Tampa Turns In Second Place Showing At Annual Competition

CLEVELAND, Miss. - The University of Tampa men's and women's swimming teams each posted second place finishes at the 2009 Delta State University Christmas Invitational. Rice University captured the women's title while the host Statesmen won the men's competition in the three day event.

On the women's side, the Spartans ended the meet with 652.5 points, coming in ahead of New Orleans, Delta State, Incarnate Word and Arkansas-Little Rock. Rice won with 907 points.

In men's action, UT tallied 789 points and was edged by DSU's 810.5. New Orleans and Incarnate Word rounded out the remaining teams.

The Spartan women claimed a pair of relay championships, beginning with the 400 Medley Relay. The winning team was comprised of Ellie Eschleman, Kelsey Lubbers, Lindsay Calimer and Jessie Bardin, who turned in a time of 3:52.59. UT also championed the 400 Free Relay as Bardin, Allison Vetter, Eshleman and Stephanie Branham outpaced its opponents at 3:30.38.

Tampa also won three individual races, including two from Eshleman. She captured the 100 Back (57.08) and 200 Back (2:03.51). Bardin also won the 200 Free in 1:52.61.

Three men's races went in favor of the Spartans as Roman Sereda (200 IM, 1:52.08), Patrick Murray (100 Back, 51.99) and Roman Dagesh (200 Fly, 1:52.08) each won a race for UT.

Tampa returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 6, at the annual Tampa Relays. The meet will begin at 10 a.m. as another meet will follow at 3 p.m. The event will take place at the UT Swimming Complex.

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