By Olivia Kiespert
Defending C-USA Champion Rice increased its score to 339 points after earning a pair of victories on day two of the 2014 Conference USA Swimming and Diving Championship Thursday night at the Georgia Tech Campus Recreation Center. FIU is currently in second with 266 points, while third-place Western Kentucky (226) holds a slight lead over fourth-place East Carolina (224).
The first meet record to fall in 2014 came in the 200-yard individual medley courtesy of FIU junior Johanna Gustafsdottir, who set the new league standard with an NCAA B time of 1:57.94. Rice sophomore Shelly Patton earned runner-up honors with her time of 1:58.99 (NCAA B). Freshman Nadine Laemmler and junior Allie Duff of Western Kentucky also swam in NCAA B cut times to take third (1:59.92) and fourth (2:01.41), respectively.
Rice junior Erin Flanigan opened the meet with gold medal honors in the night's first event, the 500-yard freestyle. Flanigan clocked in with a time of 4:44.53, an NCAA B provisional mark. Also recording an NCAA B standard was senior Sonia Perez Arau of Florida International who placed second in 4:45.06. North Texas sophomore Jana Burkard came in third (4:48.92).
Rice closed out the night staying a perfect in relay events at the meet (3-for-3) with its victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Sophomore Cora McKenzie, junior Marissa Konicke, senior Chelsea Fong and senior Kierly Steinhouse combined for a time of 1:31.52. FIU came in second, and Tulane finished third.
Tulane picked up its first win of the championship as sophomore Mia Schacter recorded an NCAA B time of 22.90 in the 50-meter freestyle, edging junior Paige Drazga of WKU by six one-hundredths of a second (22.96, NCAA B). East Carolina sophomore Anastasia Amoiroglou finished third (23.05).
Old Dominion junior Rachel Eckert took top honors in the tightly-contested three-meter diving event as first and third place were separated by only 2.4 points. Eckert posted a score of 294.30, followed by FIU senior Sabrina Beaupre with a 293.70 points and ECU senior Colleen Jones' 291.90.
In the Men's Invitational, future C-USA member Western Kentucky holds a strong lead on the competition with 397 points after taking three of four events tonight. East Carolina is in second with 339 points, just ahead of Old Dominion (325).
Freshman Cody Reul of Western Kentucky claimed the 500-yard freestyle title for the men, recording an NCAA B cut time of 4:23.97. East Carolina sophomores Michael Dugan (second, 4:24.47) and Julian Dodu (third, 4:24.78) rounded out the medal stand with NCAA B provisional marks.
The Hilltoppers continued their win streak as freshman Fabian Schwingenschloegl posted the top time in the 200 IM (1:45.81, NCAA B). East Carolina recorded a pair of B cuts as freshman Fran Krznaric took second (1:47.11) and senior Attila Kiraly placed third (1:47.90).
In the 50-yard freestyle, Old Dominion senior Sidni Hoxha swam to a first-place finish in 19.41 (NCAA B). WKU senior Heitor Rodrigues also posted a sub-20 time, clocking in at 19.90 (NCAA B). Third place went to ECU junior Nikola Simic for his NCAA B performance of 20.13.
Western Kentucky earned its third title of the night with a 200-yard freestyle relay victory. Rodrigues, senior Richard Russell, sophomore Brennan Elsas and Schwingenschloegl clocked in with a mark of 1:20.09 for the win.
Competition resumes tomorrow, with finals beginning at 6 p.m. ET.
