Well, we are now in sunny Florida. Although the weather has not been as nice in the past, it is still much better then the cold weather that is hitting Pittsburgh. So far we've had one "cold" morning (48 degrees) with lots of sunshine in the lower to mid 70's. Thursday should be the best day of the week with a high temperature of 80. So far, the team is doing very well and they are starting to adapt to long course training. We have put in four practices so far with another coming up this evening. We are training in a great facility in Pompano Beach with LCM in the AM and SCY in the PM.
The team is starting to feel the effects of all of the doubles, dryland and speed work with a lot of soreness but it will pay off come February. Tonight will be a bot of a stretch out swim to get the team ready for Thursday.
See you around the pool,
Dave
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Happy Holidays
All of us here at Duquesne Swimming want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Dave and I will be heading down to Florida on Saturday, followed by the team on Monday. The team will be in Florida December 28-January 6, with classes starting on January 7. We're looking forward to some great weather, some great training and some time away from the cold. I will be posting periodically, so make sure you follow along.
Dave
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Akron: Day 3
The Akron Invite was very exciting the last night, with some good racing and some fast swims. Roman Becicka started off the night by winning the 1650 free with a time of 16:03.30. The men's 100 free was very exciting as Ed LeBlanc just touched out Ryan Tiel from Clarion with a new meet and pool record of 44.97. On the women's side Caitie Zajko won the 200 breast, breaking the school and meet record with a time of 2:19.20. The men wrapped up the meet winning the 400 free relay in a nice early season time of 3:04.87.
With the final day of the Akron Invitational now over, the swimmers will be focusing their attention to finals this week and then home to get ready for our Florida trip in Pompano Beach. All-in-all I was pleased with the teams performance over these last three days; I would give us a "B". We got a good look at St. Bonaventure and a very sharp Xavier program. To really be able to compete in February all of our swimmers will need to step it up and score points. The foundation has been laid out, the next two and a half months will define who we want to be. Good luck to all of the Duquesne Swimmers on Finals! I am off to Juniors in Columbus tomorrow and will return on Friday.
See you around the pool,
Dave
With the final day of the Akron Invitational now over, the swimmers will be focusing their attention to finals this week and then home to get ready for our Florida trip in Pompano Beach. All-in-all I was pleased with the teams performance over these last three days; I would give us a "B". We got a good look at St. Bonaventure and a very sharp Xavier program. To really be able to compete in February all of our swimmers will need to step it up and score points. The foundation has been laid out, the next two and a half months will define who we want to be. Good luck to all of the Duquesne Swimmers on Finals! I am off to Juniors in Columbus tomorrow and will return on Friday.
See you around the pool,
Dave
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Day 2: Akron Invite
With another day of the Akron Invitational over, I am pleased to report the team continues to improve. We had a couple of school records broken today and some individual champions. The evening session started with the women's 200 medley relay registering a 5th place finish. The team of Tara VanNatta, Caitie Zajko, Kirstie Shumaker and Meghann McGoldrick recorded a 1:47.40. They were followed by the men's team of Mitch Smith, Ian Walsh, Jim O'Hara and Brendan Schilling, recording a second place time of 1:33.09. Both relay times were season best swims.
Following the relays, the individual events started off with the 400 IM. Lori Yeaman got the ball rolling for the Lady Dukes, improving from her prelim swim by 5 seconds with a 4:45.43. Hannah Kondrotas and Miriam McGeath swam in the final heat, with Kondrotas swimming a time of 4:36.56 and McGeath winning the event with a time of 4:30.27. All the swims were season bests. On the men's side, Hunter Chiasson recorded a 19th place finish and Roman Becicka recorded a season best 4:01.19, finishing in second place. Following the IM, the swimmers jumped in the water for the 100 fly.
Kirstie Shumaker led the way for the women with a season best 58.21, finishing 10th. Erin Cawley finished out the consolation final with a 16th place finish, while Meghann McGoldrick finished in 20th. For the men, Dan Doyle and Greg Matuszewski scored in 22nd and 23, respectively. Brendan Schilling just missed winning the consolation heat with a season best time of 51.50, while Jim O'Hara captured first place with a time of 50.10. After the fly, the meet went back to the freestyle events with the 200 free.
Kristi Magee was the top finisher for us on the women's side, recording a 13th place finish with a solid 1:56.05. She was followed by Angela Majkut with a 16th place time of 1:57.44. In the men's event, Nick Kovacs finished 18th place with a season best time of 1:45.20. Chris Kobela was the lone swimmer for the Dukes in the consolation finals finishing with a solid 1:44.94. In the championship finals, Ed LeBlanc took home first place with a new meet and team record of 1:38.23. The next event, the 100 breast, was another solid one for the Dukes.
Caitie Zajko led the way for the women, finishing third with a new school record of 1:05.75. Karissa Gorman finished 6th with a season best of 1:07.43 and Hillary Hocson finished 14th with a time of 1:07.87. The men finished 1-2 in the 100 breast, with freshmen Mark Krchnak out touching Ian Walsh. Mark won the event with a time of 57.98 with Ian finishing with a 58.11. Another solid event followed for the team in the 100 backstroke.
Morgan Claycomb finsished 5th with a time of 58.58, Tara VanNatta finished 9th with a winning time of 58.55 and Briana Mangis finished 17th with a time of 58.98. For the men, Mitch Smith led the way with a 7th place finish of 52.36. Greg Matuszewski won the consolation heat with a time of 53.66, while Hunter Chiasson finished with a 55.42. In the bonus heat, Tim Mancuso finished 19th with a time of 54.69, while Dan Doyle finished 24th with a time of 56.15. The final event of the evening, the 800 free relay turned out to be one of the most exciting events of the evening.
The women's team of Annie Hayles, Amanda McClelland, Angela Majkut and Kristi Magee, put in a solid performance, finishing 6th with a time of 7:48.12. The men, had a great race with Xavier that came down to the last leg. Ed LeBlanc was just out touched by Nathan Green with a great split of 1:37.81. The time of 6:49.32 was good enough for second place and was also a season best time.
The invitational wraps up tomorrow with the 200's of the strokes, 100 free, 1650 and 400 free relay.
See you around the pool,
Dave
Following the relays, the individual events started off with the 400 IM. Lori Yeaman got the ball rolling for the Lady Dukes, improving from her prelim swim by 5 seconds with a 4:45.43. Hannah Kondrotas and Miriam McGeath swam in the final heat, with Kondrotas swimming a time of 4:36.56 and McGeath winning the event with a time of 4:30.27. All the swims were season bests. On the men's side, Hunter Chiasson recorded a 19th place finish and Roman Becicka recorded a season best 4:01.19, finishing in second place. Following the IM, the swimmers jumped in the water for the 100 fly.
Kirstie Shumaker led the way for the women with a season best 58.21, finishing 10th. Erin Cawley finished out the consolation final with a 16th place finish, while Meghann McGoldrick finished in 20th. For the men, Dan Doyle and Greg Matuszewski scored in 22nd and 23, respectively. Brendan Schilling just missed winning the consolation heat with a season best time of 51.50, while Jim O'Hara captured first place with a time of 50.10. After the fly, the meet went back to the freestyle events with the 200 free.
Kristi Magee was the top finisher for us on the women's side, recording a 13th place finish with a solid 1:56.05. She was followed by Angela Majkut with a 16th place time of 1:57.44. In the men's event, Nick Kovacs finished 18th place with a season best time of 1:45.20. Chris Kobela was the lone swimmer for the Dukes in the consolation finals finishing with a solid 1:44.94. In the championship finals, Ed LeBlanc took home first place with a new meet and team record of 1:38.23. The next event, the 100 breast, was another solid one for the Dukes.
Caitie Zajko led the way for the women, finishing third with a new school record of 1:05.75. Karissa Gorman finished 6th with a season best of 1:07.43 and Hillary Hocson finished 14th with a time of 1:07.87. The men finished 1-2 in the 100 breast, with freshmen Mark Krchnak out touching Ian Walsh. Mark won the event with a time of 57.98 with Ian finishing with a 58.11. Another solid event followed for the team in the 100 backstroke.
Morgan Claycomb finsished 5th with a time of 58.58, Tara VanNatta finished 9th with a winning time of 58.55 and Briana Mangis finished 17th with a time of 58.98. For the men, Mitch Smith led the way with a 7th place finish of 52.36. Greg Matuszewski won the consolation heat with a time of 53.66, while Hunter Chiasson finished with a 55.42. In the bonus heat, Tim Mancuso finished 19th with a time of 54.69, while Dan Doyle finished 24th with a time of 56.15. The final event of the evening, the 800 free relay turned out to be one of the most exciting events of the evening.
The women's team of Annie Hayles, Amanda McClelland, Angela Majkut and Kristi Magee, put in a solid performance, finishing 6th with a time of 7:48.12. The men, had a great race with Xavier that came down to the last leg. Ed LeBlanc was just out touched by Nathan Green with a great split of 1:37.81. The time of 6:49.32 was good enough for second place and was also a season best time.
The invitational wraps up tomorrow with the 200's of the strokes, 100 free, 1650 and 400 free relay.
See you around the pool,
Dave
Friday, December 4, 2009
Day 1: Finals
With the first day of finals in the bag, the team will now get ready for day # 2 of the Akron Invite. Although the morning session started a little slow for us, the evening session is where the team really started rolling.
The meet started with the women's 200 free relay of Meghann McGoldrick, Katy Hare, Amanda McClelland and Krist Magee putting together a solid effort with a sixth place time of 1:36.65, a season best time. The men's team of Brendan Schilling, Doug McWhorter, Dan Doyle and Chad Houck also put together a solid effort, placing 5th with a time of 1:24.88.
Following the 200 free relays the women got the individual events going with Amanda McClelland placing 15th in the 500 free (5:11.78) and Annie Hayles placing 7th with a time of 5:06.20. On the men's side, Brian Bouvier swam to a 21st place (4:51.64), Nick Kovacs swam to a 19th place (4:49.55), Chris Kobela swam a season best of 4:42.49, good enough for 7th and Ed LeBlanc swam a 4:38.54, placing second 2nd.
The women continued with the fast swimming in the 200 IM with Hillary Hocson placing 21st with a 2:12.31, Miriam McGeath placing 6th with a time of 2:09.84 and Caitie Zajko taking home the silver with a time of 2:07.84. In the men's IM, Roman Becicka was the sole finalist and touched the wall with a second place finish and a season best time of 1:52.89.
As the meet continued, the sprinter got a crack at it and Meghan McGoldrick made the most of her opportunity, winning the consolation heat and swimming a life time best of 23.76. On the men's side Chad Houck finished 24th with a time of 22.07, Doug McWhorter finished 15th with a time of 21.78, Brendan Schilling won the consolation heat with a time of 21.28 and Jim O'Hara finished 4th int he finals with a time of 21.20. Following the diving break, the last event (400 medley relay) got underway.
The women's relay of Morgan Claycomb, Caitie Zajko, Kirstie shumaker and Meghan McGoldrick swam a very solid time of 3:55.72, good enough for 6th place. The men's relay of Mitch Smith, Ian Walsh, Jim O'Hara and Ed LeBlanc ended the day with a second place time of 3:23.82.
All-in-all, it was a very solid night for the team. I am quite certain with the first day jitters out of the way, the teams will continue to get better with each of the final two days of the meet.
See you around the pool,
Dave
The meet started with the women's 200 free relay of Meghann McGoldrick, Katy Hare, Amanda McClelland and Krist Magee putting together a solid effort with a sixth place time of 1:36.65, a season best time. The men's team of Brendan Schilling, Doug McWhorter, Dan Doyle and Chad Houck also put together a solid effort, placing 5th with a time of 1:24.88.
Following the 200 free relays the women got the individual events going with Amanda McClelland placing 15th in the 500 free (5:11.78) and Annie Hayles placing 7th with a time of 5:06.20. On the men's side, Brian Bouvier swam to a 21st place (4:51.64), Nick Kovacs swam to a 19th place (4:49.55), Chris Kobela swam a season best of 4:42.49, good enough for 7th and Ed LeBlanc swam a 4:38.54, placing second 2nd.
The women continued with the fast swimming in the 200 IM with Hillary Hocson placing 21st with a 2:12.31, Miriam McGeath placing 6th with a time of 2:09.84 and Caitie Zajko taking home the silver with a time of 2:07.84. In the men's IM, Roman Becicka was the sole finalist and touched the wall with a second place finish and a season best time of 1:52.89.
As the meet continued, the sprinter got a crack at it and Meghan McGoldrick made the most of her opportunity, winning the consolation heat and swimming a life time best of 23.76. On the men's side Chad Houck finished 24th with a time of 22.07, Doug McWhorter finished 15th with a time of 21.78, Brendan Schilling won the consolation heat with a time of 21.28 and Jim O'Hara finished 4th int he finals with a time of 21.20. Following the diving break, the last event (400 medley relay) got underway.
The women's relay of Morgan Claycomb, Caitie Zajko, Kirstie shumaker and Meghan McGoldrick swam a very solid time of 3:55.72, good enough for 6th place. The men's relay of Mitch Smith, Ian Walsh, Jim O'Hara and Ed LeBlanc ended the day with a second place time of 3:23.82.
All-in-all, it was a very solid night for the team. I am quite certain with the first day jitters out of the way, the teams will continue to get better with each of the final two days of the meet.
See you around the pool,
Dave
Akron Invite Day 1: Prelims
With the first morning of the Akron Invite in the books, the team is now resting and getting ready for this evening's finals. As I told the team on the bus, the first mornings of these meets when you're not rested is sometimes tough. We did dot have any swims that were utlerly bad but nothing that was extremely exciting. I will give the swim of the morning however, to Chris Kobela. For those of you that do not know Chris, he is our former school record holder in the 500 and 1650 freestyle. Oh, and by the way, a Luekemia survivor. This morning Chris had an awesome swim in the 500 free with a time of 4:42.55, only 8 seconds off his best time from three years ago. I am certain he will swim even faster tonight!! Some other swims of note include Annie Hayles and Amanda McClelland in the 500 free (5:05.56 and 5:09.65, respectively). Ed Leblanc in the 500 free (4:39.19). Miriam McGeath and Caitie Zajko in the 200 IM (2:09.25 and 2:09.79, resepcetively). Roman Becicka with a solid 1:53.09 in the morning's 200 IM, Meghan McGoldrick with a 24.26 in the women's 50 free and solid 50 swims from our men of 21.28 (Jim O'Hara), 21.38 (Brendan Schilling), 21.75 (Doug McWhorter) and 21.85 (Chad Houck).
The finals get underway this evening at 6 PM with the 200 free relay, followed by the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free and finishing with the 400 medley relay. You can find all of the results at: http://www.gozips.com/fls/10800/zippyinvite/evtindex.htm?&SPSID=47074&SPID=4307&DB_OEM_ID=10800
See you around the pool,
Dave
The finals get underway this evening at 6 PM with the 200 free relay, followed by the 500 free, 200 IM, 50 free and finishing with the 400 medley relay. You can find all of the results at: http://www.gozips.com/fls/10800/zippyinvite/evtindex.htm?&SPSID=47074&SPID=4307&DB_OEM_ID=10800
See you around the pool,
Dave
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