Repeat at RMACs

Wednesday, February 11

Grand Junction, CO

9:00 AM

California Baptist University

RMAC Championships

Photo by: Maribel Ramirez

2/14/2015 8:24:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving

By: Andrew Shortall, Asst. Sports Information Director

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Although it has only been a two-year member, California Baptist University has become very comfortable in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. There were a lot of repeat performances from the 2014 to the 2015 conference championship meets, which ended Saturday at Colorado Mesa University.

It all started with CBU's dominant conference championship run, as it tallied 1,053 team points. Host Colorado Mesa finished in second with 748.5 points, edging Lindenwood (740). Not only did the No. 7-ranked Lancers repeat as conference champions, but won five of the six top awards offered by the conference.

Coach Rick Rowland and Mary Hanson reaped RMAC Coach and Swimmer of the Year awards, respectively, in consecutive years. Hanson and Alena Rumiantceva shared swimmer of the meet honors – a first for both athletes. CBU also produced the Diver of the Year/Meet as Lauren Skinner swept the top diving awards in the conference.

"We cleaned up this year, it's awfully nice," Rowland said. "The staff has done a great job this year putting this group together. This coaching award is not about me, it really goes to my entire staff. They do so much, especially for me being a two-sport coach."

Rumiantceva greatly boosted her case for RMAC Swimmer of the Meet honors by producing another NCAA Division II Championship A-cut time of two minutes, 14.02 seconds in the 200-yard breaststroke. It also shattered her previous pool and conference record (2:16.15) set in 2014. The Lancers took fourth, sixth and seventh in the event, as well, with Robin Smallwood (2:22.96), Melody Coleman (2:23.65) and Holly Cox (2:24.61).

After Saturday, Both Hanson and Rumiantceva posted three to four A-cuts this season.

"That's so impressive when they get the a-cuts, you have to be really fast to do that," Rowland said. "Those two have really carried us all year."

Hanson ended the last day in style, shattering the previous pool and conference records – the latter being one she set last year – in the 200-yard backstroke by more than two seconds with a time of one minute, 58.14 seconds. It was good for a consideration time, which Kylie Mihld just missed by taking fourth in 2:05.26.

While Hanson, Rumiantceva and Skinner were crucial in winning races, the Lancers' success at the conference and national level really hinges on the depth it has in events like the 200 breast.

"We brought in some new girls this year to really round out our depth, we are really deep and just getting deeper in every event," Rowland said. "It takes a team at this level, you can have great individuals but you need a lot of other swimmers finishing top eight and top-10 to win conference."

Another record fell on the final event of the meet, with Hanson, Smallwood, Hailey Golden and Patricia Hapsari teaming for a new pool record in the 400-free relay. Their time of 3:25.36 also gave them a strong consideration time.

Skinner ensured her spot as the top diver in the conference by winning another event Saturday, logging 424 points on the 3-meter dive. Breanne Schlenger secured a one-two finish in the event with 421.30 points.

A large part of CBU's depth is its prowess on the diving board, which is speerheaded by Lancer diving Coach Jeff Couto, Rowland said.

"Our diving program is definitely the class of the RMAC, we are sending three women divers to the NCAAs," Rowland said. "Diving points are important, if you look, teams that don't have divers aren't at the top of the podium. We have done a good job of getting the right divers in and Jeff does an outstanding job developing them."

Hapsari won the 100-yard free in a B-cut standard of 51.08. Smallwood (53.01) and Golden (53.65) took seventh and eighth in the race, respectively.

The Lancers also took third and fourth in the 1,650 freestyle, with Christie Halverson and Courtney Chacon clocking in at 17:34.92 and 17:41.32, respectively. Halverson's time was B-cut worthy by more than four seconds.

While there was plenty for CBU to celebrate at the conference level this week, its work is not done. The Lancers are not set for the NCAA Division II Championship in Indianapolis, Ind., on March 11^th to the 14^th. CBU will look to improve on its ninth-place finish in Division II, which stands as aschool best in the NCAA so far.

FINAL RESULTS
PRELIM RESULTS
HIGH-POINT SWIMMERS
HIGH-POINT DIVERS