Swimming & Diving
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photo courtesy of University of North Texas
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NT S&D Holds Lead Headed Into Day Three |
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DAY TWO RESULTS ATTACHED AT THE BOTTOM ROCKWALL, Texas - Powered by a monster 500 yard freestyle, the North Texas swimming and diving team leads the pack heading into day three of the action in the final Sun Belt Conference Swimming & Diving Championships. "I feel good going into day three," head coach Joe Dykstra said. "It was going to be between us and Western Kentucky heading into day three and to have that lead is great." Freshman Jana Burkard, sophomore Kimmy Phillips and senior Catia Weickgenant all broke school records as well as conference records and placed third, second and first with their 500 free times. Catching and eventually surpassing the opposition late in the race, Weickgenant's first place time of 4:46.01 broke her own Sun Belt record from her first-place finish during last year's SBC championships. "Those three winning the 500 was a huge swing for us," coach Dykstra said. "They have been training for that all year so it was really great to see them get that done." The three 500 free times are also B-cut qualifying times for the NCAA's. Other notable performances during day two's action included the fourth place finish for sophomore Krista Rossum, who notched a 2:00.36 on the 200 yard IM, an NCAA 'B' cut time. Senior Becca Ploetz was the top performer for North Texas in the 50 free with a 23.55 time. And the NT 200 yard freestyle relay team consisting of Rossum, freshman Bianca Bocsa, Ploetz and freshman Michelle Balcaen placed second with a final mark of 1:33.55. Catherine Johnson was the strongest showing for the Mean Green on the boards with a third place finish in the 3-meter. "Having the leads means nothing and wins nothing at this point," coach Dykstra reiterated. "But you would rather be in first than not." North Texas returns to the pool on Friday morning for day three preliminaries. |
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