Dec. 5, 2002
Auburn, Ala. – The University of South Carolina men’s and women’s swimming teams began the first day of competition at the Auburn Invitational on Thursday with the men’s and women’s teams each in third place. Highlighting the first day was the women’s 200 freestyle relay (Anna Nyiry, Heather Skaggs, Carolynn McHugh, Jennifer VanAssen) placing first and setting a new school record with a time of 1:30.76. South Carolina won the event and reached the NCAA “A” Standard.
“We are really excited with our 200 free relay and finishing with an automatic qualifying time,” said USC head swimming coach Don Gibb. “To get them each into the NCAA meet is big for us and that might be the top time in the nation. I think we were not as sharp as we needed to be at the start but we’re getting there. We have to settle in and be ready for tomorrow.”
The Gamecock’s teams also had several swimmers earn NCAA “B” qualifying standard times. All four members of the 200 freestyle relay squad for the 22nd ranked Gamecocks competed in the finals of the 50 freestyle. Anna Nyiry placed second (23.14), Skaggs fourth (23.26), Jennifer VanAssen fifth (23.40) and McHugh sixth (23.45) each reaching the “B” standard.” Earlier in the day, VanAssen placed second in the prelims with a personal best time of 23.02. Freshman Stephanie Margalis also reached the “B” standard placing 11th in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:53.30. For the men’s squad, junior Chris McCrary placed second in the 50 freestyle and came away with a “B” qualifying standard as the leadoff swimmer in the 200 free relay with a time of 20.07. In the 500 freestyle, junior Tamas Szucs placed fourth with a time of 4:25.64 also earning the “B” standard. Junior Brandon Buslepp placed eighth for Carolina in the 200 IM final with a time of 1:52.53.
The action continues tomorrow with the second day of the Auburn Invitationl. South Carolina is also competing against the host Auburn Tigers, Virginia and the California women’s team.
