USC swims to two meet victories over weekend
The USC swimming and diving team dominated in their duel meet against UC Santa Barbara on Saturday, where the Trojan men won 139 – 123 and the Women of Troy scored 143 – 111.
Among the highlights of the competition was the debut of juniors Richard Charlesworth and Presley Bard. Charlesworth was a 2008 Olympian for Great Britain and Bard an All-American transfer from Indiana. Both swimmers began training with the Trojans in January of last year, but were unable to compete until Saturday’s meet due to NCAA eligibility requirements.
British distance specialist Charlesworth won both his individual events clocking a 4:33.09 in the 500-yard free and a 9:21.62 in the 1000-yard free.
Bard placed first in the 100-yard back (54.99) and second in the 50-yard free (23.72).
The meet kicked off with the 200-yard medley relay where the women’s ‘A’ team starring Bard, as well as freshmen Jessica Schmitt, Yumi So and Christel Simms, took gold in a time of 1:44.28. The men’s ‘A’ team came second in a 1:33.69 in their 200-yard medley relay.
USC splashed into first place in almost every event, although they did fall short in the sprint freestyle events.
UCSB’s All-American senior Anne-Marie May beat the Women of Troy in both the 50-yard and 100-yard free, while on the men’s side UCSB’s sophomore Chris Peterson out-touched USC’s fastest men in both events.
“We told the team to throw out the times, as they were extremely tired coming off of their winter training camp,” assistant coach Jeremy Kipp said. “Instead to focus on good habits like fast turns, being disciplined in their race strategies and for the most part the team excited well.”
Junior Clement Lefert dominated the men’s butterfly events, snatching first in both the 100-yard (49.42) and the 200-yard (1:49.41), followed by freshmen Justin DiFederico who took second place with a time of 1:51.14.
Freshmen backstroker Alex Lendrum also swept his specialist events, out-touching the field in the 100-yard back with a time of 50.50 and winning the 200-yard in 1:49.38, with freshmen Brian Krump touching second (1:50.34).
Sophomore Katinka Hosszu, who was recently named Hungarian Athlete of the Year, swept all three of her individual races, clocking a 2:00.22 in the 200-yard fly, a 2:02.33 in the 200-yard back and a 4:20.83 in the 400-yard individual medley. Junior Ellie Doran came second (4:25.50), followed by Schmitt (4:26.76).
Both men’s captains posted individual wins, with senior James Martin dominating the 400-yard IM (4:01.41) and sophomore Pat White winning the 200-yard free (1:40.21). White also snagged second in the 500-yard free.
Freshmen distance star Haley Anderson controlled the 1000-yard free where she went 9:55.65 and touched almost 20 seconds ahead of Doran who once again clocked the second fastest time of 10:14.81.
Junior Lyndsay DePaul won the 200-yard free (1:49.08), while sophomore Ania Kowalcysk continued USC’s women’s breastroke reign when she touched first in the 100-yard with a time of 1:03.95.
The men will hit the pool next this weekend at the SMU Invite in Dallas, while the women have a short break until they compete Jan. 29 against Cal at the McDonald Swim Stadium.