UCLA swim meets with mixed results
By Kumar S. Raja
Daily Bruin Contributor
Despite the numbing temperatures, an unexpectedly large crowd
came to the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center to witness the Bruins
take on top-ranked Stanford, crosstown rival USC and No. 24-ranked
California in their final home meet of the year.
Stanford’s 177-123 victory over the Bruins marked the Cardinal’s
15th straight win over UCLA. The Bruins fared no better against the
Trojans, succumbing 174-122, but salvaged the day with a 209-89
mauling of the Bears.
"We swam well," UCLA head coach Cyndi Gallagher said. "It’s hard
to win a lot of races when you’re up against competitive
schools."
Stanford started quickly out of the gates by capturing the 200
medley relay in 1:45.43, while the Bruins finished third.
The Cardinal struck again in the 1,650 freestyle, the lone
marathon event in the day’s short course format.
UCLA’s Cindy Bertelink, a Canadian National team member, jumped
off to a quick start. At the 500-yard mark, she led with a time of
5:04:88. But as the race progressed, Stanford’s Sarah Anderson
caught Bertelink and took first in 16:51:74.
"I went too fast in the beginning," Bertelink said. "I was a
little too excited and got a little tired, which forced me to
recover in the middle."
In her last home meet as a Bruin, senior Annette Salmeen was
edged in the 200 butterfly by sophomore Jean Todisco of USC, and
finished third to Anderson in the 500 free.
All-American Jill Jenkins grabbed third in the 100 free,
finishing behind senior Allison Bock of USC. However, she took
first in the 100 fly, with teammate Kasey Foster finishing a close
second.
In the 200 breast, Lindsay Etter came in first, and in the 200
back, freshman standout Amanda Hall, who was plagued with
tendonitis in her shoulder just 10 days ago, finished third. Hall,
the promising Massachusetts import, also took fourth in the 200
individual medley.
"I’m satisfied with the races," Hall said. "The times might not
have been the best, but I think I raced them pretty well."
To conclude the day’s events the young 200 free relay team of
Monica Najera, Jenkins, Foster and Bertelink took second place.
* * *
Up the freeway at USC, the UCLA diving team had no greater
success than the swim team, falling to Stanford 157-107 and USC
149-114, but breezing by Cal 183-79. With 15 of the nation’s best
divers at the meet, one-meter specialist Erin Simmons and
three-meter diver Rose Huelskamp finished second in their
respective events to USC’s Maria Elena Romero.
"It was a good meet to get ready for the the Pac-10s," Simmons
said. "However, we didn’t do as well as we planned."