Dec. 1, 2007

TUSCALOOSA, Ala./COLUMBUS, Ohio – Both the Carolina men’s and women’s swimmers turned in strong performances at day two of the Alabama Classic, while the Gamecock men’s and women’s diving team concluded competition at the Ohio State Invite on Saturday.

After posting his top time of the season (49.09) in Saturday morning’s preliminary 100-yard butterfly race, Dominique Lendjel placed second in the finals heat with a mark of 55.16 on the meter course. Lendjel also finished tied for first in the 100-meter backstroke event with a time of 57.14. Andrew Atzhorn turned in the top Gamecock performance in the 400-meter IM, finishing second in a time of 4:34.54. Teammate Michael Lawrence placed third in the 100-meter breaststroke event, turning in a strong mark of 1:08.27.

For the Carolina women, Claire Thompson claimed second place in the 200-meter freestyle event in a time of 2:02.65, nearly three seconds faster than the second-place finisher, Jenne Ballatore of Florida (2:05.26). Twin sister Christine finished in fifth with a mark of 2:06.23. Freshman Megan Sparks captured a third-place showing in the 100-meter backstroke in 1:05.68 and senior Christy Williams finished just outside of the top three in the 100-meter butterfly, finishing just short of third (1:02.34) with a finals time of 1:02.39.

In the relay events, the Carolina women’s 800-meter relay squad took second with a mark of 8:28.73. The team, comprised of lead Christine Thompson, Jessica VanAssen, Williams and anchor Claire Thompson, finished three seconds short of first in the event.

The Carolina divers concluded action at the Ohio State Invite on Saturday, where freshman Taryn Zack posted the top Gamecock finish on the women’s one-meter event, finishing fifth with a six-dive total of 272.85. In the men’s three-meter event, junior David Ovelson again turned in the top Carolina mark, finishing 15th with a total of 291.90.

The Carolina swimmers will conclude weekend action on Sunday with preliminary heats beginning at 8 a.m. ET.