Fast Times Abound on Final Day of Husky Invite

FEDERAL WAY, WA., December 8. IMPRESSIVE swimming by Huskies, Bruins, Beavers and Reno Aquatics' Erik Scailse highlighted the final day's action at the 54th Husky Invitational this evening at the King County Aquatic Center.

Husky Luke Ekhoff, a junior breaststroke specialist who's Washington record-holder in the 200 (1:56.13 from NCAAs last March in Athens) dominated the field here with his winning 1:57.86 — among the fastest 200s nationally this season. His closest pursuer was teammate Phil Davis, who clocked 2:02.51 but went a faster 2:01.28 in the prelims. Ekhoff went 1:58.48 to qualify first.

Ekhoff is undefeated this season and hopes to give Stanford's defending 200 Pac-10 champ Michael Bruce (and perhaps USC's Erik Vendt too!) a battle at the championships this March atLong Beach's Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool.

In the women's 200 breast, Oregon State's Birte Steven — wwho swam a pr 1:01.68 to finish runner-up in the 100 to Olympic champ Megan Quann — put the hammer down and stroked to a pr and OSU record 2:12.02, also among the top times nationally.

Who was second?

The ubiquitous Ms. Quann, who touched in 2:12.19 after a 2:12.62 in the heats, fastest going into the finals. Quann's pr is a 2:10.75 from the PNS/Speedo Championships a year ago March here.

Steven's old pr was a 2:12.96 from NCAAs last season so she's faster still in the midst of heavy training. Are you reading this, Tara Kirk?

Fifteen-year-old Katy Houston of Reno went a fast 2:13.69 for third.

UCLA scored four women's wins, three individual and one relay.

The Bruin men's team — a national powerhouse for half a century and 1982 NCAA Champions — was dismantled following the 1994-'95 season due to "budgetary constraints" and Title IX considerations.

The Bruin women under Coach Cyndi Gallagher, last year's Pac-10 champs, got a win in the 200 back from Auburn transfer Taylor Spivey (1:59.00); sprinter Sara Platzer(100 free, 49.51); and froshwoman butterflyer Kim Vandenberg, who went a sterling pr 1:58.46 to win the 200.

Spivey, the 100 back champ in 55.39, has prs of 54.13-1:57.20 from her days as a Tiger two seasons ago. Her prs are also faster than the current Bruin records, so presuming she continues to improve, by the time Pac-10s roll around (in this same pool the final weekend of February), Spivey could be a big point-scorer for UCLA in both races.

SCRA's Brooke Bishop, CIF CCS 50 free and 100 back champ last season as a sophomore, went a pr 1:59.79 for second in the 200; and UCLA's Naoko Watanabe took the show spot with her 2:00.25.

Platzer, a former Washington state prep All-America and holder of the state 100 free record until it was finally broken at last month's championships, won the century in 49.51. Her pr and UCLA-record is 49.33 so she's "right there" too. Husky sprinter Kim Harada, who qualified first in 49.62, was a bit slower at night (49.64) and finished runner-up to her UCLA foe. Former Cal All-America Haley Cope was third (49.74).

UCLA's final individual champ was rookie flyer Kim Vandenberg, a Northern California product who's also an accomplished 100-200 freestyler and fine 200 IMer. She won the longer fly race in a pr 1:58.46, just nipping Oregon State's fast-improving Naya Higashijima, who finished second in 1:58.50. The OSU flyer's pr and school-record is 1:57.72 from NCAAs atAustin last March.

Before Vandenberg's through in Westwood, look for her to make a run at the Bruin school-record of 1:55.84 by ex-UCLA All-America Annette Salmeen. She swam that time seven eyars ago this month at The Wolverine Invitational in Ann Arbor. Bruin Kristen Lewis, who won the 100 fly in a pr 54.20, was third in the 200 in another pr, 1:58.65.

Reno's Erik Scalise, a former University of Nevad-Las Vegas All-America who's still going strong at 25, doubled with wins in the 200 back (1:48.43 with Husky Diogo Bezerra next at 1:49.51); and the 200 fly (1:50.15).

Runner-up was Portland's David Douglas Swim Club's own Dennis Baker, a mere broth of a lad at 41, who clocked 1:50.54, a U.S. Masters Record in the 40-44 age group.

Washington's Derek Rose was the other individual champ, taking the 100 free in 45.15.

The women's sprint relay went to UCLA (3:23.19) with Washington second (3:25.85). The men's sprint relay title went to the Huskies, who touched in 3:03.67.

It's gratifying to see Washington Athletic Director Barbara Hedges, one of the few women in this position nationwide, starting to pump some money into Husky swimming and perhaps restore it to its high level of excellence from some three decades ago during the glory days of Robin Backhaus & Co.

Now if only new UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero can be convinced to do likewise in Westwood, and the AD at Dartmouth too.

— Bill Bell

54TH HUSKY INVITATIONAL

KING COUNTY AQUATIC CENTER

FEDERAL WAY, WA.

DECEMBER 8, 2002

25 YD. POOL

RESULTS (DAY 3)

Event 27 Women 200 Yard Backstroke
===============================================================================
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Spivey, Taylor 20 UCLA-CA 2:02.13 1:59.00
2 Bishop, Brooke 16 SCRA-PC 2:02.68 1:59.70
3 Watanabe, Naoko 20 UCLA-CA 2:01.20 2:00.25
4 Schneider, Kristen 21 CSU 2:04.52 2:02.37
5 Lobdell, Jackie A 20 UCLA-CA 2:04.92 2:04.25
6 Andrews, Lauren D 18 RAD-SN 2:04.13 2:04.47
7 Rains, Megan E 17 UNTSC-PN 2:05.23 2:05.78
8 Scarborough, Kim 19 UCLA-CA 2:03.66 2:05.90

Event 28 Men 200 Yard Backstroke
===============================================================================
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Scalise, Erik L 25 RENO-PC 1:51.47 1:48.43
2 Bezerra, Diogo UW 1:50.74 1:49.51
3 Bray, Brendon F 21 UW 1:50.11 1:50.25
4 Hardesty, Kurt T 19 UW 1:51.44 1:51.31
5 McCaffrey, Garrett W 20 UW 1:52.75 1:52.17
6 Freeman, Ryan Whitworth-IE 1:54.27 1:52.44
7 Warm, Michael J 17 SMST-SN 1:51.26 1:54.53
8 Zielke, Matt A 21 UW 1:52.90 1:55.80

Event 29 Women 100 Yard Freestyle
===============================================================================
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Platzer, Sara C 20 UCLA-CA 50.05 49.51
2 Harada, Kim E 21 UW 49.62 49.64
3 Cope, Haley G 23 CA 50.62 49.74
4 Svahnstrom, Malin 22 UCLA-CA 51.06 50.91
5 Olson, Sharon A 18 UW 51.01 52.00
6 Bishop, Brooke 16 SCRA-PC 51.37 52.04
7 Rains, Megan E 17 UNTSC-PN 51.66 52.28
8 Huston, Kristin 19 OSU 51.78 52.49

Event 30 Men 100 Yard Freestyle
===============================================================================
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Rose, Derek S 20 UW 45.41 45.15
2 Wagner, Garrett M M 17 SMST-SN 46.97 45.87
3 Dawson, Seth D 22 MHST-OR 46.46 45.88
4 Heaton, Zak S 19 UW 46.50 46.11
5 Bailey, Nate E 21 UW 46.16 46.37
5 Verlatti, Ryan J 16 TSC-PN 46.70 46.37
7 Laughlin, Joe 22 SU 47.17 47.39
8 Warm, Michael J 17 SMST-SN 46.85 48.71

Event 31 Women 200 Yard Breaststroke
===============================================================================
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Steven, Birte 22 OSU 2:12.86 2:12.02
2 Quann, Megan M 18 Titans-PN 2:12.63 2:13.19
3 Houston, Katy P 15 RENO-PC 2:16.96 2:13.69
4 Coler, Cathy R 20 UCLA-CA 2:18.21 2:17.05
5 Shortt, Caitlyn A 16 MHST-OR 2:18.09 2:17.69
6 Finlay, Paula 21 OSU 2:18.94 2:18.79
7 Embertson, Mari 19 OSU 2:19.62 2:19.59
8 Heath, Samantha M 15 PLS-PC 2:16.89 2:19.60

Event 32 Men 200 Yard Breaststroke
===============================================================================
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Ekhoff, Luke W 20 UW 1:58.48 1:57.86
2 Davis, Phil J 21 UW 2:01.28 2:02.51
3 Nitz, Jesse A 19 UW 2:04.62 2:06.42
4 Bergman, Cory Whitworth-IE 2:07.66 2:07.18
5 Monson, Chris A 20 UN-PN 2:09.21 2:09.03
6 Reynolds, Andrew R 17 MAC-OR 2:10.99 2:11.47
7 Scalise, Erik L 25 RENO-PC 2:09.63 2:22.08
— Rasmussen, John C 27 MHST-OR 2:05.04 DQ

Event 33 Women 200 Yard Butterfly
===============================================================================
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Vandenberg, Kim 18 UCLA-CA 2:01.03 1:58.46
2 Higashijima, Naya OSU 1:59.02 1:58.50
3 Lewis, Kristen S 20 UCLA-CA 1:58.83 1:58.65
4 Hilyard, Anissa V 19 UW 2:01.49 2:00.51
5 Reilly, Erin P P 17 SMST-SN 2:03.35 2:00.78
6 Daley, Krista T 18 UCLA-CA 2:02.26 2:03.50
7 Wolcott, Haley A 18 UW 2:03.91 2:04.47
8 Sherfey, Casey M 19 UW 2:04.42 2:06.21

Event 34 Men 200 Yard Butterfly
===============================================================================
Name Age Team Prelims Finals Points
===============================================================================
A – Final
1 Scalise, Erik L 25 RENO-PC 1:52.85 1:50.15
2 Baker, Dennis G 41 DDSC-OR 1:53.16 1:50.54
3 Gillis, Craig UW 1:53.78 1:51.45
4 Ewald, Rui 20 SU 1:55.89 1:54.56
5 Byers, John L 17 MST-IE 1:55.79 1:55.33
6 Zaferes, Tom G 16 CAB-PC 1:55.64 1:55.69
7 Veal, Tag UPS 1:55.43 1:57.06
— Jordan, Josh G 21 Ecsc-OR 1:54.55 DQ

Event 35 Women 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
===============================================================================
Team Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 University of California – LA-CA 'A' 3:22.19
2 University of Washington 'A' 3:25.85
3 Oregon State University 'A' 3:28.77
4 Colorado State University 'A' 3:29.57
5 Sierra Marlins Swim Team-SN 'A' 3:30.38
6 University of Washington 'B' 3:31.73
7 Lake Oswego Swim Club-OR 'A' 3:31.86
8 South Sound Titans-PN 'A' 3:32.49

Event 36 Men 400 Yard Freestyle Relay
===============================================================================
Team Finals Points
===============================================================================
1 University of Washington 'A' 3:03.67
2 Mt. Hood Swim Team-OR 'A' 3:09.42
3 Seattle Univeristy Redhawks 'A' 3:10.83
4 University of Washington 'B' 3:12.13
5 Whitworth College-IE 'A' 3:13.07
6 University of Puget Sound 'A' 3:15.19
7 University of Washington 'C' 3:15.80
8 Mt. Hood Swim Team-OR 'B' 3:16.59

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