Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Southern Illinois University
US Open
Swimmers compete at U.S. Open: Day 1
12/01/2005 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
Dec. 1, 2005
By Matt Crouch
www.siusalukis.com
AUBURN, Ala. - Four Southern Illinois University swimmers join more than 600 swimmers from across the country this week in USA Swimming U.S. Open at the Auburn University's James E. Martin Aquatics Center in Auburn, Ala.
A number of U.S. Olympic swimmers and high-profile international stars are slated to compete during the three-day competition that began Thursday morning with the first wave of events and is set to complete Saturday night.
In the first day of action, three of SIU's four swimmers were able to advance to the finals in their respective events.
Freshman Dennis Hedo had the top performance for the day. Hedo finished seventh in the B Final (15th overall) in the 50-Meter Freestyle with a time of 24.14. He qualified for the event after finishing 13th in the preliminary with a time of 24.07.
Also competing in the 50-Meter Freestyle was sophomore Stephan Ackerman. Ackerman finished sixth in the C Final (22nd overall) with a time of 24.28. He qualified after finishing in a tie for 17th in the preliminaries with a time of 24.23.
Also picking up a top finish Thursday was sophomore Antonio Santoro in the 400-Meter Freestyle. Santoro finished eighth in the B Final (16th overall) with a time of 4:06.80. He qualified after finishing 12th in the preliminary with a time of 4:04.27.
Others competing Thursday were seniors Christian Tinajero and Jason Sigler. Tinajero barely missed the cut in the 200-Meter Individual Medley after he finished in a tie for 24th with a time of 2:12.56. Sigler missed the cut in the 400-Meter Freestyle, finishing 29th with a time of 4:09.67.
SIU alum Marcelo Possato is also competing this week at the U.S.Open. Possato swam in the 200-Meter Backstroke Thursday, finishing fourth in the B Final (12th overall) with a time of 2:06.84.
Action continues Friday morning with preliminary rounds for the day's events. Salukis competing Friday include Sigler and Santoro in the 200-Meter Freestyle, Tinajero in the 400-Meter Individual Medley, and Ackerman in the 100-Meter Butterfly. Also competing is Possato in the 100-Meter Backstroke.
Information about the U.S. Open can be found here here on USA Swimming's Web site or you can follow the action live with Omega Timing
