On Saturday, December 1, a select group of members of the Pomona-Pitzer men’s and women’s swim teams traveled to the Speedo Cup at Long Beach to race against some of the top collegiate swimmers–Division I included.

Leading the men’s team, Ben Komer ‘02 placed 8th in the 50 meter freestyle with a personal best time of :20.59, which also set a Sagehen record. Komer qualified for Nationals with that time, as he did in the 100 meter freestyle.

The men’s team finished in fourteenth place out of sixteen teams, beating Redlands, which was the only other SCIAC team at the Long Beach meet.

Also on Saturday, David Bates ’05, competing at the Redlands diving meet, took third place in the one meter diving event.

The Sagehen women also performed strongly.

Nine season-best times and three lifetime-bests highlighted a strong effort that also put the team up against some of the top swimmers in the nation.

Lucy Keller ’05 swam the best 100 freestyle of the Sagehens, finishing 100th overall with a time of 57.72 seconds; she was followed by Janetta Iwanicki ’03 (116th overall, 59.48 seconds); and Alison Davis ’02 (129th overall, 61.13 seconds).

In the 200 breaststroke, Sara Ball ’04 finished 62ndoverall (2:38.79 minutes), Jennie Marble ’05 came right behind Ball (63rd place, 2:39.10 minutes), and Iwanicki placed 79th (2.46.06 minutes).

Marble also swam the 200 butterfly and finished 48th place (2:22.25); Michelle Adams ’04 placed 53rd in that event, as well (2:26.95 minutes). Davis finished in 50th place in the 400 medley relay with a time of 2:23.71 minutes.