AMES, Iowa- Senior Nan Liu and junior Jenny Vondenkamp each picked up three victories for the Cardinal team, but performances by freshman Dani Harris and senior Frances Calzada combined for four event wins to lead the Gold team to a 129-111 victory at Iowa State’s annual intrasquad meet Friday night at Beyer Pool.
Liu took victories in two events which she holds school records in, the 100 fly (56.77) and the 100 back (58.18). Liu led off the winning 200 free relay with a 24.48 split.
“I was pleased the way they competed with each other, especially on their first meet out,” head coach Duane Sorenson said. “We had some people that we didn’t know how they would respond from our heavy training, but I was pleased with how they stood up and raced.”
Harris, a Clive, Iowa native, led off for the winning 200 medley relay team and then took the win in the 200 IM in 2:09.40, good for 16th-fastest in school history. She also finished second in the 100 back to Liu, but her time of 58.43 already makes her the 15th fastest in school history.
“Dani did an outstanding job,” Sorenson said. “We knew that was the kind of competitor we recruited and she really went out there. She did well in the 200 IM and she pushed Nan in the 100 back and Nan was pretty tired afterward.”
Calzada anchored the winning medley relay and collected a win in the 100 free (54.18). Senior Abby Glaser swam the third leg of the winning medley relay and then picked up a win in the 50 free (25.15). Jeli Nixt also collected two victories, the breaststroke leg of the medley relay and the 100 breaststroke (1:07.32). Junior Amy Bauer earned a victory for the gold squad in the 400 IM (4:45.50)
Junior Jenny Vondenkamp also collected three victories for the Cardinal squad, winning the 500 and 200 free and anchoring the 200 free rleay.
All-Big 12 recipient Tien Tran didn’t compete in the meet, which opened the door for Sarah Nelson to post a victory on 1-meter with a score of 244.45. Abby Christensen finished second (234.50).
“Sarah did a fantastic job, she really stepped up.” diving coach Jeff Warrick said. “There was one dive, her front 2 ½ that she really hasn’t practice. I thought her best dive of the meet was her inward one and a half. I think for her first meet for her to come up with her highest score was fantactic.”
Jenn Botsch earned the victory on 3-meter (245.20) with Nelson finishing second (216.40).
“Jenn really stepped up too,” Warrick said. “She stepped up on the mental side of things. She had a plan, she stuck with it and it worked for her.”
The Cyclones hit the pool again next Friday Oct. 16 when the Cyclones travel to Columbia, Mo. for the Big 12 Relays starting at 9 a.m.
