Southern Illinoise University Athletics
SIU Swimming and Diving hosts weekend meet
01/16/2015 | 12:00:00 | Swimming & Diving
By Ricardo Cruz
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill.- Saluki swimming and diving returns to action for the first time in the new year on Saturday, when Southern hosts the University of Arkansas at Little Rock and Washington University in St. Louis. The meet is set for a 10 a.m. start time at the Dr. Edward J. Shea Natatorium located in the SIU Recreation Center.
Saturday's meet will be a 16 order event and will include the 1000-yard freestyle, 400-yard IM, and the 200-yard relays.
The Salukis looked strong in their last outing at the Louisville Invite. During the three day competition, SIU had a few record breaking performances while also seeing eight swimmers qualify for the 2014 AT&T Winter National Championships.
Of the eight to qualify, Sarah James was the lone Saluki to compete at the national meet, after the rest declined to compete to focus on school work. The sophomore from Colorado Springs, Colo., earned a spot in the 100-yard backstroke after qualifying with a school record time of 55.70.
Kaixuan 'Sherry' Zhang ended 2014 on a high note, setting two new facility records at the Louisville Invite in the one and three-meter dive. Zhang finished the fall season undefeated, after winning every event she competed in. Her strong performances saw the junior win five Missouri Valley Conference Diver of the Week awards.
Till Pallmann and Kegan Skelton were two of the most consistent performers for the men's team during the fall season. In their last outing at the Louisville Invite, Pallmann qualified in six events for the Winter National Championships, while Skelton finished first in the three-meter dive and platform dive. Pallmann, Skelton and the rest of the men's team look to open 2015 a high note.
Admission to the meet is free and open to the public.
Players Mentioned
