The 2008 Western Athletic Conference Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship began today with Nevada winning the 200-yard medley relay and Hawai‘i capturing the 800-yard freestyle relay. Nevada is in first place with 74 points after day one of the four-day event.

Nevada’s team of Jeanette Tour, Margaret Doolittle, Michaela Schmidt and Nonie Wainwright took first in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:42.81. Northern Arizona was second with a time of 1:43. The Wolf Pack won the event for the second year in a row.

In the only other race of the day, Hawai`i took the gold medal with a win in the 800 freestyle relay. The Rainbow Wahine team of Ricarda Schellenberg, Elliko Heimbach, Alyssa Manlow and Emma Berry won with a time of 7:28.46.

After one day of competition, Nevada is the leader with 74 points. Hawai‘i is second with 68 points followed by Northern Arizona with 66 points. In a tie for fourth with 60 points are San Jose State and New Mexico State. In sixth is Idaho with 50 points, followed closely by San Diego with 48 points and Boise State with 46 points.

Action continues tomorrow at Palo Alto College Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas with the 500-yard freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 1-meter diving and the 200 freestyle relay. Prelims begin at 11:00 a.m. and the finals start at 6:30 p.m.