Swimmers and Divers Have Success Abroad
Johnston Takes Title At Spring Nationals, Heads To Canada Cup
Duke freshman diver Abby Johnston added another accolade to her stellar 2008-09 campaign, capturing the three-meter individual title Sunday at the Speedo USA Diving Spring Nationl Championships in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
The Ohio native, a 2009 All-America, ACC & NCAA Zone B champion in the event, scored a 301.5 to take the championship, which was highlighted by her 67.50 on an inward 2 ½ in the fourth round. Johnston has two previous three-meter synchronized titles to her name, but picked up her first individual one this weekend.
“It was really unexpected. I thought it was possible, but the fact that it actually came true was unbelievable,” Johnston told USA Diving. “I wasn’t nervous – I just listened to music and danced. I wasn’t worried about the outcome. I didn’t know what place I was in. I was just happy with how I was doing.”
A total of 10 titles were awarded during the five days of competition.
Johnston will next take to the boards at the Canada Cup in Montreal from April 30 - May 3, and will compete on the three-meter.
Medrano Breaks Mexican 100 Fly Record, Qualifies for World Championships
Texas A&M freshman swimmer Rita Medrano (Aguascalientes, Mexico) set her third national record in five months and in doing so qualified for the 2009 World Championships on Sunday at the Mexican Long Course National Championships in Tijuana.
Medrano won the 100-meter butterfly in a time of 1:01.38, clipping almost a full second off the old mark of 1:02.37 set by Teresa Victor at the Janet Evans Invitational in Los Angeles in 2005. Medrano now owns all four of Mexico’s national records in her signature stroke, the butterfly.
Her record-breaking 100 fly performance has now qualified her to compete at her first-ever World Championships, scheduled for July 18-Aug. 2, in Rome, Italy.
Medrano also won the Mexican national title in the 400-meter individual medley after recording a time of 4:55.17 on Saturday.
Medrano Wins Five Races at Mexican Nationals, Sets Two Records
Texas A&M freshman swimmer Rita Medrano (Aguascalientes, Mexico) ran roughshod over the Mexican Long Course National Championships in Tijuana this past week, winning five events and setting two national records.
Medrano, who qualified for the 2009 World Championships in Rome, Italy, thanks to her national record performance in the 100-meter butterfly on Sunday, did likewise in the 200-meter butterfly on Tuesday night. The A&M school record holder in the 200 fly destroyed her own previous national record of 2:14.62 in the event, set at the 2007 Pan Am Trials in Boca del Río, by going 2:12.06 on Tuesday night. Medrano has set the Mexican record in both the 100 and 200-meter butterfly at both the long and short courses distances in the past five months.
Medrano made it a clean sweep of the butterfly races, winning the 50-meter butterfly on Monday in 28.35, finishing only .31 off Teresa Victor?s national record of 28.04 set in April of 2004. She closed out her remarkable meet by winning the 200-meter individual medley in 2:21.17 on Wednesday night, giving her a sweep of both medley races in addition to her trio of butterfly wins. Medrano opened the meet with a win in the 400 IM in 4:55.17 on Saturday.
Fred Bousquet Sets New French Record At French Nationals
Former Auburn swimmer and Olympic Silver Medalist Fred Bousquet shattered the French 50 fly record, touching in at 22.87, over half a second faster than the previous mark of 23.36 set by Amaury Leveaux. Bousquet was competing in day one action of the French National Championships held April 22-26 in Montpellier.
Spaniard Rafael Munoz Perez took first in finals, storming in at 22.72. Bousquet placed second followed by Leveaux in 23.36.
Bousquet returned to Auburn prior to the 2008 Beijing Games to train under Auburn co-head men’s coach Brett Hawke. Also training on the Auburn campus are fellow Olympians Cesar Cielo, Alexei Puninski and George Bovell.
“Fred is swimming very fast right now,” said Hawke. “He did a great job this morning in the 50 fly. He’s been in the game for a while and knows how to perform on this level. With his training and experience, I’m expecting some big things from him Sunday in the 50 free.”
Hawke made plans to fly to France on Thursday as Bousquet gears up for swims in the 100 free and 50 free on Friday and Sunday, respectively.
Bousquet accumulated six NCAA and 15 SEC titles while swimming collegiately for the Tigers. The Perpignan, France native was the first man ever to swim the 50-yard freestyle in under 19 seconds.
Former Auburn Sprinter Fred Bousquet Upsets New World Record Holder To Take First At French Nationals
Former Tiger Fred Bousquet upset current world record holder Alan Bernard in Friday’s 100m free finals out of lane one at the French National Championships. The Perpignan, France native hit the wall with a new career-best time of 47.15 to take first by a mere .36 seconds.
Bernard set his world record time of 46.94 in Thursday’s semis, becoming the first man to break the 47-second mark.
Bousquet claimed a place on the French National Team for his efforts and will represent his country at the 2009 World Championships in Rome. The 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist placed fourth in his semifinal heat, touching in at 48.85.
Bousquet returned to Auburn prior to the 2008 Beijing Games to train under Auburn co-head men’s coach Brett Hawke. Also training on the Auburn campus are fellow Olympians Cesar Cielo, Alexei Puninski and George Bovell. Hawke flew to France on Thursday.
Bousquet accumulated six NCAA and 15 SEC titles while swimming collegiately for the Tigers. The Perpignan, France native was the first man ever to swim the 50-yard freestyle in under 19 seconds.
Former Auburn Sprinter Cesar Cielo Wins 50m Freestyle At The Maria Lenk Trophy Meet
Cesar Cielo took first in the 50m freestyle finals at the Maria Lenk Trophy meet held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Wednesday morning. The 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist touched in at 21.33, just shy of his South American record time of 21.30.
"Cesar Cielo did what he wanted to do today," said Auburn co-head swimming coach Brett Hawke. "We're incredibly excited about the World Championships coming up in late July. He's swimming fast right now and will be even faster in Rome. It's going to be an incredible meet."
Cielo placed second to runner-up Nicolas dos Santos in Tuesday's preliminary swim after battling a ripped suit, hitting the wall in 22.11.
As a Tiger, Cielo accumulated more NCAA Titles than any swimmer in school history - 10 from 2006-08. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native holds NCAA and US Open records in the 50y free after taking first at the 2008 NCAA Championships with a time of 18.47.
Cesar Cielo Sets New South American Record In 50m Fly At Brazilian Nationals.
Cesar Cielo took first in the 50m butterfly finals at the Maria Lenk Trophy meet held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Friday morning. The 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist touched in at 23.42, edging out Nicholas dos Santos by a mere one hundredth of a second. The previous South American record of 23.46 was set in Thursday evening prelims by Guilherme Roth.
Cielo secured a place at the 2009 World Championships following his performance in the 50m free finals on Wednesday where he took first, touching in at 21.33. The mark was just shy of the South American record time of 21.30 Cielo set at the 2008 Beijing Games. Cielo placed second to runner-up Nicolas dos Santos in Tuesday's preliminary swim after battling a ripped suit, hitting the wall in 22.11.
Next for Cielo will be 100m freestyle finals Satuday evening.
As a Tiger, Cielo accumulated more NCAA Titles than any swimmer in school history - 10 from 2006-08. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native holds NCAA and US Open records in the 50y free after taking first at the 2008 NCAA Championships with a time of 18.47.
