Houston Swimming & Diving Falls to Miami

HOUSTON, TEXAS (October 21, 2011) TheUniversity of Houston swimming and diving team fell to the University of Miami136.5-103.5 Friday evening at the Campus Recreation & Wellness Center. TheCougars turned in four first place finishes and two NCAA “B” cut times in thelosing effort.

The loss was the first on the seasonfor the Cougars and the first under head coach Augie Busch. Houston was on theroad last weekend and went 3-0 in Boston against Boston University,Northeastern and Boston College.

“I feel like our effort was thereand that’s all you can control,” said Busch. “We’re really tired at this pointwith our training and nothing is coming easy to anyone right now. That’ wherewe should be right now.”

“We’re training really hard rightnow and we’ll be tired again next week. But this will be great work for ourinvite (Phill Hansel Cougar Classic Invitational) in four weeks.”

Heather Winn took first (10:18.56)in the 1,000 yard free to lead a strong showing by Houston as they finished1,3,4 and 5 in the event. It was Winn’s third win of the year in the event.

Winn also registered an NCAA “B” cuttime in the 500 yard free when she touched the wall in 5:03.98B to finish asrunner up.

Reka Kovacs placed first in the 200yard IM and notched another NCAA “B” cut time in 2:07.47. The junior delivereda strong back half of the event to overtake first place for her second 200 IMand third IM win on the season.

Junior Julia Lonnegren scored 13points for Houston as she took first in the 1M and runner up in the 3M duringthe diving portion of the evening. Lonnegren dropped her first event of theyear by less than five points.

“We’re still learning out there,”said head diving coach Jane Figueiredo. “My expectations go up every meet andwe need to compete a little bit better. We are working hard but we have to keepgoing.”

The Cougars capped the evening offwith a victory in the 400 free relay as Moira Fraser, Kim Eeson, ColleenDonovan and Maddie Clark teamed up to finish in 3:34.68.

Eeson turned in the fastest split ofthe squad (52.42) and finished as the runner up in the 100 and 200 yardfreestyle. Frasier and Clark were on the second place 200-yard medley relayalong with Beccy Hillis and Heather Coutts to open the meet.

The Cougars return to the water nextweekend at Rice University for the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Med CenterInvitational. Houston will face Arkansas, Boise State, Nebraska and Rice on thetwo-day event.