Cyclones Win Two More Events In Lincoln

11.22.2008 | Swimming and Diving

By: cyclones.com

LINCOLN, Neb.- Sophomore Jeli Nixt and senior Marni Benson led the Iowa State swimming and diving team to a one-two finish in the 100-breaststroke at the Devaney Natatorium. The Cyclones passed Nebraska to now stand fourth in the team standings with 727 points.

Nixt and Benson posted the top two times in the preliminary round and then followed that performance up by sealing the one-two in the finals. Nixt (1:05.42) beat out Benson (1:05.44) by only .02 seconds. Iowa State head coach Duane Sorenson was pleased with theirs and the rest of the team's performance.

Day 3 Results
Day 3 Prelim Results	_	Day 3 Final Results

“I was happy with the way we competed,” said Sorenson. "A lot of teams get tired at this point but because of our hard training we really raced well. Jeli and Marni finished one-two in the breaststroke and our 800-freestyle relay team went 12 seconds under their best time of the season.”

The 800 free relay team of junior Lindsey Behrens and sophomores Jenny Vondenkamp, Chelsea Tomek and Megan Thompson finished fourth (7:41.57). Junior Abby Glaser finished third in the 100 butterfly (57.07), only one-tenth of a second away from first. Senior Lindsay Wegner earned a sixth place finish in the 100 backstroke (58.78) and senior Krista Moyer got seventh in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.42). Vondenkamp got eighth in the 200 free (1:55.47) and freshman Taylor Vieau finished tenth in the 400 IM (4:41.03).

Junior Tien Tran got back on track winning the 3-meter diving competition. The Greenwood, Ind. native posted a score of 328.50, only 10.05 off of her career high and school record.

“I thought she did fantastic,” said diving coach Jeff Warrick. "She hit every dive except one and she was just a little off. She did great in a meet like this with the tough competition and Big 12 competition. I couldn't be happier with how she did.”

Sophomore Abby Christensen finished sixth in 3-meter posting a career-high score of 249.15. Warrick was pleased with how she did as well.

“That was awesome for Abby, earning her personal best. She had three big dives that we added to her list, she did fantastic. It is a real confidence booster for her and set her up to keep pushing and working hard so she can repeat that performance at the Big 12 Championships.”

All of Iowa State's divers scored points for the team competition with freshman Jenn Botsch finishing 13^th (204.80), senior Kali Fryklund 14^th (194.35), sophomore Justine Anders 17^th (179.80), freshman Sarah Nelson 18^th (174.75), and freshman Lauren Naeve 20^th (116.30).

The Nebraska Invitational wraps up tomorrow and Sorenson expects to go out strong.

“We want to come out tomorrow morning and really get after it,” said Sorenson. “At the Big 12 Championships, that is where we need to be the strongest, that final prelim session. Then come back for the finals and improve our places and times.”

Team Standings