Dec. 11, 2003

Columbia, S.C. – South Carolina men’s and women’s swimming and diving returns home this weekend for the Carolina Classic, December 12-14 at the Carolina Natatorium. Hosted by the Team Carolina swim program, the meet begins on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.

The Gamecocks enter this weekend’s meet fresh off a solid performance last weekend at the Auburn Invitational. Top among them was senior Jennifer VanAssen, who finished the 200 freestyle at 1:46.07, which is currently the fastest time in the nation and a school record. VanAssen qualified for the 200 freestyle as well as the 50 freestyle for the U.S. Olympic Trials as well.

VanAssen also swam on the 200, 400 and 800 freestyle relays this weekend. The 200 freestyle relay (VanAssen, Heather Skaggs, Carolynn McHugh, Ashleigh Bastak) is also the fastest time in the nation at 1:31.31. The 400 freestyle relay (VanAssen, Heather Skaggs, Haley Skaggs, McHugh) is the fifth fastest in the nation at 3:21.94 and the 800 freestyle relay (VanAssen, Dedekind, Heather Skaggs, Haley Skaggs) is also fifth fastest at 7:22.63. The 400 freestyle relay for Carolina also set a school record this weekend. VanAssen has automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships with Heather Skaggs, Haley Skaggs, Carolynn McHugh and Asheligh Bastak provisionally qualified.

On the men’s side, senior swimmer Istvan Bathazi has provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 200 IM (1:47.60) and 400 IM (3:48.57). Also provisionally qualifying is senior Tamas Szucs in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:37.79. Bathazi is second fastest in the SEC in the 400 IM and fourth fastest in the 200 IM with Szucs sixth fastest in the 200 freestyle.

Meet Schedule

Friday December 12

4 p.m.
50 Freestyle Prelims
200 Individual Medley Finals
400 Freestyle Finals

Saturday December 13

9 a.m.
200 Freestyle Prelims
100 Backstroke Prelims
200 Breaststroke Prelims
100 Butterfly Prelims
400 Individual Medley Prelims

6 p.m.
200 Freestyle Finals
100 Backstroke Finals
200 Breaststroke Finals
50 Freestyle Semi-Finals
100 Butterfly Finals
400 IM Finals
200 Freestyle Relay

Sunday December 14

9 a.m.
100 Breaststroke Prelims
200 Butterfly Prelims
100 Freestyle Prelims
200 Backstroke Prelims
Women’s 800 Freestyle Prelims
Men’s 1500 Freestyle Prelims

6 p.m.
Women’s 800 Freestyle Finals
Men’s 1500 Freestyle Finals
50 Freestyle Finals
100 Breaststroke Finals
200 Butterfly Finals
100 Freestyle Finals
200 Backstroke Finals
200 Medley Relay