Herbst Places Ninth in the 1650 Free
12/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 6, 2009
COLUMBUS, Ohio—Freshman Kelsey Herbst turned in the best individual performance of the day, as Pitt’s women’s swimming and diving team finished sixth overall with 247 points in the Ohio State Invitational.
“We came into this meet without resting,” Head Swim Coach Chuck Knoles said. “We wanted to try something different and felt that we needed something new to prepare us for the end of the season. After this weekend, we realized that we are right on target for where we want to be.”
Herbst was the first of three Panthers to place in the top 15 of the 1650 free. Touching the wall at 17:06.10, Herbst finished ninth overall in the event. Next, junior Katie Cutrell took 12th at 17:20.00, while freshman Elizabeth Tabor was 14th at 17:36.10.
Also placing in the top-10, freshman Joanna Budzis swam a season-best 2:01.44 in the 200 back. Seniors Ryann Kishbaugh and Allie Horvath also raced in the finals of the 200 back, placing 19th and 24th, overall.
In the finals of the 100 free, senior Lisa McDonnell finished 20th overall with a season-best 52.47, and sophomore Elena Spak was 24th at a season-low 52.72.
Pitt’s 400 free relay team finished ninth overall at 3:31.35 and was made up of Spak, McDonnell, sophomore Kristen McMullan and Budzis.
Junior Laura Barnes placed 16th in the 200 breast with a time of 2:22.30, while senior Sophie Cross and freshman Yolandi Van Der Merwe recorded season bests and finished 21st and 22nd overall.
Junior Cookie McIntyre swam a 2:04.19 in the prelims of the 200 fly and placed 12th in the finals. Alongside her, sophomore Tamara Lelli swam in the finals and placed 15th, while Cross was 16th.
Additionally, freshman Victoria Alland and juniors Sarah Looney and Caitlin Trant finished 20th-22nd, respectively, in the 200 fly.
Also placing in the top 30 was sophomore Yolandi Van Rooyen (200 back), junior Beth Newell (200 back), Cutrell (200 back) and McMullan (100 free).
The Panthers will rest and resume action on Saturday, Jan. 9, against Backyard Rival West Virginia.
Team Scores
1 Minnesota 1174
2 Ohio State 845
3 West Virginia 529.5
4 Penn State 458
5 Miami 302
6 Pitt 247
7 Purdue 66
8 Indiana-Bloomington 55.5
9 Duke 54
10 Arizona State 42
11 Notre Dame 39
12 South Carolina 26
13 N.C. State 23
14 Arizona State 14
15 Purdue 13