Hoosierland Invitational, Day Three

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana, November 22. VICTORIES by Kate Fesenko in the 200 butterfly and Cassie Luhrsen in the 1,650 freestyle highlighted the final day of competition for the Indiana women's swimming team at the 2009 Hoosierland Invitational at the Counsilman-Billingsley Aquatic Center.

Indiana opened the finals session with a win in the 1,650 freestyle as Luhrsen raced home in a time of 16:38.94. Brittany Strumbel was second in 16:57.08, followed by Allysa Vavra in fourth (17:05.25).

Ashley Jones took second in the 200 backstroke with a season-best time of 2:01.24. Margaux Farrell placed fourth in 2:03.71, while Kim Tracey rounded out the IU representatives in the championship final with a seventh-place finish (2:08.46).

Fesenko was the top IU finisher in the 100 freestyle as she touched fourth in 52.01. Strumbel was the only other IU swimmer in the championship heat, finishing eighth (53.81).

The Hoosiers took three of the top four spots in the 200 breaststroke final as Amilee Smith placed second in 2:19.20, followed by Vavra (2:19.89) and Ashley Specht (2:21.30). Also in the championship final were Brittany Barwegen (6th- 2:22.99) and Katelyn Ishee (7th- 2:23.58).

Fesenko gave the Hoosiers their second win of the day with a victory in the 200 butterfly, clocking an NCAA provisional time of 1:57.83. That time puts her just outside the all-time top five for Indiana. Barwegen was third in 2:02.64, while Nikki White placed eighth with a time of 2:11.06.

Indiana's 400 freestyle relay quartet of Donna Smailis, Fesenko, Farrell and Strumbel took second in 3:28.37. Also posting a top-five finish was the group of Vavra, Tracey, Ashley Jones and White (5th- 3:34.74).

For the men, newcomer Illya Larin picked up his best finish as a Hoosier with a second-place showing in the 1,650 freestyle, touching the wall in 15:40.35. Tyler Shedron was fifth in 16:04.64, followed by Brenden Butler (6th- 16:07.79), John Schnittker (7th- 16:13.51) and Bart Ginocchio (8th- 16:17.59).

Doug Spraul remains undefeated in the 200 backstroke after clocking a winning time of 1:47.94, a season best for the junior. Kevin Happ was third in 1:54.21, with Mark Wetzel fifth (1:58.07), Austin Steel sixth (1:59.06) and Zack Stockman seventh (1:59.52).

Titus Knight posted a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle, touching the wall in 45.60. Freshman Bryant Honsa was fourth (47.34), while Steel took fifth (47.69), Stockman seventh (48.46) and Ante Zoricic eighth (48.61).

Aaron Opell took second in the 200 breaststroke championship final with a time of 2:05.75. He was one of five Hoosiers in the final, with Brenden Butler third (2:09.57), Tyler Lemert fourth (2:10.02), Sam Trahin fifth (2:10.07) and Knight sixth (2:12.42).

In the final individual event of the invitational, Shedron won the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:50.92. Shedron now owns the two fastest times by an Indiana swimmer in the event this season. Opell was second in 1:52.06, with Tim Blue third (1:52.59), Jon Hueni fourth (1:58.65), Honsa fifth (1:59.02), Christopher Head sixth (2:00.58) and Spraul seventh (2:04.12).

The meet closed with the 400 freestyle relay as Knight, Shedron, Honsa and Steel combined for a winning time of 3:06.66. The Hoosiers' B squad of Zoricic, Stockman, Daniel Kanorr and Andrew Taylor was third in 3:08.83.

The Hoosiers are back in action on Dec. 5 as they travel to Lexington, Ky. for a dual meet with the Kentucky Wildcats.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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