Saturday, November 18
Columbus, Ohio
10 a.m./6 p.m.
West Virginia University
at
Ohio State Invitational
WVU Continues Strong Showing in Columbus
November 18, 2017 10:32 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University swimming team continued to showcase its ability on Day Two of the Ohio State Invitational in Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday.
A trio of Mountaineers earned trips to A Finals, while three more swam in B Finals at Ohio State's McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. In all, 22 swimmers qualified for event finals, including at least one in every event.
"It was a very solid morning session," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "The teams are preparing and competing much better than where we were at this time last year, and they are seeing the results with some very good morning swims.
"We qualified 22 for the finals and were represented in every event again, which is great. We discussed coming to the final session and swimming faster, and we did that as well. Amelie (Currat) and Morgan (Bullock) got us going in the 100 fly with lifetime-best times. Our 400 individual medleys were strong as well, with everyone improving from their prelim times, and David (Dixon) and Nate (Carr) both scoring points. Sofia (Bernard) had a great drop in her 200 free, as did Ryan (Kelly) in his 200. Emma (Harris) had a solid 100 breast, with Drew (Riebel) winning his heat, and Jake (Armstrong) and Tristen (DiSibio) both improving their times and places. Our 100 backs were very strong, led by Amelie and Ally (VanNetta). Austin (Hartke) and Merwane (El Merini) finished our individual events with very good swims and time drops."
Leading the way for WVU was redshirt senior Nate Carr, who finished fourth overall in the 400 individual medley with a time of 3:49.99. The Mountaineers' two other A Final representatives came in the men's 100 breaststroke, where redshirt junior Tristen DiSibio took seventh overall (54.94), while junior Jake Armstrong followed close behind in eighth (54.99).
Saturday's event finals began with the women's 100 butterfly. Sophomore Morgan Bullock earned a second-place finish in the B Final, placing 12th overall in a time of 54.00. Senior Amelie Currat won the C Final after she touched the wall in 54.66, while sophomore Julia Miranda secured a sixth-place finish (55.22) in the C Final. For the men, sophomore Gabe Swardson touched the wall in 50.10 in the D Final.
Along with Carr's performance in the men's 400 individual medley, freshman David Dixon finished third in the B Final in a time of 3:53.24, claiming 13th overall. Freshman Philip Kay and senior James Koval participated in the D Final, which saw Kay win the heat in 3:57.38.
Senior Taylor Gill represented the WVU women in the women's 400 individual medley, finishing fifth in the D Final and 35th overall (4:27.72).
From there, freshmen Sofia Bernard and Giselle Gursoy competed in the D Final of the women's 200 free. Overall, the two finished in 34th and 36th, respectively. For the men, sophomore Ryan Kelly took 29th overall (1:39.21) after competing in the C Final.
In the women's 100 breaststroke, junior Emma Harris earned a 26th-place overall finish after registering a time of 54.62 in the C Final. The men placed two in the top 10 in DiSibio and Armstrong, and featured senior Drew Riebel's victory in the C Final in 55.69. The result was good for 21st overall.
Then, Currat added a 17th-place overall finish in the women's 100 backstroke, earning a time of 54.62 in the B Final. Freshman Ally VanNetta won the C Final in 55.19, earning a 21st-place overall finish, while Miranda (56.41) and junior Maggie Miller (55.96) competed in the D Final.
The men saw El Merini finish in 25th overall in the 100 backstroke, as he earned a time of 49.40 in the C Final. Sophomore Austin Hartke placed third in the D Final in 50.14.
WVU also competed in 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. The men's team placed 12th in the 200 medley, as the team of El Merini, DiSibio, Dixon and sophomore Sam Neaveill earned a time of 1:30.20. The Mountaineers also placed 17th in the 800 free relay.
On the women's side, WVU secured 17th in the 800 free relay and 18th in the 200 medley relay.
"Our relays are getting better, but it's still an area we need to continue to improve on," Riggs said.
The Mountaineers will compete in the final day of the Ohio State Invitational on Sunday. Prelims are set to get underway at 10 a.m. ET, while event finals will take place at 4 p.m.
"We talked about finishing the weekend," Riggs said. Staying focused tomorrow will be key."
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
A trio of Mountaineers earned trips to A Finals, while three more swam in B Finals at Ohio State's McCorkle Aquatic Pavilion. In all, 22 swimmers qualified for event finals, including at least one in every event.
"It was a very solid morning session," WVU coach Vic Riggs said. "The teams are preparing and competing much better than where we were at this time last year, and they are seeing the results with some very good morning swims.
"We qualified 22 for the finals and were represented in every event again, which is great. We discussed coming to the final session and swimming faster, and we did that as well. Amelie (Currat) and Morgan (Bullock) got us going in the 100 fly with lifetime-best times. Our 400 individual medleys were strong as well, with everyone improving from their prelim times, and David (Dixon) and Nate (Carr) both scoring points. Sofia (Bernard) had a great drop in her 200 free, as did Ryan (Kelly) in his 200. Emma (Harris) had a solid 100 breast, with Drew (Riebel) winning his heat, and Jake (Armstrong) and Tristen (DiSibio) both improving their times and places. Our 100 backs were very strong, led by Amelie and Ally (VanNetta). Austin (Hartke) and Merwane (El Merini) finished our individual events with very good swims and time drops."
Leading the way for WVU was redshirt senior Nate Carr, who finished fourth overall in the 400 individual medley with a time of 3:49.99. The Mountaineers' two other A Final representatives came in the men's 100 breaststroke, where redshirt junior Tristen DiSibio took seventh overall (54.94), while junior Jake Armstrong followed close behind in eighth (54.99).
Saturday's event finals began with the women's 100 butterfly. Sophomore Morgan Bullock earned a second-place finish in the B Final, placing 12th overall in a time of 54.00. Senior Amelie Currat won the C Final after she touched the wall in 54.66, while sophomore Julia Miranda secured a sixth-place finish (55.22) in the C Final. For the men, sophomore Gabe Swardson touched the wall in 50.10 in the D Final.
Along with Carr's performance in the men's 400 individual medley, freshman David Dixon finished third in the B Final in a time of 3:53.24, claiming 13th overall. Freshman Philip Kay and senior James Koval participated in the D Final, which saw Kay win the heat in 3:57.38.
Senior Taylor Gill represented the WVU women in the women's 400 individual medley, finishing fifth in the D Final and 35th overall (4:27.72).
From there, freshmen Sofia Bernard and Giselle Gursoy competed in the D Final of the women's 200 free. Overall, the two finished in 34th and 36th, respectively. For the men, sophomore Ryan Kelly took 29th overall (1:39.21) after competing in the C Final.
In the women's 100 breaststroke, junior Emma Harris earned a 26th-place overall finish after registering a time of 54.62 in the C Final. The men placed two in the top 10 in DiSibio and Armstrong, and featured senior Drew Riebel's victory in the C Final in 55.69. The result was good for 21st overall.
Then, Currat added a 17th-place overall finish in the women's 100 backstroke, earning a time of 54.62 in the B Final. Freshman Ally VanNetta won the C Final in 55.19, earning a 21st-place overall finish, while Miranda (56.41) and junior Maggie Miller (55.96) competed in the D Final.
The men saw El Merini finish in 25th overall in the 100 backstroke, as he earned a time of 49.40 in the C Final. Sophomore Austin Hartke placed third in the D Final in 50.14.
WVU also competed in 200 medley and 800 freestyle relays. The men's team placed 12th in the 200 medley, as the team of El Merini, DiSibio, Dixon and sophomore Sam Neaveill earned a time of 1:30.20. The Mountaineers also placed 17th in the 800 free relay.
On the women's side, WVU secured 17th in the 800 free relay and 18th in the 200 medley relay.
"Our relays are getting better, but it's still an area we need to continue to improve on," Riggs said.
The Mountaineers will compete in the final day of the Ohio State Invitational on Sunday. Prelims are set to get underway at 10 a.m. ET, while event finals will take place at 4 p.m.
"We talked about finishing the weekend," Riggs said. Staying focused tomorrow will be key."
For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Fly/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Fly/Back
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back/Fly
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