Nov. 19, 2011
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The Icelandic duo of Arni Arnason and Erla Haraldsdottir captured 100 breaststroke titles to highlight Day Two action by the Old Dominion men's and women's swimming teams at the Nike Cup at the Maurice J. Koury Natatorium at UNC.
The ODU women's team remains in sixth place having accumulated 209.5 points. Host North Carolina still leads the pack with 965 points, followed by Duke with 429 points and South Carolina with 410 points.
Haraldsdottir was one of three Lady Monarch finalists on the day. Haraldsdottir hit the wall first in the 100 breast collecting a NCAA "B" cut time with 1:00.79.
Kimberley Rashleigh made her second finals appearance at the Nike Cup. After taking eighth in the 200 individual medley the day before, Rashleigh swam to a fourth place performance in the 400 individual medley posting a time of 4:20.31.
Newcomer Savannah Bowers also made a finals appearance on Day Two for the Lady Monarchs. Bowers placed seventh in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:52.49. Earlier in the day, she put her name seventh all-time on the 200 free list with her time of 1:52.43 in the preliminaries.
Six Lady Monarchs competed in consolation final heats.
Laura Cempel took 14th in the 400 individual medley. Her time of 4:30.62 was the 10th fastest time in the Lady Monarchs log.
Ashley Luchsinger and Jessica Hubert also had record performances in the 100 butterfly. Luchsinger captured a new personal best and third fastest ODU time of 56.37 in placing 13th. Jessica Hubert took 16th in the consolation finals in a time of 57.19 after having put her name seventh in the record logs with a preliminary round time of 56.91.
The Lady Monarchs also had a pair of consolation finalists in the 200 freestyle. Yesim Giresunlu took 15th clocking in with a time of 1:54.51 and earlier in the day put her name ninth all-time with a prelim time of 1:53.45. Emma Forbes took 16th with her time of 1:54.91. She also had a prelim time of 1:54.04 for the 10th all-time best performance in the event.
In addition to her 200 individual medley finals appearance, Rashleigh also swam in the consolation finals of the 100 back. Rashleigh captured a time of 56.48 in the event, her personal best and second all-time Lady Monarch time.
The ODU men's team also remains in sixth place with 139 points. The host Tar Heels still hold first place with 808 points with the Naval Academy in second with 499 points and South Carolina in third with 399.5 points.
Arnason posted his second NCAA "B" cut time of the cup in setting a new ODU benchmark in the 100 breast. His time of 53.32 surpasses the previous record held by Arnason of 53.48 set in 2009. On Day One action, Arnason took second in the 50 freestyle with his first NCAA "B" cut time.
Also making a finals appearance for the Monarchs was Jason Brame in the 400 individual medley. The ODU record holder in the event, Brame took eighth place logging a time of 4:04.41.
Three Monarchs swam in the second day's consolation finals.
Ryan Telep took 13th in the 400 individual medley (4:05.42), Sidni Hoxha placed 14th in the 200 freestyle (1:42.33), and Andrew Crockett finished in 16th in the 100 backstroke (51.85).
The final day of action at the Nike Cup on Saturday will include the 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, and 200 butterfly.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 28
1. University of North Carolina - 965
2. Duke - 429
3. South Carolina - 410
4. East Carolina - 277.5
5. Naval Academy - 262
6. Old Dominion - 209.5
7. James Madison - 27
8. North Carolina State - 14
Men - Team Rankings - Through Event 28
1. University of North Carolina - 808
2. Naval Academy - 499
3. South Carolina - 399.5
4. Duke - 397.5
5. Harvard 209
6. Old Dominion - 139
7. East Carolina - 132
8. North Carolina State - 13