Auburn Scores Wins Over Missouri and Arkansas in Season Opener

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark, October 12. THE two-time defending NCAA Auburn women's swimming and diving team swept both Missouri and Arkansas in a double dual meet on Saturday morning at the HPER Natatorium to open the 2003 season. The Tigers defeated Arkansas by a count of 81-58 and Missouri by a score of 86-53.

"I thought today was a very solid season-opening meet for us," AU Co-Head Women's Coach Kim Brackin said. "I thought that the energy, enthusiasm and confidence that we raced with this morning was very good."

The Tigers' season got off the blocks with a first-place finish in the 400 medley relay as Jeri Moss, Laura Swander, Alessandra Lawless and Christina Swindle combined to clock a 3:48.17.

Sophomore Jana Kolukanova was the first to the wall in two separate events, placing first in the 50 free (23.77) and the 100 free (51.16).

Classmate Jeri Moss was also a double-event winner, stroking the walls for a first-place finish in the 100 back (55.70) and the 200 back (2:02.04).

“All of Jeri's times were in-season bests," Brackin said. "I thought she was very impressive with how she handled the meet as it was run very quickly and she was forced to swim events very close to each other."

Lauren Duerk, a sophomore, was a double winner in the meet with Missouri, being the first to stop the clock in both the 500 free (5:00.93) and the 400 IM (4:28.63).

Senior Heather Kemp, the 2003 NCAA Champion in the 200 free, clocked a 1:48.52 in her first individual event of the season and then led off the 400 free relay with a time of 50.41.

"Heather was very aggressive in her racing," Brackin said. "She is technically very sound and is focusing on what she should be doing at this point of the season."

Freshman Lynnsey Segraves was the leading diver for the Tigers, scoring a 227.05 on the 1-meter and a 218.60 on the 3-meter. Junior Rachel Korth was just behind her both times, scoring a 222.15 on the 1-meter and a 212.90 on the 3-meter.

"I saw some good things out of both Lynnsey and Rachel today," AU Diving Coach Jeff Shaffer said. "This will serve as a good learning experience and a good starting point for both of them."

The Tigers have now won 33 consecutive dual meets, dating back to January of 1999.

The Tigers will return to action on Oct. 25 when they travel with the men's team for a double dual meet with Virginia and Penn State in Charlottesville, Va.

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