Team impress at different meets

The split squad women's swim team -- half competing at the US Open in Minneapolis and half at the Miami (OH) Invitational -- had impressive showings at both meets over the weekend. IU tied for second place with Big Ten rival Minnesota in the Female University category at the US Open, while the rest of the team placed third at the Miami (OH) Invitational.\nIn Minneapolis, the Hoosier swimmers earned four national cut times and recorded ten season best times. Seniors Tina Gretlund and Anne Williams paired with juniors Sarah Fiden and Meghan Medendorp to finish sixth with a time of 3:55.87, earning a National Cut time in the 400-meter freestyle relay.\nJunior Brooke Taflinger helped led the way for IU, finishing third in the 400 IM with a time of 4:53.71, which was good enough for an Olympic Trial cut time as well as an NCAA cut time.\n"Swimming in the US Nationals this summer helped out a lot," Taflinger said. "There was a lot of hard training, but it is all paying off now."\nContinuing the success for the Hoosiers was senior Jenny Bechem, who improved her weekend by placing fifth in the 200 butterfly. Bechem swam two consistent heats, going near identical times in her preliminary and final swims at 2:17.16 and 2:17.17. The times were both national and NCAA cuts.\nSenior Kristy Martin also swam well on the final day of competition, as she won the C Final of the 200 butterfly. Martin, a senior from Gardner, Mass., swam a 2:19.59 on her way to winning the final. Also swimming the butterfly event was Gretlund and fellow senior Maggie Helmers. Gretlund swam a 2:24.94, placing 29th, while Maggie Helmers went 2:24.67, placing 37th.\nThe distance freestylers continued IU's strong showing, placing three swimmers in the top 30 of the 800 meter freestyle event. Fiden led the way, finishing tenth with Bechem placing 18th and junior Erin Gorlesky finishing 30th. Bechem's time converted to a season best of 10:22.59.\n"We are swimming pretty well," Taflinger said. "We are not fully in shape, yet. But overall I thought we looked good. We need to concentrate on the little things to get better for the rest of the season."\nIn Oxford, Ohio, the rest of the team continued to improve on their great start to the season. Freshman Doherty Colgin won her second individual title of the Invitational by winning the 500 freestyle. The Hoosiers placed four girls in the finals of the 500 freestyle event, with Colgin and classmate Lauren Torpey finishing 1-2. Torpey, who set a season best lead the freshman class as Kristen Bradley and Nina Thurston completed the sweep in the finals, with Thurston placing eighth and Bradley finishing fifth. Bradley improved on her season best by swimming a 5:03.58 in the finals. Thurston went 5:06.11 in the finals, following up a season best performance in the prelims.\nThe Hoosiers will not be in action again until after their winter break training in Islamorada, Fla. IU's next competition will be in the Founders Park College Invite Jan. 3.