The Yale men’s (3-0) and women’s (3-1) swimming and diving teams concluded the first half of their 2002-03 season last weekend, hosting the first annual Nutmeg Invitational at the Kiphuth Memorial Exhibition Pool.
Though it was not scored, the Bulldogs dominated the seven school meet.
Impressive victories in both the men’s and women’s 200 medley relays Friday night set the tone. By Sunday afternoon, the men’s team had claimed victory in 12 of 19 events; the women’s team won 11.
Perhaps more impressive was the depth the Bulldogs demonstrated over the course of the three day meet.
On Friday, in the women’s 500 freestyle, won by Central Connecticut’s Tammie Repass ’03, a national qualifier last year, Yale swimmers took four of the next five places in the finals, with Heidi Kraus ’03 placing second in 5:04.42.
“I went a decent time for myself this time of year, but Tammie was too far ahead for me to race. It really puts things into perspective and provides motivation to train harder,” Kraus said.
In the 50 freestyle, the men’s team claimed five of the six spots in the final round. James Cocks ’03 won the nearly all-Bulldog final in 21.35.
On Saturday, Erin Vandenberg ’05 was the lone Yale women’s champion, with a time of 59.54 in the 100 backstroke. But, the Yale women claimed four finalist positions in both the 400 individual medley and 200 freestyle.
The Yale men also were able to place four swimmers in the finals for two events. In the 1,000 freestyle, captain Greg Palumbo ’03 outpaced his teammates for the win in 9:37.95; in the 100 backstroke, Alex Nash ’04 won in 51.48.
Yale showed no drop-off on Sunday, when the men won four of the day’s six events and the women won five.
Kraus led a Yale sweep of the top four positions in the 1,650 freestyle, with a time of 17:13.82.
Palumbo captured his second win of the meet with a 16:06.17 in the 1,650 freestyle, an event in which four Bulldogs placed in the top six.
Bulldog swimmers now break for reading period and exams before heading to Puerto Rico for their winter training trip, from Dec. 29 to Jan. 9.