Miami (Ohio) Sweeps Ohio Teams

ATHENS, Ohio, January 20. PUSHING its streak of Mid-American Conference dual-meet wins to 45, the Miami University women's swimming and diving team (10-0; 6-0 MAC) downed the Ohio Bobcats, 148.5-92.5, Saturday afternoon in Athens. The men won their second straight dual meet to down the Ohio Bobcats, 144-99, Saturday afternoon in Athens.

Led by sophomore Allison Stevens' pair of swimming victories, Miami won 10 of the 13 events contested and posted its 10th victory of the season, marking the fifth time in six years that Miami has reached the 10-win plateau. On the men's side, four different RedHawks won a pair of individual events and Miami won nine of the 13 events contested in its third Mid-American Conference dual meet victory of the season.

Stevens was the only Miamian to notch multiple victories, placing first in the 100 (52.29) and 200 freestyle (1:52.43). All told, Miami posted first-place finishes in 10 of the 11 swimming events and turned in the fastest time in the 400 freestyle relay (3:30.09), an event it did not swim for points. In addition to extending its streak of MAC dual meet wins, the victory was Miami's 14th consecutive win dating back to November of 2005.

Miami kicked off the meet with five straight top finishes, with Miami's "A" relay team beginning the win streak with a first-place time in the 200 medley relay (1:46.27). Sophomore Jenn Flaherty then followed with a first-place finish in the 1,650 freestyle (17:14.90) before the RedHawks reeled off three more individual victories. Stevens notched her top finish in the 200 freestyle, and seniors Margaret Patrick and Ashley Seymour turned in first-place times in the 50 freestyle (24.11) and 400 individual medley (4:27.44), respectively.

After Ohio captured its first win of the meet in the 3-meter dive, Miami responded with four straight wins, starting with senior Diana Zeleznikar's top finish in the 200 butterfly (2:05.73). Following Stevens' second win of the meet in the 100 freestyle, sophomore Malarie Schmidt added a first-place time in the 200 backstroke (2:03.82) and junior Kathryn Stephens tallied a top finish in the 500 freestyle (5:02.45).

Miami notched its final win of the meet when freshman Karen Frazier sandwiched a first-place time in the 200 breaststroke (2:19.79) in between a pair of Ohio victories in the 1-meter dive and 400 freestyle relay.

Juniors Paul Ricard and Ryan McHugh, along with sophomores Chris Heaton and Nick DuPuis, each captured a pair of victories, as Miami won back-to-back dual meets for the first time this season. Ricard notched top finishes in the 500 (4:37.89) and 1,000 freestyle (9:31.16), while McHugh posted first-place swimming times in the 50 (21.55) and 100 freestyle (47.05). Heaton, meanwhile, swept the diving events with winning scores on both the 1-meter (340.57) and 3-meter (321.60) boards, and DuPuis added top finishes in the 200 freestyle (1:44.88) and 200 butterfly (1:53.80).

After Ohio kicked off the meet with a top finish in the 400 medley relay, Miami reeled off three straight swimming victories. Ricard started the win streak with his first-place time in the 1,000 freestyle, and DuPuis and McHugh followed with top finishes in the 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle, respectively.

Ohio bounced back with a top finish in the 400 individual medley, but Miami ripped off three more consecutive victories, led by Heaton's triumph in the 3-meter dive. DuPuis and McHugh then followed with top swimming times in the 200 butterfly and 100 freestyle before the Bobcats answered with a top finish in the 200 backstroke.

Miami closed the meet with four consecutive event wins, beginning with Ricard's top finish in the 500 freestyle. After Heaton's victory in the 1-meter dive, senior Griffin Marshall notched Miami's final individual win of the meet with his first-place time in the 200 breaststroke (2:08.79). The RedHawks capped the MAC dual meet win with a top time in the 400 freestyle relay (3:11.40).

Miami resumes dual meet action next weekend when it travels to Kenyon (Jan. 26) and Cleveland State (Jan. 27). After next weekend, Miami swims in its final conference dual meet Feb. 3 when it travels to Eastern Michigan.

Leading up to the conference meet, the women of Miami competes in a pair of dual meets next weekend when it hosts Bowling Green (Jan. 26) and travels to Kenyon (Jan. 27). The two dual meets are the final meets for Miami prior to the 2007 MAC Swimming and Diving Championships, slated for Feb. 14-16 in Ypsilanti, Mich.

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