Dec. 6, 2002
Bowling Green, Ky. - With two days of competition in the books, both Western Kentucky University swim teams have held their own against an 11-team field at the Ninth Annual Miami Invitational. The men's team used four first-place finishes, including one in record-breaking fashion, to place second following Friday's action, while the Lady Toppers sit in sixth.
The men's team found themselves in sixth place with 105 points following Thursday's four events. By Friday night, the Hilltoppers had amassed 895 points, trailing only Kenyon College with 1,239 points. The WKU men made their charge with four first-place finishes, highlighted by juniors Ryan Crosby and Jay Smith and freshmen Chris Raniere and Shane Music, who captured first in the 200 Freestyle Relay with a time of 1:21.94. Their time broke the meet record of 1:22.20, established by the University of Missouri on Nov. 1, 1994.
Seniors Gord Veldman and Jerod Janes both scored individual wins on Friday by recording the fastest WKU times on the season in their respective events. Veldman's victory came in the 100 Backstroke, where he finished at :48.76. Janes earned first in the 50 Freestyle with a time of :20.50. Veldman also added a third place finish in the 50 Free (:20.97). The Hilltoppers final victory came in the 400 Medley Relay where Veldman, Janes and Crosby teamed up with freshman Chris Tarter to take first with a time of 3:21.23.
The Lady Toppers ended Thursday's competition with 105 points and used several strong finishes on Friday to close the day with 475 points. Sophomore Alexis Reick took fourth in the 100 Backstroke with a time of :58.41 (fastest by any WKU swimmer this season). Senior Carol Brown also posted a season best for the Lady Toppers, earning an eighth place finish in the 50 Free by coming in at :24.24. Junior Marci Kascir placed sixth in the 3-meter Dive with a score of 397.05.
Both teams have nine more events on Saturday, the final day of competition, with the prelims at 9 a.m. and the finals at 6 p.m.
