University of Houston
RICE
Swimming & Diving Falls to Rice on Saturday
10/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Oct. 16, 2004
HOUSTON - Sophomore Szintia Szanto won two individual swimming events, and the Cougars swept the diving events, but the University of Houston swimming and diving program dropped a 168-124 decision to crosstown rival Rice on Saturday at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center Natatorium.
Szanto, who already has posted some of the school's fastest times in four different events, claimed first place in the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 2:05.23 to finish more than four seconds ahead of the second-place finisher.
A native of Budapest, Hungary, Szanto also earned a first-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:09.08.
On the diving side, sophomore Anna Kiess dominated for the second straight day by winning both springboard events. The Berlin, Germany, native won the 3-meter competition with 268.94 points and took top honors in the 1-meter event with 300.23 points.
Sophomore Alejandra Salazar won the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:43.20, more than five seconds ahead of her closest competitor.
The Cougar swimmers capped the day by winning the 400-yard freestyle relay. Bay, Meagan Wien, Vaiana and Stacey Williams combined to post a time of 3:36.33 in the final event of the day.
With the loss, the Cougars dropped to 0-2 in dual meets this season. However after facing Texas and Rice on back-to-back days, head coach Mark Taylor sees plenty of hope for this season and the near future.
"We had some swimmers perform lifetime bests in events today. They were simply awesome," Taylor said. "A lot of our freshmen stood up and showed how good they can be, particularly Nicole Vaiana and Jenny Hagen."
Senior Kristin Bay earned a second-place showing in the 100-yard backstroke with a clocking of 58.72, less than two-tenths of a second behind Rice's Jane Keith.
UH's Azul Almazan finished second on the 3-meter board with 257.24 points, while Rachel Gitelson placed second with 285.30 points in the 1-meter event.
"Dual meet performances like this help us prepare for our end-of-the-year swims," Taylor said.
UH now will take some time off before returning to dual meet action. The Cougars play host to Conference USA rival TCU at 7 p.m., Oct. 28 at the CRWC Natatorium.
Players Mentioned
