USC
Ohio State
Waller, Hentzen Strong In Win Over Ohio State
November 16, 2007 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Nov. 16, 2007
On a sunny and brisk day at the USC McDonald's Swim Stadium, NCAA qualifying times were reached at a fast and furious pace as the No. 15 USC women's swimming and diving team featured a handful of multiple winners en route to a 126-113 win over Ohio State, in a non-conference dual meet at the USC McDonald's Swim Stadium on Friday (Nov. 16).
USC improved to 3-2 overall while Ohio State dropped to 1-3. USC leads the all-time series, 2-0.
"After struggling a bit last week at the Arizona schools, I think our team was motivated to really put up some fast times," second-year USC Coach Dave Salo said. "We had some very nice swims today and we will build and continue to improve."
USC opened the meet with a win in the 200y medley relay as juniors Kristen Lahey, Rebecca Soni, Rachael Waller and Missy McIntyre won in 1:43.08, the second fastest USC time of the young season.
Seniors Whitney Hentzen and Brittany Allen, swimming their first 1650y free of the 2007-08 campaign, kicked off the first of numerous USC NCAA qualifying times with NCAA `B' cuts in a 1-2 finish. Hentzen won in 16:29.06 while Allen was second in 16:39.06. Henzten's time was just 10 seconds off former Trojan Karen LaBerge's 1986 pool record (16.19.47).
In the 200y free, Waller crushed her previous personal-best in the race and won the event in 1:47.26, just off the NCAA automatic qualifying time (1:47.09) and a solid NCAA `B' cut. Ohio State's Samantha Cheverton was second, her time (1:49.81) also a `B' cut.
McIntyre won the 50y free in a USC season-best 23.77 while Lahey was second (24.17). Soni (2:03.25) and junior Katy Houston (2:06.47) then went 1-2 in the 200y IM.
In the 200y fly, Waller turned in another lifetime best, winning the race in an NCAA `B' cut 2:00.12, more than two seconds off her previous personal best of 2:02.53 set earlier this season. Junior Ali Hartwell turned in a season-best to finish second in 2:03.51.
McIntyre came back to win her second sprint free, taking the 100y free in 51.70, a season-best effort. Lahey was second in 52.52.
Sophomore Whitney Stephenson joined the NCAA qualifying party with a win in the 200y back. Her 2:00.67 was not only a personal best but just under the NCAA `B' cut standard.
Hentzen returned late in the meet to win the 500y free in a season-best 4:49.01, lowering her NCAA consideration time for the third time this season. Right on her heels again was Allen, whose second-place 4:52.06 was a season-best and NCAA consideration time as well.
Soni, the two-time defending NCAA champion in the 200y breast, won the race in 2:10.43, just off her season-best 2:10.25 (which is an NCAA automatic time). Buckeye Colleen Schweitzer was second in an NCAA consideration 2:16.92.
Ohio State freshman Bianca Alvarez swept the diving springboard events, winning the 1-meter with 326.63 and the 3-meter with 324.00.
Players Mentioned
