N.C.
“I was really happy with the team effort,” Harper said. “We faced a lot of adversity between travel and bodies breaking down. It was a tough test for us and this shows us what we are made of.”
The women’s team improved to 13-1 and 5-0 in the Atlantic Coast Conference defeating Georgia Tech, 226-72 and N.C. State, 155-143.
Oliver won two more events, finishing first in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.40 and 100-yard freestyle in 50.67. Florida Gold Coast swimmer Ashley Hicks won the 200-yard backstroke in 2:03.16.
Oliver is now preparing for the Feb. 20-23 ACC Championships in Greensboro, N.C. The men’s championship is Feb. 27-March 2.
FSU defeated Georgia Tech, 206-92, and N.C. State, 164-136 and improved to 8-2 overall and 3-1 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Florida Gold Coast swimmer Connor Knight of Palm Beach won the 200-yard butterfly in 1:49.61.
More College Swimming
Florida Gold Coast swimmer Luke Torres is getting faster.
The University of Florida freshman swam a career-best 49.60 in the 100-yard butterfly in the Gators meet against Florida in Gainesville on Saturday.
The men’s team beat Florida Atlantic 178-111 and the women won 169-106. Both teams are in the midst of heavy training and there were several exhibition events.
Another meet highlight was Florida’s Olympian Elizabeth Beisel swimming a lifetime best in the 1,650-yard freestyle in 15:53.22. She dropped 16 second off her previous best. It is the fourth fastest time in college swimming this year…
University of Florida junior Sebastian Rousseau and freshman Sinead Russell were named Swimmers of the Week in the Southeastern Conference.
Rousseau was named SEC Male Swimmer and Russell SEC Female Swimmer for their performances this past weekend in Texas and Gainesville.
Rousseau swam his second NCAA “A” time in the 400-yard individual medley in 3:42.91 and shaved 13 seconds off his career-best in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:17.53. Russell won three events in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.71, 100-yard freestyle in 50.66 and 200-yard medley relay in 1:40.71. Her individual events were best times.
Austin Grand Prix
2012 U.S. Olympians dominated the pool at the Arena Grand Prix this past weekend in Austin, Texas. Missy Franklin won four events including a pool record in the 200-meter backstroke in 2:07.31. She also won the 100-meter backstroke and 100- and 200-meter freestyles. Karlee Bispo knocked off Franklin in the 200-meter individual medley in 2:12.49. Nathan Adrian beat Ricky Berens and Jimmy Feigen in the 100-meter freestyle. Ryan Lochte and Matt Grevers also won. Lochte is in the midst of hard distance workouts and said he didn’t expect to swim best times. “No one is really going to remember this meet,” said Lochte, who swam seven seconds slower than his best time in the 200-meter individual medley in 2:00.98. He holds the world record in 1:54. “All of this is preparation for World Championships this summer.”
Miscellaneous
Michael Phelps is still swimming, just not competitively. He returned to the pool this past week for a 3,000 yards session with the senior group at North Baltimore Aquatic Club. Bob Bowman tweeted it was only for fitness to stop any talk of will he or won’t he return for the 2016 Olympics. Phelps also took in the Baltimore Ravens football playoff against the Patriots and is happy his home team is going to the Super Bowl in New Orleans. Phelps was on the sidelines for Sunday’s game. He made it a point to tell reporters that Raven linebacker Ray Lewis was one of the main reasons he came back to train for the 2012 Olympics. “I think he’s probably the most inspirational persons I’ve ever met in my entire life,” Phelps said. “A lot of people don’t know this, but he was one of the biggest reasons why I came back for four more years. Just some of the things that we have talked about, and he’s helped me get through, I can’t be more happier. I wouldn’t have been able to swim without him. And he’s been telling me one more shot, we are going to have it and he did it.” Phelps was in the locker room after the game celebrating with his team…Pine Crest and Florida alum Joey Pedraza of Davie finished second at the 50th Mar Grande Salvador Open Water race and took home $1,500. Teammate Ana Marcelo Cunha defended her title and won the women’s race for the fifth time. She pocketed $3000. Pedraza and Cunha are training for two weeks in Brazil with the country’s open water national coach Rogerio Arapiraca. Pedraza, a member of the U.S. national open water team, is preparing for the first 2013 FINA Open Water World Cup in Santos, Sao Paulo on Jan. 27th…Jason Lezak, who will always be remembered for his anchor leg of the 400-meter freestyle relay and being a part of Phelps’ record eight gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, retired at age 37…U.S. Olympian Breeja Larson of Texas A&M broke a minute in the 100-yard breaststroke for the sixth time this season. She swam 59.77 in the Aggies 158-140 win over LSU.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com
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