USC Greats Soni, Mellouli Shine In May Events
May 17, 2011 | Women's Swimming & Diving
May 17, 2011
USC great Rebecca Soni, a volunteer coach for Trojan swimming, finished off a great meet at the Charlotte Ultraswim in North Carolina last weekend, winning $20,000 in prize money after two wins (100m and 200m breast) as well as a meet record and a world-leading time.
Soni's win in the 100m breast came in a meet-record 1:05.57, edging Trojan Club teammate Jessica Hardy's 1:05.90. It was the fastest in the world this year. Soni came back later in the meet to win her signature event, the 200m breast, in 2:23.33, just off her current top time in the world (2:23.27).
Soni earned her five-figure paycheck by being the top individual scorer at the UltraSwim. Other swimmers earned smaller awards. Awards earned by amateurs, including senior-to-be Katinka Hosszu, were donated to charity.
A week earlier in Brazil, another USC great, Ous Mellouli, earned Swimmer of the Meet honors at the Maria Lenk Trophy competition in Rio de Janeiro.
Mellouli raced to victories in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m free and also was part of the winning 4x200m free relay.
Soni also raced at the Maria Lenk, sweeping the 50m, 100m and 200m breast.
Players Mentioned
