Behind eight first-place finishes, the West Virginia University women’s swimming and diving team raced to a dual-meet win over visiting Ohio on Saturday afternoon at the WVU Natatorium.
The Mountaineers earned a 155-143 victory over the Bobcats for their first dual-meet win of the season.
“Our ladies have had a tough month of racing and I think it showed a bit today,” said coach Vic Riggs. “Ohio is a very good team and we were fortunate enough to win today, which is a great way to end our dual meet season. Our divers came through huge again today, as they have in our last two meets. They were the difference today.”
Diver Haily VandePoel earned a sweep in her final meet at the Natatorium, finishing first on the 1- and 3-meter boards. VandePoel scored 283.80 on the 3-meter and 270.14 on the 1-meter board.
Jennifer Rey placed second in both diving events, scoring 258.31 and 253.12 on the 3-meter and 1-meter boards, respectively.
For the swimming events, the Mountaineers took first and second in the women’s 200-yard butterfly. Julie Ogden barely inched out Natalie Johnsen for first place in 2:05.30. Johnsen placed second in 2:05.34. Ogden took second in the women’s 100-yard butterfly in 56.57.
In the women’s 50-yard freestyle, Jaimee Gillmore touched the wall in 23.95, placing first. Gillmore also won the women’s 100-yard freestyle, hitting the pad in 52.80.
Emma Skelley raced to first place in the women’s 1,000-yard freestyle in 10:20.55. Loren Williams took fourth in the event in 10:47.67 and Mackenzie Braden placed fifth in 10:52.02. Skelley also claimed first the women’s 500-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 5:03.80.
“Jaimee had one of her best dual meets of the season and really took control of the sprint events,” Riggs said. “Jenelle Zee swam in season-best times in the 100 and 200 breast. (Courtney) Miller also had season-best times in both backs. Our fliers continue to race well. Overall, it was a very strong day for us and now it's time to get ready for the Big 12 Championships.”
In the women’s 200-yard medley relay, the Mountaineers took second and third. The relay team of Amelie Currat, Jenelle Zee, Julie Ogden and Jaime Gillmore finished second in 1:45.23.
The women’s 100-yard backstroke saw a second-place finish by Courtney Miller and a third-place result from Amelie Currat in 56.72 and 57.45, respectively.
In the women’s 200-yard IM, Taylor Gill raced to a second-place finish in 2:09.67. To conclude the meet, the Mountaineer 200-yarad freestyle relay team of Currat, Celia Martinez, Ogden and Gillmore finished second in 1:37.54.
The women and men will take a three-week break from competition prior to the 2015 Big 12 Championships from Feb. 25-28, in Austin, Texas.
