Saturday, March 2
Morgantown, W.Va.
10 a.m. Prelims/6 p.m. Finals
West Virginia University
vs
Big 12 Championships
Mountaineers Claim Two Medals, Break Multiple Program Records on Last Night of Big 12 Championships
March 02, 2024 11:36 PM | Men's Swimming & Diving, Women's Swimming & Diving
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University men's and women's swimming and diving teams finished competition at the 2024 Big 12 Swimming and Diving Championships at the Aquatic Center at Mylan Park on Saturday.
The men's swimming and diving team placed fifth with 1,138.50 points. The women's swimming and diving team placed sixth with 699 total points.
"I am really proud of this team," head coach Vic Riggs said. "They competed very well, and to break eight program records is outstanding. We have a couple of swimmers in consideration for NCAAs which is exciting. It was a great environment and thank you to (Assistant Athletics Director/Facilities and Operations) Zach Eckert and his staff for making this happen. It's always an honor to host a championship and WVU should be proud."
Two Mountaineers set three program records, and the men's 400 freestyle relay team set a school record to close out the last night of the championship.
During the A final of the men's 1650 freestyle, senior Ivan Puskovitch touched the wall at 15:15.34 to place second and break the school record (15:20.04). During his swim, Puskovitch broke the school record for the 1000 freestyle with a 9:08.91.
For the second time this week, sophomore Mia Cheatwood set the program record in the 200 breaststroke as she placed third with a final time of 2:09.13. Cheatwood set two records during the week as she also broke the program record in the 100 breaststroke with a final time of 1:00.08 on March 1.
The men's relay team with seniors Danny Berlitz and Roanoke Shirk, and juniors Braden Osborn and Conner McBeth placed fourth with a final time of 2:53.95. They broke the previous record of 2:54.04 which was set in 2015.
The Mountaineers carried their momentum to the diving well during the men's platform event. Freshman Owen Recker placed seventh (336.90) and junior Glenn Eloriaga placed eighth (334.80).
Senior Justin Heimes followed up his fourth-place performance in the 100 backstroke with another fourth-place finish in the 200 backstroke event. In the A final of the 200 backstroke, Heimes finished with a final time of 1:44.64.
Redshirt freshman Christian Simpson placed second in the B final (1:45.72).
Junior Miranda Kirtley battled her way through the women's 1650 A final, placing fifth after she touched the wall at 16:41.93. In the B final, sophomore Olivia Busch placed first with a final time of 16:57.01.
To finish the meet, the relay team comprised of Cheatwood, senior Kate Beckish, and sophomores Ada Szwabinska and Gabriela Martin placed eighth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:24.08).
Overall, West Virginia claimed six medals with one gold, two silver and three bronze. Berlitz earned the gold medal and Puskovitch earned the silver in the 400 individual medley on Feb. 29. The men's 800 freestyle relay team comprised of Berlitz, Shirk, Simpson and sophomore Max Nielsen won bronze on Feb. 27.
The men's 200 freestyle relay team comprised of Berlitz, Shirk, Osborn and McBeth claimed bronze on March 1.
Final Men's Team Results
The men's swimming and diving team placed fifth with 1,138.50 points. The women's swimming and diving team placed sixth with 699 total points.
"I am really proud of this team," head coach Vic Riggs said. "They competed very well, and to break eight program records is outstanding. We have a couple of swimmers in consideration for NCAAs which is exciting. It was a great environment and thank you to (Assistant Athletics Director/Facilities and Operations) Zach Eckert and his staff for making this happen. It's always an honor to host a championship and WVU should be proud."
Two Mountaineers set three program records, and the men's 400 freestyle relay team set a school record to close out the last night of the championship.
During the A final of the men's 1650 freestyle, senior Ivan Puskovitch touched the wall at 15:15.34 to place second and break the school record (15:20.04). During his swim, Puskovitch broke the school record for the 1000 freestyle with a 9:08.91.
For the second time this week, sophomore Mia Cheatwood set the program record in the 200 breaststroke as she placed third with a final time of 2:09.13. Cheatwood set two records during the week as she also broke the program record in the 100 breaststroke with a final time of 1:00.08 on March 1.
The men's relay team with seniors Danny Berlitz and Roanoke Shirk, and juniors Braden Osborn and Conner McBeth placed fourth with a final time of 2:53.95. They broke the previous record of 2:54.04 which was set in 2015.
The Mountaineers carried their momentum to the diving well during the men's platform event. Freshman Owen Recker placed seventh (336.90) and junior Glenn Eloriaga placed eighth (334.80).
Senior Justin Heimes followed up his fourth-place performance in the 100 backstroke with another fourth-place finish in the 200 backstroke event. In the A final of the 200 backstroke, Heimes finished with a final time of 1:44.64.
Redshirt freshman Christian Simpson placed second in the B final (1:45.72).
Junior Miranda Kirtley battled her way through the women's 1650 A final, placing fifth after she touched the wall at 16:41.93. In the B final, sophomore Olivia Busch placed first with a final time of 16:57.01.
To finish the meet, the relay team comprised of Cheatwood, senior Kate Beckish, and sophomores Ada Szwabinska and Gabriela Martin placed eighth in the 400 freestyle relay (3:24.08).
Overall, West Virginia claimed six medals with one gold, two silver and three bronze. Berlitz earned the gold medal and Puskovitch earned the silver in the 400 individual medley on Feb. 29. The men's 800 freestyle relay team comprised of Berlitz, Shirk, Simpson and sophomore Max Nielsen won bronze on Feb. 27.
The men's 200 freestyle relay team comprised of Berlitz, Shirk, Osborn and McBeth claimed bronze on March 1.
Final Men's Team Results
- Texas - 1,979
- TCU - 1,430
- BYU - 1,402
- Cincinnati - 1,285.50
- West Virginia - 1,138.50
- Texas - 2,092
- Houston - 1,266.50
- TCU - 1,215.50
- Cincinnati - 918.50
- BYU - 771.50
- West Virginia - 699
- Kansas - 647.50
- Iowa State - 529
Players Mentioned
Free/Fly
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Distance
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Breast/Free/IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Back
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Back/Fly/Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Diving
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Fly
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Back/IM
/ Men's Swimming & Diving
Free/Breast/IM
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