The LSU swimming and diving team participated in the 15th annual Purple and Gold Intrasquad meet Friday in the LSU Natatorium.
The Purple team won in dramatic fashion, 226-212, posting a late victory to win the meet.
Trailing going into the 400-meter freestyle relays, the Purple team relied on great efforts by both the men’s and women’s relay teams to capture the victory.
Donna Leslie, Cackey Miltenberger, Margaret Anne Moore and Margaret Beadle paced the Purple women’s relay team, finishing in 4:08.84. The Purple men’s relay team finished in a time of 3:39.42, anchored by Jan Minartz, Myles Jaynes, Robbie Leininger and Chris Stanczyk.
Senior All-American Evan Martinec caputured two titles for the Purple team. Martinec won the 100-meter butterfly (56.91) and the 100-meter backstroke (1:00.91).
Two-time All-American Stephanie Smith led the Gold team with two individual victories. Smith won the 800-meter freestyle (9:10.30) and the 400-meter freestyle (4:29.35).
The LSU diving team saw its first action of the season Friday also. Alyson Carylon won both women’s diving events. Carylon won the one-meter event with a score 256.10 and the three-meter event with a score of 250.75.
“I was very pleased with our performance out there today,” said diving coach Doug Shaffer. “I think we are further ahead than a lot of other schools out there because we start our season so early. This is just a preseason meet, so it is supposed to be fun.”
The season begins this Thursday, Oct. 2, at Georgia for the LSU swimming and diving team.
CROSS COUNTRY
The LSU men’s cross country team won the LSU Invitational Saturday for the second consecutive season.
Running on a familiar course at Highland Road Park, the Tigers owned the field. Junior Jimmy Wiggins won the 8K race on the men’s side with a time of 25:59.10.
“I believe Jimmy [Wiggins] is the first LSU athlete since Passmore Furusa to win the LSU Invitational,” said coach Mark Elliot. “He ran extremely well, and I know he felt it was an easy race for him. It’s great to see how he has developed from a walk-on to one of the top runners in the conference.”
LSU finished well behind Wiggins. Roland Leblanc, Jarett Roche and Nick Accardo finished 14th, 15th and 16th, respectively.
The women’s team finished in third place behind Tulane and McNeese State in the 6K race.
Junior Katie Denton paced the Lady Tigers. Denton finished in fifth place with season-best time of 22:43.90. Sophomore Michelle Hymel finished in the top 10 also, taking ninth place (23:16.80).
Elliot was pleased with both team’s efforts in the home meet.
“The team did extremely well today,” Elliot said. “I always like to measure the team against the competition in the state and I couldn’t be more pleased.”
LSU rests next weekend in preparation for the Auburn Invitational held Oct. 10 in Auburn, Ala.