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Personal and Team Bests Highlight Outstanding Season For Duke Women Swimmers
There must have been something in the water! The Duke University women’s
swimming and diving team appeared rejuvenated this year as records fell and
veterans and newcomers alike achieved personal bests. We asked some of the
women how they maintained their motivation for swimming while balancing Duke
’s strong academic challenges with the demands of a rigorous workout
schedule.
Senior Captain Betsy Stewart may have been inspired by the onslaught of talented freshmen. The Duke Record holder in the 100 and 200-Backstroke led off the record breaking 400-Medley Relay and swam anchor on the record breaking 200-Medley Relay. She also contributed to the 200-Freestyle Relay team record and the 400-Freestyle Relay season best.
Senior Liz Boswell has been a role model in the eyes of the younger women. But after making posters and decorating lockers, she also had a great season in the pool. She reached deep to knock almost five seconds off of her 500-Freestyle time (5:05.24) and 16 seconds of her 1650 time to achieve team bests this season. Her distance freestyle endurance was a major factor in the new Duke Record in the 800-Freestyle relay team.
Senior Jen Lee also had a strong season contributing an outstanding swim as anchor of the team record setting 200-Freestyle Relay team.
Juniors Paige Dommerich and Jen Gauger picked up there pace in response to the underclassmen challenges. Dommerich improved more than two seconds in the 200-IM and 100-Butterfly and had a personal best in the 100-Backstroke (1:00.02). Gauger had a personal best in the 200-Freestyle (1:56.94) and positioned herself for an assault on the 800-Freestyle Relay record next season.
“(This year) I have discovered a passion for this sport that I'd never known before. I'm doing this for me, and for the satisfaction I feel when my teammates and I have a great season like the one that has just passed.” – Jen Gauger -
Sophomores Kristina Koehler and Lauren Afflixio showed tremendous determination in practice and at the big meets. Koehler dropped almost six seconds in her 1,000- Freestyle time (10:41.73), which must seem like a sprint for the two-time English Channel swimmer. She captured the team’s fastest time in the 200-Backstroke (2:08.78) and was third on the team in the 100-Backstroke (1:02.45), dropping more than a second from last year’s times. Afflixio dropped a second from last year’s best in the 200-Butterfly (2:08.63) to move into the top-5 list on the team in that event.
“I swim because I love this sport. I swim for myself; my pride motivates me.”-Lauren Afflixio -
The freshmen brought youth and exuberance to the team. They also brought an unparalleled work ethic and a competitive drive that had a positive affect on the entire team. Dominique Ramirez has been ranked in the top-5 all season in the 100-Butterfly (59.49) and 100-Freestyle (54.13), while peaking at the season finale ACC Championship contributing to a season’s fastest swim in the 400-Freestyle Relay. Allison Watson added great depth as the team’s #2 Breaststroker swimming 2.5 seconds and 5.3 seconds faster than last year’s #2 swimmer. Kate Lambertsen had the team’s fastest time in the 200-Butterfly (2:04.93), a full two seconds faster than last year’s best. In the 100-Butterfly, Lambertsen is in a tight group of the top three, all faster than last year’s best and all within a second of Nancy Hogshead’s team record set in 1981.
“After watching the talent of my teammates, along with their positivity and incessant hard work, I did not need any other motivation to come to practice and swim, than a chance to try to achieve their levels of intensity and dedication.” - Kate Lambertson -
Freshman Amy Halligan is the team’s fastest in the Individual Medley. Compared to last year’s best in the 200 and 400, Halligan’s times are 3.6 and 2.2 seconds faster. Her 200-Individual Medley time (2:05.84) is only 1.76 seconds away from Nancy Hogshead’s team record. Halligan also is one of the team’s fastest in the 100 and 200-Freestyle and the 100 and 200- Butterfly. These strengths have made her a part of Duke history on the team record setting 200 and 800-Freestyle and 400-Medley Relay teams.
“I just love swimming. I go to practice and train hard every day because I want to be the best swimmer that I can. I like the way swimming makes me feel about myself. It empowers me and gives me confidence that I can achieve my goals and improve if I put in the effort.” - Amy Halligan -
Freshman Lauren Hancock has gained the reputation as one of the hardest workers on the team. She is also recognized as one of the most versatile with #1 or #2 times in seven different events covering all four strokes and the Individual Medley. Hancock’s team best in the 1,000 Freestyle (10:21.23) time is a full 16 seconds faster than last year's best. In the 100-Butterfly, she was 1.8 seconds faster than last year's top time. In addition, Hancock has contributed to three record setting relay teams while swimming different strokes in each. She also swam on the season best 400-Freestyle Relay team.
Last but not least is freshman Lauren Cornet. Cornet is relatively new to competitive swimming, but is improving quickly. Cornet, the first Blue Devil swimmer to qualify for the NCAA's since 1981, swam in two events at the NCAA's, the 100-Breaststroke and the 200-Breaststroke. Cornet placed 20th in the 100-Breaststroke in a time of 1:03.24 and 21st in the 200-Breaststroke in a time of 2:16.53.
Cornet had one of the most memorable seasons in Duke swimming history as she set four individual Duke records and has been on four record setting relay teams. After one season at Duke, Cornet owns school records in the 50-Freestyle (23.60), 100-Freestyle (51.70), 100-Breaststroke (1:02.79), and the 200-Breaststroke (2:16.18). She was also part of the 200-Medley Relay (1:46.49), 400-Medley Relay (3:53.14), 200-Freestyle Relay (1:37.26), and 800-Freestyle Relay (7:38.88) record setting relay teams. Cornet credits the intensive training at Duke and the strong team spirit for her significant personal time improvements this year.
With another wave of talented and motivated freshman recruits due to arrive in the fall of 2001, the Duke women’s swimming and diving team looks forward to another outstanding season of personal best swims and falling Duke records.
