Rice University
Florida International
Caldwell Wins 100-Freestyle; Owls Fall At FIU
10/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
MIAMI, Fla. – Sophomore Alicia Caldwell won the 100-yard freestyle and swam the anchor leg on Rice's 400-medley relay, but defending Conference USA champion FIU claimed a 133-90 meet victory over the Owls in the season-opening meet for both teams Friday evening in Miami, Fla.
A total of our schools, Rice, Florida Atlantic, Miami-Fla. and meet host FIU, all competed simultaneously in the season-opening Dual-A-Paloosa held at the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Center. Where each of the races were held simultaneously, the scoring was in a straight head-to-head dual meet format. The Rice and FIU meet was scored separately from the FAU meet vs. the Miami Hurricanes.
Caldwell simply defeated all challengers in the 100-freestyle with a time of 51.52. The sophomore from Sydney, Australia, also anchored Rice's 400-medley relay where she teamed with Owls Shelly Patton, Marie-Claire Schillinger and Kiley Beall to touch-in with a 3:51.35 that was less than a half-second ahead of FIU (3:51.82). Caldwell was also second in the 50-freestyle (24.26), placing ahead of 11 other competitors.
The 50-free was one of nine swim events where the Panthers had better finishes than Rice. FIU then piled on points in springboard diving where Rice does not compete.
The Owls recorded some solid swims in the season-opener. Sophomore Kaitlyn Swinney was second overall in the 200-individual medley (2:06.75) and third 200-backstroke (2:09.90). The true freshman duo of Schillinger and Hanna Huston also scored big for the Blue & Gray. Huston placed second overall in the 1,000-freestyle with a steady 10:12.60 and was then third in the 500-free with a 5:00.91. Schillinger was second in the 200-breaststroke (2:20.72), and swam the same stroke on her leg of the 400-medley relay.
Rice concludes the busy weekend of meets on Saturday (Oct. 17). In day two of the Dual-A-Paloosa the Owls face Miami-Fla., at 9 am, followed by a second dual meet against C-USA foe FAU at 3 pm.
Players Mentioned
