USC Swimming and Diving Finishes Last Day of SEC Championships

Feb. 22, 2003

Auburn, Ala. – The last day of Southeastern Conference Championships ended on a high note for the South Carolina men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams. The 400 freestyle relay, the last event of the Championships, saw both the men’s and women’s teams make an NCAA B-Qualifying standard. The men’s combination of Tamas Szucs (45.42), Chris McCrary (43.92), Ed Murphy (44.69) and Josh Parkin (45.64) finished sixth overall and finished with a total time of 2:59.67. The women’s team consisting of Ashleigh Bastak (51.20), Haley Skaggs (50.56), Carolynn McHugh (51.14) and Jennifer VanAssen (49.86) finished fourth overall with a total time of 3:22.76, almost four seconds faster than the NCAA Standard.

In other action of the day, VanAssen achieved an automatic qualifying time in the 100 freestyle. She finished in fourth place with a time of 49.21. That time is the fastest of her career and a new South Carolina record. The qualification is VanAssen’s second automatic qualifying time of the Championships. She also qualified in the 200 freestyle. VanAssen is also a member of the 400 freestyle relay and the 800 freestyle relays, both of which hit NCAA B-Standard qualifying times.

On the men’s side, the lone swimming action came as Brandon Buslepp qualified for the men’s 100 breaststroke finals. He finished the race 16th with a time of 2:04.39. In the 200 butterfly, Lir Derieg finished just short of qualifying, in 18th place with a time of 1:51.87. Also in the event, freshmen Matt Kerlin (2:00.26) and Tamas Bathazi (1:52.41) finished with personal bests.

The South Carolina women’s team ended the meet eighth with 188.5 points. The women ended in the sixth spot with 260 points. Overall the SEC Championship was the fastest meet in the country so far this year, with 12 SEC records being broken, two NCAA records being broken and two US Open records being broken. Final results from the meet are as follows:

MEN

1. Auburn, 918.5

2. Florida, 680

3. Georgia, 492.5

4. Tennessee, 455

5. Alabama, 376

6. Kentucky, 270.5

7. LSU, 218

8. South Carolina 188.5

WOMEN

1. Auburn, 841.5

2. Florida, 685