West Coast Brings the Heat

Santa Clara and Stanford holding top two in team; Walnut Creek in third

Federal Way, Wash—The Santa Clara Aquamaids and Stanford University take the lead during the second day of competition at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Washington. Katie Norris, team captain and senior for Stanford, beat Christina Jones in today’s solo free routine by a slim margin, while 2004 Olympian Sara Lowe (Stanford) followed Jones’ solo in third.

Santa Clara’s Jones and 2004 Olympic replacement athlete Andrea Nott won the free duet prelim, while Stanford tied two second place spots. National teamers Kim Probst and Annabelle Orme (Walnut Creek) placed fourth.

The team free prelim mirrored earlier events with Santa Clara taking first, and Stanford and Walnut Creek close behind. The top eight teams from Thursday and Friday’s combined scores will head into Saturday’s finals.

Santa Clara will swim Saturday for their 13 th consecutive championship title at the U.S. National Championships. Swimming on their A team is the only male in the competition, Kenyon Smith. Head coach, Chris Carver, calls him her “protégé,” stating that he embodies many of the qualities seen in Bill May, who swam his retiring solo at the 2004 U.S. Nationals for Santa Clara.

Smith, Jones and other Aquamaids will battle in Saturday’s finals for the title once more.

U.S. Collegiate overall and team champions, Stanford University, is also optimistic for Saturday’s finals, advancing with two Olympians and several National teamers. The team free routine’s theme is Dante’s Inferno, and tomorrow, the heat is on.

Competition kicks off at 8:50a.m., Thursday, April 28th, with the final Phase of Team 1 trails. Tickets are $10 Thurs/Fri, $15 Sat, and $25 for an all-session pass.

Solo Free Prelim

1. Katie Rose NORRIS, Stanford University, 97.000, 2. Christina JONES, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 96.167, 3. Sara LOWE, Stanford University, 94.833, 4. Stephanie NESBITT, Riverside Aquettes, 94.000, 5. Kim PROBST, Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 93.333, 6. Bianca VANDER VELDEN, Santa Clara Aquamaids, 93.000, 6. Sona BERNARDOVA , Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 93.000, 8. Courtenay STEWART, Stanford University, 92.667

Duet Free Prelim

1. Santa Clara Aquamaids, Christina JONES, Andrea NOTT, 96.500, 2. Stanford University, Courtenay STEWART, Sara LOWE, 95.833, 2. Stanford University, Katie Rose NORRIS, Samantha BONGIOVANNI-DUCLOS, 95.833, 4. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, Kim PROBST, Annabelle ORME, 95.500, 5. Santa Clara Aquamaids, Bianca VANDER VELDEN, Sonja VANDER VELDEN, 93.833, 6. Ohio State University, Becky KIM, Lindsay NEWBILL, 93.500, 7. Santa Clara Aquamaids, Janet CULP, Jennie CULP, 93.333, 8. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, Sona BERNARDOVA, Iva BURSOVA, 93.167

Team Free Prelim

1. Santa Clara Aquamaids, 97.500, 2. Stanford University, 96.500, 3. Walnut Creek Aquanuts, 95.667, 4. Ohio State University, 94.500, 5. Riverside Aquettes, 92.833, 5. Santa Clara Aquamaids, 92.833, 7. U of Alabama Birmingham, 91.667, 7. Ohio State University, 91.667