Rice University
Georgia Tech Invitational
Rice Finishes Fourth At Georgia Tech Invitational
11/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 20, 2005
ATLANTA - The Rice swim team finished fourth in the eight-team field Sunday afternoon at the Georgia Tech Invitational in Atlanta, but sophomore distance specialist Brittany Massengale and the Owls' 400-freestyle relay team closed out the meet's final day of competition on a winning note. Massengale won the mile with an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 16:40.50 while the relay team of Carlyann Miller, Laura Healey, Andrea Hurn and Diane Gu raced to the title in the 18th and final event of the three-day meet with a season-best time of 3:27.98.
Florida State won the meet with 1,076.5 points, followed by host Georgia Tech (572) and Florida Atlantic (535.5). The Owls totaled 516 points and managed to hold off Western Kentucky (458), Miami-Fla. (287), Gardner-Webb (283), and the University of New Orleans (66).
Though she just missed the NCAA provisional time with a second place in the 500-free two days before, Massengale was on target in her first attempt at the mile (1,650-yards freestyle) this season. She topped a field of 28 competitors and was a full 11 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. Her 16:40.50 is the best mile in Conference USA this season and just five seconds from her own school record she set as true freshman a year ago. Sophomore Carey Hain also scored for the Owls in the event with a 17:36.91 to finish 13th. Junior Jenni Whitcomb was 18th with a 17:46.99.
The mile was the first event held Sunday and the Owls closed out the day's final one with victory as well. Freshman Carlyann Miller, who only three events before won the consolation final of the 100-free with a season-best time of 52.15, came back to lead off the 400-free relay. She swam a steady 52.50 then turned leg two over to senior Laura Healey. The Owls' team captain got a great start and posted a 52.58 split on her 100. Junior Andrea Hurn went next and registered an identical 52.58, giving Rice a three-tenths of a second lead at the three-quarter mark. Freshman Diane Gu swam the anchor leg and extended the Owls lead with an eye-opening 50.30. Rice's season-best 3:27.98 was a comfortable three seconds ahead of second place Georgia Tech.
All four Owls on the relay were also individual scorers in the 100-free earlier in the day. Gu was third among 40 entrants with a 51.06 while Healey was seventh (52.46). Miller was ninth and Hurn finished 15th with a 53.36.
Sophomore Amy Halsey took third in the 200-backstroke (2:04.16) and freshman Skylar Craig was 11th (2:07.37). Sophomore Jennifer Hill was 14th in the 200-breaststroke (2:27.91) and the freshman duo of Natalie Kirchhoff and Keri Hyde scored for the team with a 14th and 16th in the 200-butterfly, respectively.
The Rice swim team will next be in action on the road against regional rival Texas A&M on Dec. 3. Start time for the dual meet is 3 pm in College Station.
Players Mentioned
