NCAA Div. I Women: Bowen Leads Auburn to Team Title at Mustang Classic

DALLAS, Texas, Nov. 3. IF anyone had any lingering doubts about Maggie Bowen's commitment to "being the best she can be," they were quickly washed away here this weekend beneath the waves of venerable Perkins Natatorium.

Bowen, an Auburn junior, who struck gold at last summer's IX World Championships in the 200 meter individual medley after winning both IMs at NCAAs in March, won the medleys here during the SMU Women's Classic while helping coach David Marsh's Lady Tigers to their second-consecutive meet crown.

Auburn splashed to a 346-323 victory over host SMU here this evening, while UCLA — defending Pac-10 champs — was third. Auburn won last year's event
with 313 points.

After going a nation-leading 1:58.88 200 IM in the SMU dual Thursday evening, Bowen came back to win in a meet-record 1:59.91 here, following her meet-record 4:13.60 400 IM Friday night.

"We could never get that separation between us and Auburn," SMU head swimming coach Steve Collins said. "It just happened that most of the events we were most strong in, Auburn was strong in them as well."

SMU tallied three first-place showings, but couldn't catch Auburn and American/NCAA record-holder Bowen, who finished as high-point swimmer for the second-straight year. Bowen ended the night in fine fashion, as she hooked up with SMU's Alenka Kejzar in a classic battle in the meet's final individual race, the 200 medley.

When the defending NCAA champ touched at the finish her winning effort registered as a meet record, while Kejzar — who's pr is a 1:59.59 that earned her second at last spring's WAC Championships — finished second in 2:01.38. During Friday's 400 IM Bowen and Kejzar finished first (4:13.60) and second (pr 4:14+), respectively, with both bettering Bowen's meet record
from last year.

Bowen's American/NCAA record in the shorter medley is 1:55.49, set during the Division 1 Championships last March in East Meadow. That win plus the 400 IM crown were instrumental in Auburn's fourth-place team finish. She broke the old mark of 1:55.54 set by Stanford's Summer Sanders during the 1992 Champion-ships in Austin.

Bowen winning 400 IM at NCAAs was a pr and school-record 4:07.26. Her time is just .20 off Georgia's Keegan Walkley's Southeastern Conference record
4:07.06, and with the confidence that comes from a World Championship title that standard may well come a cropper at this year's NCAAs at — where else?
— Georgia the third weekend in March.

(Bowen's winning 200 IM swim at Fukuoka was 2:11.93, a mere. 02 off Sanders' Americn record 2:11.91 from the Barcelona Olympics a decade ago. The win came at the expense of, among others, the defending Olympic champ, Ukraine's Yana Klochkova, who won at Sydney in 2:10.60. The official world record is 2:09.72 by China's Wu Yanyan from the Chinese National Games in Shanghai four years ago, but many observers suspect that time was accomplished with a little help from Wu's chemical friends, and thus believe Klochkova's time should be the recognized mark.)

In any event, Bowen looked sharp here this weekend and Marsh is delighted she's come back so strongly. A lock to win two at NCAAs? Presumably except — EXCEPT — Stanford's Shelly Ripple, 200 IM runner-up and the race's top qualifier, is also back for her senior season.

And…if Cal's Natalie Coughlin opts to swim the 200 IM opening night it could become another "barn burner." Last season Coughlin didn't swim the
200 IM, opting to double on Day 2 (100 back-fly) and swam the 200 back Day 3. She did, however, lead off Cal's 400 medley relay opening night and set an American record for the 100 back, which she promptly broke the following day in the race itself. Coughlin also set NCAA records in the fly and 200 back and her double-century dorsal time is the American record too.

To begin tonight's competition, Auburn padded its lead via a win in 400 free relay (3:24.63). Then SMU soph Georgina Lee, Britain's national record holder in
the 200 fly, dominated the 500 free (same event she set a WAC record in last February), winning in 4:50.33.

Teammate Alenka Kejzar, a Slovenian Olympian, followed Lee's victory with a first-place showing in the 200 back (1:58.84). SMU's Anu Koivisto, a sophomore Finnish Olympian who's defending WAC 200 back-200 IM champ and who set a meet-record in the 100 back Friday, won the 200 consols tonight. Her pr is 1:55.85, third nationally last season.

UCLA's Elvira Fischer, a senior who transferred from Nebraska where she was a multi-Big 8 champ and also saw duty as an Austrian Olympian at Sydney, won the 200 breast in a seasonal pr 2:15.94. Miami's Diver of the Meet Michelle Davison then won her second event in as many nights, capturing the 3-meter competition with a score of 344.70. Davison set a meet record Friday on the 1-meter board.

Bruin soph Sara Platzer next won the 100 free, and SMU's Lee won her second race of the night, the 200 butterfly, in an NCAA "B" qualifying 1:59.31.

After Bowen's record-setting performance in the 200 IM, the Tigers ended the night on top by finishing first in the 200 free relay.

UCLA wound up third with 292 points, while Rice, Pacific, and Miami rounded out the bottom three.

— Bill Bell

SMU Women's Swimming & Diving Classic
Perkins Natatorium
Dallas, Texas
November 2-3, 2001

Female Team Scores
Place School Points
1 Auburn University AUBUR 346
2 Southern Methodist University SMU 323
3 Univ. of Cal @ Los Angeles UCLA 292
4 Rice University RICE 248
5 University of the Pacific PACIF 232
6 University of Miami MIAMI 215

400 Yard Freestyle Relay

School Prelims Finals
Points
========================================================================
Championship Final
1 Auburn University 3:24.63
24
1) Maxwell, Cassidy JR 2) Short, Becky SO
3) Coventry, Kirsty FR 4) Bowen, Maggie JR
24.84 51.91 1:15.76 1:42.51 2:07.60 2:34.24 2:58.71 3:24.63
2 Rice University 3:25.52
20
1) Mularz, Mandy JR 2) Hermann, Katie SR
3) Taheri, Kiana FR 4) Armstrong, Rachel SR
24.55 51.16 1:15.37 1:42.62 2:07.31 2:35.06 2:59.13 3:25.52
3 Southern Methodist University 3:27.32
18
1) Marshall, Dallas SO 2) Wanberg, Lotta JR
3) Koivisto, Anu SO 4) Wanberg, Lisa JR
24.90 52.38 1:17.42 1:44.52 2:09.00 2:36.12 3:00.45 3:27.32
4 Univ. of Cal @ Los Angeles 3:27.98
16
1) Winkelhaus, Katie SO 2) Svahnstrom, Malin FR
3) Zehntner, Erin JR 4) Platzer, Sara SO
25.80 53.77 1:17.98 1:44.56 2:10.12 2:37.59 3:01.70 3:27.98
5 University of the Pacific 3:28.46
14
1) Errecart, Robin SO 2) Willey, Kris SO
3) Catalano, Shannon SO 4) Schmidt, Heidi FR
25.36 52.27 1:17.16 1:44.88 2:09.79 2:36.93 3:01.74 3:28.46
6 University of Miami 3:30.15
12
1) Van Rooijen, Manon SO 2) Williams, Christine JR
3) Kinsella, Megan JR 4) Johns, Erin FR
25.42 52.37 1:16.99 1:44.50 2:09.95 2:37.31 3:02.65 3:30.15

500 Yard Freestyle

Name Year School Prelims Finals
Points
===============================================================================
1 Lee, Georgina SO SMU 4:50.33
16
26.99 55.74 1:25.01 1:54.32 2:23.71 2:53.15 3:22.73 3:52.34
4:22.02 4:50.33
2 Kemp, Heather SO AUBURN 4:55.69
13
27.43 56.81 1:26.74 1:57.02 2:27.45 2:57.88 3:28.17 3:58.30
4:27.57 4:55.69
3 Zehntner, Erin JR UCLA 4:57.96
12
27.68 57.09 1:27.32 1:57.47 2:27.74 2:57.79 3:27.81 3:58.34
4:28.45 4:57.96
4 Kristick, Corrie FR RICE 4:58.55
11
27.16 56.22 1:25.85 1:55.76 2:25.92 2:56.26 3:26.81 3:57.59
4:28.41 4:58.55
5 Errecart, Robin SO PACIFIC 5:02.27
10
27.59 57.00 1:26.94 1:57.26 2:27.89 2:58.91 3:29.81 4:00.94
4:31.96 5:02.27
6 Van Rooijen, Manon SO MIAMI 5:17.97
9
28.69 59.40 1:31.29 2:04.07 2:36.83 3:09.04 3:41.38 4:13.65
4:46.21 5:17.97

200 Yard Backstroke
========================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
Points
========================================================================
Championship Final
1 Kejzar, Alenka SO SMU 1:58.84
16
28.55 58.53 1:28.73 1:58.84
2 Coventry, Kirsty FR AUBURN 2:01.31
13
29.29 1:00.04 1:31.37 2:01.31
3 Marshall, Sarah FR PACIFIC 2:04.23
12
29.54 1:00.84 1:32.64 2:04.23
4 Winkelhaus, Katie SO UCLA 2:05.21
11
29.73 1:01.55 1:33.67 2:05.21
5 MacLennon, Kristy FR MIAMI 2:05.63
10
29.94 1:01.86 1:34.10 2:05.63
6 Lee, Elaine SO RICE 2:09.48
9
30.64 1:03.45 1:36.80 2:09.48
Consolation Final
7 Koivisto, Anu SO SMU 1:59.09
7
28.69 58.81 1:29.20 1:59.09
8 Hoelzer, Margaret FR AUBURN 1:59.46
5
29.40 1:00.38 1:30.05 1:59.46

200 Yard Breaststroke
========================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
Points
=======================================================================
Championship Final
1 Fischer, Elvira SR UCLA 2:15.94
16
30.91 1:04.88 1:40.06 2:15.94
2 Schmidt, Heidi FR PACIFIC 2:16.93
13
31.52 1:06.74 1:41.93 2:16.93
3 Bowen, Maggie JR AUBURN 2:17.11
12
31.59 1:06.36 1:41.71 2:17.11
4 Hill, Lauren FR RICE 2:18.76
11
32.26 1:07.91 1:43.74 2:18.76
5 Pomeroy, Julia JR SMU 2:22.38
10
31.36 1:07.09 1:44.45 2:22.38
6 Caples, Courtney SO MIAMI 2:24.25
9
33.01 1:09.26 1:46.17 2:24.25
Consolation Final
7 Swander, Laura SO AUBURN 2:17.86
7
31.56 1:07.09 1:42.62 2:17.86
8 Coler, Cathy SO UCLA 2:18.40
5
32.11 1:07.15 1:42.59 2:18.40

Women 3 Meter Diving
========================================================================

Name Year School Prelims Finals
Points
========================================================================
Finals
1 Davison, Michelle SR MIAMI 344.70
16
2 Prosser, Heidi JR UCLA 283.80
13
3 Rubenstein, Ashley SO AUBURN 278.10
12
4 Pike, Elizabeth FR SMU 231.95
11
5 Carey, Katie SO RICE 132.60
10

Women 100 Yard Freestyle
========================================================================

Name Year School Prelims Finals
Points
========================================================================
Championship Final
1 Platzer, Sara SO UCLA 50.35
16
24.17 50.35
2 Mularz, Mandy JR RICE 50.47
13
24.14 50.47
3 Short, Becky SO AUBURN 50.50
12
24.14 50.50
4 Marshall, Dallas SO SMU 51.39
11
24.62 51.39
5 Catalano, Shannon SO PACIFIC 52.40
10
25.27 52.40
6 Williams, Christin JR MIAMI 52.75
9
25.07 52.75
Consolation Final
7 Armstrong, Rachel SR RICE 51.37
7
24.81 51.37
8 Svahnstrom, Malin FR UCLA 51.54
5
24.98 51.54
200 Yard Butterfly

Name Year School Prelims Finals
Points
========================================================================
Championship Final
1 Lee, Georgina SO SMU 1:59.31&
16
26.78 57.60 1:28.46 1:59.31
2 Hoelzer, Margaret FR AUBURN 2:02.52
13
27.70 58.65 1:30.19 2:02.52
3 Errecart, Robin SO PACIFIC 2:03.52
12
28.14 59.04 1:31.09 2:03.52
4 MacLennon, Kristy FR MIAMI 2:04.58
11
28.53 1:00.72 1:32.60 2:04.58
5 Lewis, Kristen SO UCLA 2:04.59
10
28.06 59.64 1:32.18 2:04.59
6 Lee, Elaine SO RICE 2:05.35
9
28.02 59.92 1:32.87 2:05.35

200 Yard IM
========================================================================
Name Year School Prelims Finals
Points
========================================================================
Championship Final
1 Bowen, Maggie JR AUBURN 1:59.91&
16
27.14 57.07 1:31.84 1:59.91
2 Kejzar, Alenka SO SMU 2:01.38
13
27.65 58.15 1:32.75 2:01.38
3 Willey, Kris SO PACIFIC 2:05.44
12
27.59 59.41 1:35.89 2:05.44
4 Hill, Lauren FR RICE 2:06.00
11
27.94 1:01.31 1:36.93 2:06.00
5 Svahnstrom, Malin FR UCLA 2:07.27
10
27.92 1:00.17 1:37.65 2:07.27
6 Kinsella, Megan JR MIAMI 2:09.42
9
28.43 1:01.47 1:39.35 2:09.42

200 Yard Freestyle Relay
========================================================================

School Prelims Finals
Points
========================================================================
Finals
1 Auburn University 1:34.06
24
1) Short, Becky SO 2) Maxwell, Cassidy JR
3) Swander, Laura SO 4) Kemp, Heather SO
23.43 46.78 1:10.35 1:34.06
2 Rice University 1:34.44
20
1) Mularz, Mandy JR 2) Armstrong, Rachel SR
3) Taheri, Kiana FR 4) Hermann, Katie SR
23.55 47.01 1:11.11 1:34.44
3 Southern Methodist University 1:36.26
18
1) Marshall, Dallas SO 2) Wanberg, Lisa JR
3) Lee, Georgina SO 4) Wanberg, Lotta JR
24.13 48.00 1:12.28 1:36.26
4 University of the Pacific 1:37.17
16
1) Schmidt, Heidi FR 2) Willey, Kris SO
3) Catalano, Shannon SO 4) Marshall, Sarah FR
24.04 48.67 1:12.81 1:37.17
5 Univ. of Cal @ Los Angeles 1:37.95
14
1) Platzer, Sara SO 2) Zehntner, Erin JR
3) Lewis, Kristen SO 4) Coler, Cathy SO
23.32 48.78 1:13.75 1:37.95
6 University of Miami 1:38.38
12
1) Williams, Christine JR 2) Johns, Erin FR
3) Caples, Courtney SO 4) MacLennon, Kristy FR
24.47 49.01 1:13.85 1:38.38

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