June 15, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. (www.TheSunDevils.com) -- Several current and former Arizona State swimmers enjoyed success at the recently completed Janet Evans Invitational held last weekend in Long Beach, Calif. The four-day meet was a tune-up for next month's U.S. Olympic trials to be held in the same above-ground pool built on a parking lot along the Long Beach shoreline.
Senior Nick Brunelli (Mansfield, Mass.) had one of the most impressive combined performances in the international meet, placing 10th in the 50m freestyle in a Olympic Trials qualifying time of 22.86. The Pac-10 200m champion also placed 18th in the 100m freestyle in a time of 50.55.
Former Sun Devil Scott Von Schoff (1998-2001) also earned an Olympic Trials qualifying time in the 100m freestyle clocking a 50.75. Von Schoff (Napa, Calif.) was an 11-time All-American during his ASU career.
On the women's side, junior Florencia Szigeti and departing senior Petra Banovic each had remarkable swims. Szigeti, who will represent her native Argentina in the 2004 Olympic is Greece, finished 18th in the 100m freestyle with a time of 57.30. Szigeti (Mendoza, Argentina) was the Pac-10 200 freestyle champion. Banovic, who is an Olympic hopeful for Croatia, turned in an impressive eighth place finish (2:20.89) in the 200 IM. Banovic (Split, Croatia) also placed 27th in the 100m freestyle (2:05.63).
"This was an incredibly fast meet with some of the best international swimmers in the world in the pool," said ASU's sixth year head coach Mike Chasson. "Nick (Brunelli) and Scott (Von Schoff) were two of the fastest American swimmers in the pool and we also had some excellent swims from Ahmed Hussein, Florencia Szigeti, Petra Banovic and Mandy Stanford."
Senior backstroke specialist Ahmed Hussein (Fullerton, Calif.) finished 13th in the 100m backstroke (57.39) and 12th in the 200m backstroke (2:04.42). The Egyptian Olympian and holder of multiple African Championship records will compete in the Athens games this summer.
Junior Cara DeVinny (Mesa, Ariz.) placed 16th in the 400m IM in a time of 5:01.54. DeVinny was a prep standout at Dobson High School before transferring from Georgia Tech before the 2003-04 season.
Former Sun Devil Mandy Stanford (1999-2002) placed 21st in the 400m freestyle in a time of 4:23.05. Stanford (Oakland, Calif.) owns the fourth fastest 500 freestyle time in school history (4:47.18).
Several relays also competed in the four-day event. The women's 400 free relay squad of Szigeti, Banovic, sophomore Erin Baldinger and sophomore Laura Ullrich placed fourth in a time of 3:56.73. The men placed fourth in the 400 free relay in 3:24.71 (Jeff Barrett, Von Schoff, Brunelli, Bobby Zaabadick), third in the 800 free relay in 7:41.85 (Von Schoff, Brunelli, Jeff Barrett, John Zemaitis) and third in the 400 medley relay in 3:58.66 (Evan Rahauser, Emerson Ward, Brett Meconis, Jeff Barrett).
The 2004 U.S Olympic Team Trials will take place July 7-14, 2004 at the Long Beach Swim Stadium. The top two athletes in each event will represent the United States in Athens at the 2004 Olympic Games.