Swimming and Diving Teams Commence 2010-11 Season at Show-Me Showdown

RESULTS

Columbia, Mo., October 3, 2010 — The Washington University in St. Louis men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams opened their 2010-11 seasons at the University of Missouri Show-Me Showdown on Saturday, Oct. 2, in Columbia, Mo.

The Show-Me Showdown annually showcases some of the best swimming and diving programs in the state of Missouri across all three NCAA divisions and the NAIA. The University of Missouri swept the men’s and women’s team titles, while the Washington University men placed sixth and the women finished fourth at the meet.

Both squads had a number of newcomers turn in impressive performances on Saturday, but none more so than WUSTL women’s freshman Chi Pham, who garnered five top-seven finishes in a combination of relay and individual swims.

Pham finished fourth in the 100-backstroke with a time of 59.26, and was fifth in the 200-individual medley, posting a mark of 2:12.62. In the 200-medley relay, she swam with junior Catherine Rafferty-Millett, senior Karin Underwood and freshman Allison Siegel to turn in a time of 1:53.12, which was good for sixth place.

Pham, Siegel, sophomore Veronica Tse and freshman Paige VanTassell finished sixth in the 400-freestyle relay (3:42.25) and Pham, Tse, Siegel and senior Claire Henderson grabbed seventh place in the 200-freestyle relay (1:41.22).

VanTassell turned in a time of 5:23.01 in the 500-freestyle to take sixth in that event, while freshman Grace Murray was the seventh-place finisher in the 500-free, with a time of 5:23.96.

Several student-athletes for the men’s team put together strong swims at the Show-Me Showdown, led by senior Kartik Anjur and freshman Brian Carpenter.

Anjur, Carpenter, junior JD Scott and sophomore Mark Minowitz took eighth place in the 200-medley relay. Carpenter also grabbed a pair of 11th-place individual finishes in the 100-backstroke (54.50) and the 50-yard breaststroke (28.65). Anjur placed 10th in the 50-yard backstroke (25.35).

Other strong performances for the WUSTL men’s team came from junior Chris Valach and senior Michael Flanagan. Valach finished the 500-freestyle in 4:53.93, good for 8th-place overall, and Flanagan came in 11th in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of 52.93.

The Washington University men’s and women’s teams return to action on Saturday, Oct. 9, when they will compete in their first dual meet of the new season. The Bears will host Saint Louis University at the Millstone Pool in St. Louis, Mo., at 1 p.m.