The Pitt men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both completed the weekend at Princeton’s Big Al Invite as second place finishers thanks to strong performances on Sunday at DeNunzio Pool.
“It was a very successful meet for us overall,” said head coach Chuck Knoles. “We had a great time here at Princeton, they were wonderful hosts. Now our plan is to take these season-best times from the Pitt Invite and this meet and move them forward into the ACC Championships. We have some work to do, but I’m very proud of these kids, and proud that they’ve lasted through a long three-day meet.”
Pitt’s women claimed all five of the weekend’s relay events, capped on Sunday by the quartet of Emily Murphy, Rachel Brown, Leticia Lelli, and Danyel Johnson (3:19.78) surpassing their own school record in the 400 free relay set at last month’s Pitt Invite. The mark comes in addition to the two 400 IM program bests turned in on Saturday.
Meme Sharp swept both women’s diving events with her victory in the 3-meter (322.40) on day three. Rachel Saunders placed second, with Sam Winkelmann seventh. Pitt took home a win in all four diving events on the weekend, and held seven of the top eight positions across the events combined.
The Panthers’ distance unit collected points for both the men’s and women’s sides, with Kaleigh Ritter (16:12.73) and Aaron Sett (15:24.95) each winning the 1650 free with B cut times. Amanda Richey (16:13.88) was runner-up with a B cut time of her own. Meghan Joram finished fourth.
Ritter’s time is currently the 11th fastest in the country in the 1650.
Other winners included Murphy in the 100 free (49.72) and Kinga Cichowska in the 200 breast (2:11.45). David Sweeney (100 free, 44.14) and Katie Fernander (200 breast, 2:14.02) each notched B cuts and second place finishes. More B cut efforts came in both the men’s and women’s 200 back as well, courtesy of Richey (1:58.85) and Zach Lierley (1:45.24).
Though the host Tigers emerged as winners this time around, it was the Panthers that ended their historic streak of 47 consecutive dual meets in 2004 at Trees Pool.
The full teams will officially return to action Jan. 9 at West Virginia following a pause in competition over the holiday break.
Men
1. Princeton (1100.5)
2. Pitt (818)
3. Brown (675.5)
4. Dartmouth (408)
5. Rider (337)
6. Columbia (253)
7. Penn State (122)
8. Villanova (120)
Women
3. Princeton (994)
1. Pitt (931)
2. Villanova (691)
4. Brown (580)
5. Dartmouth (345)
6. Rider (77)
7. Penn State (67)
8. Columbia (14)
