Heimes Takes Third, WVU Concludes Day One

March 09, 2023 09:54 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Fallyn Swiger

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Junior Justin Heimes' top-three finish led the way for the West Virginia University men's and women's swimming teams opening night of competition at the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) National Invitational Championships, at the Beacon Health Aquatic Center, in Elkhart, Indiana, on Thursday.

The Mountaineers had 16 swimmers make an appearance during day one finals. Sophomores Conner McBeth and Jake Young and freshmen Mia Cheatwood and Ada Szwabinska notched two appearances each. Senior Meredith Bolinger, juniors Heimes, Roanoke Shirk, Shelby Gerving, Lauren Musbach, sophomores Riley Brown, Morgan Burton, Mia Walters, and freshmen Jamin Harlan, Adam McDonald, Maverick Bray and Alyssa Heffelfinger each made one appearance.

The night opened with the 200 free relay. The men's team of McBeth, Shirk, Harlan and Young took 16th, finishing in 1:21.88. The women's team, comprised of Cheatwood, Burton, Heffelfinger and Szwabinska finished in 22nd, with a time of 1:34.02.

Next up, came the 50-yard backstroke as Heimes had his top-three finish for the men, touching the pads in 22.18 to claim third place. On the women's side, Cheatwood competed in the B-final, finishing with a time of 28.48, to tie for 4th.

The Mountaineers had two swimmers in the 50 free finals. McBeth represented the men's squad, by notching a time of 20.15, good enough for 8th place. For the women, Szwabinska finished third in the B-finals, with a time of 23.01.

In the final event of the evening, the 400 medley relay, the women's team of Bolinger, Gerving, Walters and Musbach finished with a time of 3:56.38, taking 48th overall. The men's team of Brown, McDonald, Bray and Young finished in 32nd, with a time of 3:23.32.

At the end of competition on day one, the women stand in 28th place overall, while the men are in 18th.

The Mountaineers return to competition on Friday, March 10, for the second day of action at the CSCAA National Invitational Championships. Friday's prelims are set to begin at 9:30 a.m., at the Beacon Health Aquatic Center, while finals action will commence at 6 p.m. ET.

For more information on the Mountaineers, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.