Hoosiers split up, travel to Ohio, Minneapolis

The IU women's swim team heads into the month of December looking to improve on their undefeated season as the split squad swims in two meets this weekend. IU will swim in both the U.S. Open and the Miami (OH) Invitational. \nThose who are competing for Olympic cut times will be swimming in the US Open, held in Minneapolis, Minn., while the rest of the team looks to improve on their 5-0 season in Oxford, Ohio.\n"No freshman will compete at the U.S. Open," coach Dorsey Tierney said. \n"It is a distinction for upperclassmen, and something for the freshman to look forward to."\nJunior Brooke Taflinger has already qualified for two Olympic cuts, and is looking for more this weekend. Also hoping to achieve cut times are senior Anne Williams, junior Meghan Medendorp, and sophomore Erin Smith.\nIn their last action at the Indiana Invitational, the Hoosiers blew away the competition, winning by nearly 300 points. Junior distance freestyler Sarah Fiden broke two school records and earned an NCAA qualifying time. Fiden surpassed her own 1000 and 1650 freestyle records during the mile event, and set a season best time in the 500 freestyle. Also setting season best times in the 500 free were juniors Brooke Taflinger and Erin Gorlesky. The Hoosiers took 1-2-3 in this event to lead their team to a blowout victory at the Invitational.\nThe freestyle distance swimmers have performed well early on this season, and look to maintain their success this weekend against tough international competition at the U.S. Open.\n"I am pleased with how we have been swimming," Tierney said. "Our middle distance and distance swimmers have been doing well. Overall, we are swimming as I expected. But our relays need to get better."\nThe Hoosiers are also getting help from standout freshman Nina Thurston and Lauren Torpey.\n"The freshman have been doing a great job this year," Tierney said. "But this is the time in the season where they tend to struggle mentally, in dealing with final exams. This is really a key time for our freshman."\nThe Hoosiers begin split squad competition today, and wrap up the last meet of 2002 on Saturday, before heading into their holiday training tip in Islamorada, Fla.