Minnesota’s women’s swimming and diving team led after the first event and never looked back.
After taking the 200-yard medley relay 13-4 over the Hawkeyes to start their first Big Ten dual meet of the season Saturday at the University Aquatic Center, the Gophers never lost their lead.
With its strength based on its divers, Iowa won both the one- meter and three-meter events. Iowa’s Nancilea Underwood had the highest diving score of the day with an 8.5.
But Minnesota won nine of the 14 swimming events on its way to a 171-129 victory over Iowa.
Minnesota is now 2-0 overall after its 194-98 win at Iowa State last Saturday.
The Gophers were led by junior Kate Hardt, who won three events: the 200- and 500-yard freestyles and 400 individual medley.
“I knew that I had to work it as well as I could,” Hardt said. “And I did better than I expected.”
Of the five new meet records set Saturday, three were set by the Gophers.
Minnesota’s team of Jennifer Hasling, Bridget McCoy, Krista Kezbers and Sarah Perrott set the new 200 medley relay meet record with a time of 1:45.03
Hasling and Perrott both set meet records in individual events as well, with Hasling’s victory in a time of 23.71 in the 50 freestyle and Perrott’s new mark of 51.75 in the 100 freestyle.
The Hawkeyes were led by junior Kelly Werner, who won three events: the 100 butterfly and the 100 and 200 backstrokes.
Werner’s times in the 100 and 200 backstroke events were new meet records as well.
Minnesota co-coach Kelly Kremer said he felt very good about the outcome.
“We met the challenge,” Kremer said. “We didn’t have a weak event across the board, and our depth was definitely our biggest strength.”
Men sweep triple dual
Minnesota men’s sixth-ranked swimming and diving team dominated Virginia Tech and 11th-ranked host North Carolina in a triple dual Saturday and Sunday in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Led by Big Ten Swimmer of the Week Sean Kelly – who remained undefeated in the breaststroke this year – the
Gophers won nine of 10 events Saturday and eight of 10 Sunday to beat the Hokies 268-98 and the Tar Heels 239-127.
The Gophers raced so well that in several races that they took each of the top four places.
“Beating North Carolina by so much definitely bodes well for us,” captain Justin Mortimer said. “I think it does a lot for us as far as how other teams that are ranked higher than us see us.”
Women’s tennis in N.C.
Minnesota’s women’s tennis team wrapped up its fall season at the UNC/Kitty Harrison Invitational this weekend, going a combined 2-15 in singles and 3-10 in doubles action over the course of the three day tournament.
But, despite the dour-looking record, coach Tyler Thomson said the weekend was “amazingly positive.”
“It was really a great tourney for us – the records are misleading,” Thomson said. “Especially against a top-10 team like Duke, where we gave them everything they could handle, it gave us confidence that we’ve made progress.”
Minnesota closed the tournament out Sunday, winning two of three doubles matches over Winthrop but losing all four singles matches to Miami (Fla.).
Injury ends men’s tennis
Minnesota’s men’s tennis team ended the 2004 Milwaukee Classic in somewhat disappointing fashion Saturday, as the last Gophers team bowed out because of injury.
The doubles tandem of Adrien Debreyne and Avery Ticer – seeded third in the tournament – withdrew because of Debreyne’s back injury.
The withdrawal came on the heels of upsetting losses by the last Gophers singles players remaining Friday. Top-seeded Ticer fell in the quarterfinals to Dan Hanegby of Binghamton 6-0, 6-3. Ninth seed Nick Edlefsen – the other remaining Gophers player – also lost Friday to fellow ninth seed Chris Biro of Arizona State 6-4, 6-3.
– Bob Wothe contributed to this article.
