April 4, 2004
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Arizona State junior ?gnes Kov?cs won the women's 200m IM Sunday afternoon on the last day of competition at the Counsilman Classic at the IUPUI Natatorium. Her time of 2:15.74 separated her from the rest of the field by over two seconds and is the sixth-fastest time in the world this year.
Senior Petra Banovic placed fifth in the race with a time of 2:19.85, exactly one second faster than her preliminary swim she recorded earlier in the day.
In the men's 200m backstroke, Sun Devil senior Ahmed Hussein clocked a 2:01.50 to place third behind Michael Phelps and Keith Beavers, who are ranked No. 1 and No. 3 respectively in the world this year. Hussein's time is the eighth-fastest recorded so far in 2004 and was over four-and-a-half seconds faster than the fourth-place competitor. Former ASU swimmer Christian Harcsas, the school record holder in the 200 back, touched the wall in 2:07.65 to finish seventh.
In the men's 100m freestyle senior Nick Brunelli, yesterday's 50m free champion, placed fifth with a time of 50.08, just ahead of former Sun Devil Scott VonSchoff in sixth (50.15). Bobby Zaabadick, another former ASU star, placed 23rd in a time of 53.60.
The 100m freestyle on the women's side featured ASU junior Florencia Szigeti, who placed seventh with a time of 56.70. The women's 800m freestyle saw sophomore Kathryn Hennessy place 13th after touching the pad in 9:00.90 while former Sun Devil Mandy Stanford placed fifth (8:52.76).
Next up for the Sun Devils is the USA Swimming Grand Prix meet in Los Angeles, Calif., April 30 through May 2, 2004.