Swimming: Two Named BIG EAST Champs
February 17, 2012 10:25 PM | General
PITTSBURGH, Pa.- Friday night was packed with great swims and championship titles for the WVU swimming and diving teams in the third day at the 2012 BIG EAST Swimming and Diving Championships. The women remain in third place with 357 points behind Notre Dame (403.5) and Louisville (539.5). The men kept their fourth-place position with 363.5 points behind Pitt (381), Louisville (574.5) and Notre Dame (626).
“Overall, just a great night having Mandie and Rachael win their events, and Danielle get second,” says coach Vic Riggs. “Our breaststroke girls and Austen improved on their spots from their morning swims. It was an overall team effort and I am excited about it. Our girls are racing hard and we are competing as a team. We are looking to what we can accomplish tomorrow.”
Mandie Nugent claimed the BIG EAST Champion title in the 100 fly, setting a new pool record in 53.14. Julie Ogden took second with a time of 54.27. Both Nugent and Ogden received their NCAA “B” cut times for the event. Eva Burlingham took first in the consolation finals (54.65), followed by Nikki Vetterlein in sixth (56.08). Together, the two added 12 points to the women’s total score.
Defending 200 free champ, Rachael Burnett, claimed the BIG EAST Champion title for the second time, with a new pool record of 1:46.23. This is Burnett’s second individual title of the 2012 championships as well. Kata Fodor finished fifth in the event with a time of 1:48.10. The duo also earned their NCAA “B” cut times.
Jake Querciagrossa fought to a third-place finish in the 400 IM with an NCAA “B” cut time of 3:52.92, after being seeded eighth. Louisville’s Carlos Almeida finished first with a time 3:48.33.
For the women, Austen Carrington finished sixth in the 400 IM consolation finals, taking fourteenth over all in the event (4:24.24). Tanja Kylliainen of Louisville finished first in the event setting a new BIG EAST record with a time of 4:10.40.
The men were well represented in the 100 fly. Taylor Camp, the defending BIG EAST Champion, was out touched landing him second place (47.05) behind Notre Dame’s William Bass (47.03). Bryce Bohman took fourth (48.18) in the finals and Brandon Carr fifth (48.29). All three would receive their NCAA “B” cut times. Martin Vanis and Brad Eichenseer finished second (49.21) and fourth (49.31) in the consolation finals.
Nathan Cobbe battled to fourth place in the 200 free with an NCAA “B” cut time of 1:37.20, followed by Hugh Simmonds in eighth (1:38.41). Daeton Davenport took sixth (1:39.36) in the consolation finals. Louisville’s Joao De Lucca took first in the event, setting a new BIG EAST record in 1:33.44.
In the women’s 100 breast consolation finals, the girls were able to add a combined 12 points to the women’s total score. Jenelle Zee took second (1:02.62), Breanna McCann fourth (1:02.97) and Jaryn Studer eighth (1:04.22). Zee and McCann received their NCAA “B” cut times. Emma Reaney of Notre Dame finished first in finals (59.85).
Jack Greenhalgh added five points to the men’s total score with his fourth place finish in the 100 breast consolation finals (56.11). Kameron Chastain of Louisville took first in the finals with a time of 53.50.
It came down to the final touch, but Danielle Smith was able to grab second place in the 100 back (54.36). Rachael Gorrie finished eighth with a time of 56.35. Both received their NCAA “B” cut times. Eszter Povazsay of Louisville took first with a time of 54.25. Vetterlein took fourth in the consolation finals (55.95) and Tiera Butkus finished eighth (56.85).
Bohman, originally seeded fourth, swam to a third-place finish in the 100 back (47.93), followed by Carr in fifth (49.30). Bohman received his second NCAA “B” cut time. Louisville’s Brendon Andrews was the BIG EAST Champ with a new record of 46.61. Eric Johnson won the consolation round with a time of 50.24, adding nine points to the men’s score.
The 400 medley relays would conclude the night. It was a fight for third place, but the team of Smith, Zee, Nugent and Burnett were able to cruise in safely at the end, receiving their NCCA “B” cut time of 3:40.20. The men had a battle of their own in the relay as Bohman, Greenhalgh, Camp and Squires finished in fourth with a time of 3:13.53.
“Very solid night for the men tonight,” says Riggs. “We finished with a great 400 medley relay. Tim’s split of 42.9 was a really solid swim, and having Brandon and Bryce place in the top eight in both the 100 back and 100 fly was great. Nathan’s fourth place helped us inch closer to Pitt. We have one more day to finish the job.”
Tomorrow’s preliminary events will begin at 10 a.m., followed by finals at 6 p.m. The final events include the 1,650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and the 400 free relay.
“Overall, just a great night having Mandie and Rachael win their events, and Danielle get second,” says coach Vic Riggs. “Our breaststroke girls and Austen improved on their spots from their morning swims. It was an overall team effort and I am excited about it. Our girls are racing hard and we are competing as a team. We are looking to what we can accomplish tomorrow.”
Mandie Nugent claimed the BIG EAST Champion title in the 100 fly, setting a new pool record in 53.14. Julie Ogden took second with a time of 54.27. Both Nugent and Ogden received their NCAA “B” cut times for the event. Eva Burlingham took first in the consolation finals (54.65), followed by Nikki Vetterlein in sixth (56.08). Together, the two added 12 points to the women’s total score.
Defending 200 free champ, Rachael Burnett, claimed the BIG EAST Champion title for the second time, with a new pool record of 1:46.23. This is Burnett’s second individual title of the 2012 championships as well. Kata Fodor finished fifth in the event with a time of 1:48.10. The duo also earned their NCAA “B” cut times.
Jake Querciagrossa fought to a third-place finish in the 400 IM with an NCAA “B” cut time of 3:52.92, after being seeded eighth. Louisville’s Carlos Almeida finished first with a time 3:48.33.
For the women, Austen Carrington finished sixth in the 400 IM consolation finals, taking fourteenth over all in the event (4:24.24). Tanja Kylliainen of Louisville finished first in the event setting a new BIG EAST record with a time of 4:10.40.
The men were well represented in the 100 fly. Taylor Camp, the defending BIG EAST Champion, was out touched landing him second place (47.05) behind Notre Dame’s William Bass (47.03). Bryce Bohman took fourth (48.18) in the finals and Brandon Carr fifth (48.29). All three would receive their NCAA “B” cut times. Martin Vanis and Brad Eichenseer finished second (49.21) and fourth (49.31) in the consolation finals.
Nathan Cobbe battled to fourth place in the 200 free with an NCAA “B” cut time of 1:37.20, followed by Hugh Simmonds in eighth (1:38.41). Daeton Davenport took sixth (1:39.36) in the consolation finals. Louisville’s Joao De Lucca took first in the event, setting a new BIG EAST record in 1:33.44.
In the women’s 100 breast consolation finals, the girls were able to add a combined 12 points to the women’s total score. Jenelle Zee took second (1:02.62), Breanna McCann fourth (1:02.97) and Jaryn Studer eighth (1:04.22). Zee and McCann received their NCAA “B” cut times. Emma Reaney of Notre Dame finished first in finals (59.85).
Jack Greenhalgh added five points to the men’s total score with his fourth place finish in the 100 breast consolation finals (56.11). Kameron Chastain of Louisville took first in the finals with a time of 53.50.
It came down to the final touch, but Danielle Smith was able to grab second place in the 100 back (54.36). Rachael Gorrie finished eighth with a time of 56.35. Both received their NCAA “B” cut times. Eszter Povazsay of Louisville took first with a time of 54.25. Vetterlein took fourth in the consolation finals (55.95) and Tiera Butkus finished eighth (56.85).
Bohman, originally seeded fourth, swam to a third-place finish in the 100 back (47.93), followed by Carr in fifth (49.30). Bohman received his second NCAA “B” cut time. Louisville’s Brendon Andrews was the BIG EAST Champ with a new record of 46.61. Eric Johnson won the consolation round with a time of 50.24, adding nine points to the men’s score.
The 400 medley relays would conclude the night. It was a fight for third place, but the team of Smith, Zee, Nugent and Burnett were able to cruise in safely at the end, receiving their NCCA “B” cut time of 3:40.20. The men had a battle of their own in the relay as Bohman, Greenhalgh, Camp and Squires finished in fourth with a time of 3:13.53.
“Very solid night for the men tonight,” says Riggs. “We finished with a great 400 medley relay. Tim’s split of 42.9 was a really solid swim, and having Brandon and Bryce place in the top eight in both the 100 back and 100 fly was great. Nathan’s fourth place helped us inch closer to Pitt. We have one more day to finish the job.”
Tomorrow’s preliminary events will begin at 10 a.m., followed by finals at 6 p.m. The final events include the 1,650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and the 400 free relay.
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