Swimming wraps up elevation training, travels to SFU for Tri-Meet

January 14, 2013

University Relations

Jamie Foland
907-474-6807

Following a successful trip to Flagstaff, Ariz., for its annual training at elevation, the Alaska women's swim team returns to dual meet action this Saturday when it battles Simon Fraser and the University of Puget Sound in a tri-meet.

This was the fifth time the Nanooks (2-2) went to train at 7,000 feet and head coach Scott Lemley said this was by far the best trip for the program.

“This was by far our best altitude trip,” Lemley said. “After five years of training at 7,000 feet and hours of discussion with dozens of world class coaches I've learned a lot. The makeup of the team this year contributed a great deal to the overall success. This was a group of very focused swimmers.”

The Nanooks (2-2), ranked 21st in the College Swimming Coaches Association of America Division II poll, will have tough competition with the 15th-ranked Clan (2-0) and the Loggers (4-2) as all three teams swam against each other at the 2012 Husky Invitational over five weeks ago. SFU was sixth among college teams and Alaska was in seventh while UPS followed in ninth out the 12 competing teams.

“Our meet this weekend against SFU and UPS will tell us part of the story though our student-athletes will still be very tired,” Lemley said. “By the time SFU travels to Fairbanks (Jan. 25-26), we should know exactly what we gained by how we perform.”

The tri-meet is scheduled to begin at noon (AKST) from the SFU Paul and Margaret Savage Pool in Burnaby, B.C.