Rice University
Denver
Swimmers Strong In 161-116 Season-Opening Win Over Denver
10/13/2006 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Oct. 13, 2006
DENVER -- Rice swimmers Brittany Massengale, Carlyann Miller, Erin Mattson and Pam zelnick each won two events to pace the Owls to a 161-116 season-opening dual meet win on the road over the University of Denver Friday evening in Colorado.
The Blue & Gray won 11 of the meet's 13 races. In addition to the Owls' multi-winners, junior Jennifer Hill won the 200-yard individual medley while sophomore sprinter Diane Gu won the 50-freestyle. Gu, Miller, Skylar Craig and Andrea Hurn teamed to win the day's only relay, the 400-yard freestyle.
Massengale, a member of the United States national team over the summer, led a 1-2 Rice finish to sweep both distance events. The junior from Alma, Ark., coasted to a win in the mile with a time of 17:24.58 and was almost caught from behind by teammate Caitlin Warner in the 500.
Miller was sound and solid with wins in the 100-yard freestyle (52.35) and the 200-free (1:53.62) before swimming the lead leg on the winning relay. Gu was second in the 100-free and she led a 1-2 Rice finish with Craig in the 50.
Not to be outdone, the Rice freshmen tandem of Mattson and Zelnick posted a pair of wins in their collegiate debuts. Zelnick's 1:06.05 in the 100-breaststroke is the Parliament's best time in the event in the last two years. The Ohio native then won the 200 with a mark of (2:26.37). Mattson swept both the 100- and 200-butterfly.
Hill's victory in the 200-IM was dramatic, coming from behind in the final 50 yards to win by one-third of a second with a time of 2:10.00. Racing in the Mile High City brought a slight change to the Owls' approach to the meet, just the way head coach Seth Huston had instructed.
"We (the coaching staff) stressed to race smart today and save something for the back half of the race," Huston said. "Jen had a great 200, coming from behind to win. Pam dominated her events and Carlyann looked really strong. The altitude here can drain you after a while, so I told them before the meet, 'If you just race smart you'll thank me coming down the stretch, then I'll thank you."
The Rice swimmers will remain in Colorado for the next three days while the University is on fall break to take advantage of some high-altitude training at the National Sports Center in Colorado Springs. The Owls' first home swim meet of the season is slated for Oct. 27 against Conference USA rival SMU.
Players Mentioned
