Tulane University
San Diego State
Swimming & Diving Splits Double-Dual Meet In Spring Opener
Jan 7, 2011 | Women's Swimming and Diving
Jan. 7, 2011
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - Sophomores Grace Tarka and Erin Cunningham won the 100 yard butterfly and 100 IM, respectively, and the Green Wave 800 free relay team posted a victory in the 800 free relay as the Tulane University women's swimming and diving team opened the spring portion of its schedule with a split against Northern Colorado and San Diego State Friday afternoon at the Aztec Aquaplex.
Tulane defeated Northern Colorado, 126-70, but fell to the host and 23rd-ranked Aztecs, 105-85. With the split, Tulane is now 3-4 in dual-meet competition with wins in two of the last three head-to-head matchups.
"Despite of only having five season-best swims today, I feel really good about the way our team performed," Tulane head swimming and diving coach Lena Guarriello said. "The team had a great mixed training session alongside their San Diego State opponents this morning, swimming over 10,000 yards before stepping up on the blocks to compete.
"Our girls raced well and showed a tremendous amount of team spirit throughout the meet. On top of that, we picked up a win against Northern Colorado. We're excited about tomorrow and hope to add another win to our record."
Tarka won the 100 fly with a time of 58.28, and Cunningham touched the wall in the 100 IM at 1:02.14 to account for the team's two individual victories. The quartet of Allie Evans, Kayla Alf-Huynh, Hagar Elgendy and Rachel Ranson, meanwhile, combined to clock a 7:53.42 in the 800 free relay.
In addition to the three wins, the Green Wave tallied a trio of second-place finishes and five third-place showings. Ranson led Tulane in the 100 free with a time of 53.13 to finish second in the event and Elizabeth Whitaker paced the Green Wave in the 400 IM with a 4:44.35 to finish runner-up behind Tori Gutt of Northern Colorado - who touched the wall at 4:36.73.
Tulane finished 1-2-3 in the 100 IM as Tarka followed Cunningham to the finish with a 1:02.27 while Alf-Huynh was next at 1:02.38. The Green Wave's B-relay team of Bolton Harris, Whitaker, Cari Caprio and Cunningham finished second to their teammates in the 800 free relay with a time of 7:58.85.
The Wave's third-place finishers were Evans in the 1000 free (10:31.17), Emily Needham in the 100 fly (1:00.60), and Lauren Pfohl in the 100 back (59.74) while the team of Alf-Huynh, Cunningham, Tarka and Elgendy finished third in the 200 medley relay (1:49.74).
Cunningham led the Tulane effort in the 100 breast with a 1:08.82 while freshman Sadie Eicher finished sixth in the three-meter springboard with a score of 178.10.
The Tulane team will turn around and do it all over again on Saturday, Jan. 8, when the Wave battle Northern Colorado and San Diego State for the second consecutive day at the Aztec Aquaplex. From there, Tulane will travel to Houston for a four-team meet on Jan. 28-29. Joining the Green Wave in that meet are the host Cougars along with LSU and Rice.
Players Mentioned
