Swimming and Diving Wraps Up Successful Final Weekend at Home
Jan. 28, 2017
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The University of South Carolina swimming and diving program wrapped up a successful weekend at the SC College Invitational to defeat UNCW, East Carolina, Wingate and Queens on Saturday at the Carolina Natatorium in Columbia, S.C.
On the women’s side, Emma Barksdale led the squad with two event victories including the 1000-yard freestyle and 400-yard IM. Julia Vincent remained undefeated on the weekend as she claimed first place in the 1-meter dive. Katie Shannahan took first place in the 100-yard butterfly, McKenna Keith won the 50-yard freestyle and Mairyn Branaman finished first in the 100-yard backstroke. The women’s team also won the 200-yard medley relay.
For the men, Jordan Gotro won the 3-meter dive, Tom Peribonio captured first place in the 1000-yard freestyle and Cody Bekemeyer won the 400-yard IM.
Barksdale set a new pool record today in the 1000-yard freestyle with her time of 9:49.68. The previous best was set by Isabelle Arnould in 1991 with a time of 9:50.14.
South Carolina’s women defeated East Carolina 185-132, Queens 179-128, UNCW 182-137 and Wingate 175-120. The Gamecock men topped Wingate 180-131, UNCW 177-130, Queens 195-146 and East Carolina 178-137.
QUOTING HEAD SWIMMING COACH McGee Moody
We were very, very solid today. From an energy standpoint, we might have been a little bit down this morning from where we were last night. I think there were some athletes that had some races over the past two days that are worthy of taking note. Fynn Minuth’s 1:45.69 in the 200 fly was a great swim.
We got to see a 26-year old record go down today. Emma Barksdale is our first young lady to ever break 9:50 in the 1000 free. To do that in a dual meet is special. It sets us up with a lot of confidence moving into next weekend at the UNC meet, where our non-SEC team will go. These last meets set the tone for what our racing looks like in February and March.
I am very proud of our young people. They are swimming fast, and I think their minds and goals are in the right place.
QUOTING HEAD DIVING COACH Todd Sherritt
Today we did a lot of volume and workout. The purpose of that was to try to fatigue them just a little bit and see how they would perform. I thought they did a pretty good job. We have some holes that showed up again today that we have working to get rid of. That is the thing we have to adjust for two weeks from now.
We are exactly where we should be. There isn’t anyone that is behind of where we should be now. I feel very good about that. That’s very unusual to see a whole team arrive at the same time at this point. Now I have two weeks to do some tweaking. We also have to think in terms of national championships, not just conference championships. So we have to be careful that we don’t peak and then come back down again. I’m trying to get this team to a level of diving where they can maintain that level for three or four weeks. That’s been difficult to do, but I would have to say this team is doing it.
MEN’S RECAP
Gotro earned his second podium finish of the weekend on the 3-meter board, taking first with a score of 338400, with Lyle Markman finishing in fifth with a mark of 234.75.
The Gamecock men finished second in the 200-yard medley relay, then came back with a first-place finish in the 1000-yard freestyle by Peribonio with a time of 9:15.83 and a fourth place finish by Travis Morrin after swimming a time of 9:32.98.
Fynn Minuth had the highest finish in the 100-yard butterfly for the Gamecocks with a time of 49.30, good for second place. In the 50-yard freestyle, Carter Bennett led South Carolina with a time of 21.44 to finish sixth.
Will Countie swam into third place in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 50.52. Jeremiah Bohon took fourth place in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:04.71, followed by Thomas Hang in fifth at 2:05.13.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Akram Mahmoud had the best finish for Carolina at second place after a time of 1:38.79. Mahmoud was .12 seconds away from the first place finisher.
Bekemeyer earned first place in the 400-yard IM after he swam a time of 3:55.31. Jack Smith followed in third place with a time of 4:00.75.
The last race of the day was the 400-yard freestyle relay where Carolina finished third and sixth.
WOMEN’S RECAP
The Gamecocks continued to shine on the boards, with Vincent taking first place with a score of 305.45 and Marissa Roth earning third with a 249.45 mark.
South Carolina took first and sixth in the 200-yard medley relay, then followed up with a first place finish in the 1000-yard freestyle by Emma Barksdale with a time of 9:49.68.
Shannahan led the Gamecocks in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing first in a time of 56.56.
Keith won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.90, with Meredith Vay finishing third in 24.09. Branaman earned first place in the 100-yard backstroke after she swam a time of 56.94, and Kersten Dirrane took third place with a time of 57.10.
Brittany Oxley led Carolina in the 200-yard breaststroke with a third place finish in a time of 2:20.89. Emily Cornell finished second in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:52.05.
Barksdale posted the highest finish for the Gamecocks in the 400-yard IM with a time of 4:18.04, good for first place.
South Carolina finished second and third in the 400-yard freestyle relay to round out the evening.
UP NEXT FOR CAROLINA
South Carolina is back in action February 3-5 in Chapel Hill, N.C. for the Chapel Hill College Invite.
