University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Several Panthers Compete in the Finals of Day Two
12/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 6, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Several Panthers earn seeds in the finals, as the women’s swimming and diving team remains sixth with 220 points on the second day of competition at the Ohio State Invitational.
Sophomore Tamara Lelli advanced to the B finals of the 100 fly, after posting a 13th-place performance at 56.90 in the prelims. She would later slip to 14th in the finals. However, she was also the anchor leg of the 800 free relay team that placed 10th in the final event of the night. Lelli was joined by freshman Joanna Budzis, senior Lisa McDonnell and freshman Tori Alland.
Earlier in the day, McDonnell advanced to the finals of the 200 free, and posted a 21st-place finish at 1:52.90. Three other Panthers placed in the top-35 of the 200 free, including Alland, freshman Kelsey Herbst and senior Allie Horvath.
Additionally, juniors Caitlin Trant and Kristen McMullen and sophomore Yolandi Van Rooyen earned a spot in the C Finals of the 100 fly. Trant finished in the top-20, while McMullan and Van Rooyen rounded out the pool for 23rd and 24th, respectively.
Seniors Ryann Kishbaugh and Tiffany Malatesta also swam under one minute in the 100 fly, placing 24th and 26th overall. Later, Kishbaugh finished 15th in the finals of the 100 back (57.78), while Budzis improved to 17th from this morning’s swim.
Malatesta recorded her best finish of the season in the 100 back (59.23), while Horvath and sophomore Megan Bender placed in the top-30.
In the 400 IM, junior Cookie McIntyre and senior Sophie Cross and qualified for the ‘C’ Finals. McIntyre shaved five seconds off her prelims time, winning her heat and placing 17th overall in the event (4:27.96). Cross dropped a second from her morning swim and finished 21st.
Just missing a qualifying time for the finals, Budzis recorded a time of 4:35.60 for a 25th-place finish. Joining her in the top-30, freshman Elizabeth Tabor stopped the clock at a season-best 4:37.97, while Yolandi Van Der Merwe touched at 4:42.64.
Placing 16th in the 100 breast, junior Laura Barnes recorded a time of 1:05.34 in the prelims. Also swimming this evening, Van Der Merwe and McIntyre placed in the top-24 of the 100 breast.
Pitt’s 200 medley relay team of Budzis, Van Der Merwe, Trant and McMullan recorded a 1:46.41 finish to open the finals, this evening.
In diving action, senior Alyssa Ferraro advanced to the finals of the 1M board and tied for 14th with 230.55 points. In the prelims, senior Margo Ekstrom scored 211 points, while junior Morgan Speece recorded 197.10.
Action resumes at 9 a.m. tomorrow with the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, 1650 free and the 400 free relay.
