Seven swimmers competing in eight different countries earned numerous medals and had record-setting performances to make 2014 a successful summer for the Mustang women’s swimming and diving program.
Recently-graduated Nina Rangelova and Monika Babok, seniors Isabella Arcila and Rachel Nicol, junior Anna Volchkov and sophomores Marne Erasmus and Tara-Lynn Nicholas made a splash on the global scene with their performances.
The Mustangs are coming off a 20th place finish at the 2014 NCAA Championship and return 18 letterwinners from that squad including five All-American honorees. Erasmus earned the nod in the 100-yard butterfly, after placing third, as well as part of a 400-yard medley relay team that consisted of current Mustangs Arcila and Nicol. The relay also included Rangelova. Nicholas rounded out the six total honors with her eighth-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke.
SMU also welcomes seven newcomers to the Hilltop and begins action on Sept. 19 with the red and blue intra-squad meet at the AR Barr Outdoor Pool, followed by the North Texas Relays on Sept. 26 at the Southlake Natatorium.
Below is the list of summer competitors and their results. Times marked with an asterisk denote a national record-setting performance.
Nina Rangelova – Bulgarian National Championships/European Championships
Bulgarian National Championships
50-meter freestyle – 26.38 – First place
100-meter freestyle – 55.88 – First place
200-meter freestyle – 2:00.12 – First place
50-meter butterfly – 27.71* – First place
100-meter butterfly – 1:01.78 – First place
4×100-meter freestyle relay – 4:02.29 – First place
4×200-meter freestyle relay – 8:53.26 – First place
4×100-meter medley relay – 4:34.29 – First place
4×100-meter mixed freestyle relay – 3:43.89 – First place
4×100-meter mixed medley relay – 4:09.11 – First place
European Championships
100-meter freestyle – 55.46 – Eighth place (55.07* Prelims)
200-meter freestyle – 1:58.56* – Eighth place
Monika Babok – Croatian National Championships
50-meter butterfly – 28.32 – Fourth place
50-meter backstroke – 30.40 – Fourth place
50-meter freestyle – 27.18 – Sixth place
Rachel Nicol – Canadian Swimming Championships
50-meter breaststroke – 31.16 – First place
100-meter breaststroke – 1:08.89 – Second place
200-meter breaststroke – 2:29.16 – Second place
200-meter individual medley – 2:18.10 – Third place
Isabella Arcila – Colombian National Championships
50-meter freestyle – 25.66* – First place
100-meter freestyle – First place
50-meter backstroke – 28.83 – Second place
100-meter backstroke – Second place
200-meter backstroke – First place
400-meter freestyle relay – First place
200-meter medley relay – Second place
400-meter medley relay – Second place
Anna Volchkov – Israeli National Championships
50-meter backstroke – 30.87 – Third place
100-meter backstroke – 1:04.98 – First place
200-meter backstroke – 2:18.59 – Second place
Marne Erasmus – Commonwealth Games/Sa Short Course Championships
Commonwealth Games
50-meter butterfly – 27.45 – Semifinals
100-meter butterfly – 1:00.72 – Semifinals
4×100-meter medley relay – 4:09.31 – Fifth place
Sa Short Course Championships
50-meter butterfly – 27.38 – Third place
100-meter butterfly – 1:00.55 – Second place
50-meter freestyle – 26.41 – Semifinals
100-meter individual medley – 1:06.81 – Semifinals
Tara-Lynn Nicholas – Commonwealth Games/Sa Short Course Championships
Commonwealth Games
50-meter breaststroke – 32.32 – Semifinals
100-meter breaststroke – 1:09.11 – Semifinals
4×100-meter medley relay – 4:09.31 – Fifth place
Sa Short Course Championships
50-meter breaststroke – 31.23 – First place
100-meter breaststroke – 1:08.30 – Second place
4×50-meter mixed medley relay – 1:46.70 – Second place
4×50-meter freestyle relay – 1:46.40 – Third place
College Swimming News courtesy of SMU Swimming and Diving.
