Day Two of WAC Meet Ends Early
2/27/2020 2:19:00 PM | Men's Swimming and Diving, Women's Swimming and Diving, Swimming and Diving
A major water main break in the city of Houston closed the University of Houston campus, which is hosting the WAC Championships in the CRWC Natatorium, and forced the cancelation of Thursday's evening sessions. After a vote of the coaches, it was decided to score Thursday's preliminary races as timed finals. The 200-yard freestyle relays that were originally scheduled for Thursday night will now take place at the start of Friday's evening session, which is now scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Pacific.
In addition, the men's 1-meter and the women's 3-meter dive finals, which were originally scheduled for Thursday night will now take place on Friday. As a result, the men's Platform dive, which was originally scheduled for Friday, will now take place on Saturday along with the women's Platform dive.
UPDATE: A major water break which has closed the University of Houston campus has forced the WAC to cancel Thursday's evening session of the 2020 WAC Swimming and Diving Championship. The WAC will provide more information regarding the remainder of the meet when made available.
— The Western Athletic Conference (@WACsports) February 27, 2020
As a result, four Lancers logged top-eight finishes by virtue of their performances in prelim competition Thursday morning. Four women accomplished the feats in the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley.
3⃣ Lancers are coming back to swim in the 500-yard freestyle championship final tonight.
— CBU Swimming & Diving (@CBUswim) February 27, 2020
Mackenzie Mergel (4:53.79, second), Mackenzie Degn (4:56.27, fifth) and Rebeca Oviedo (4:58.46, eighth) all logged top-8⃣ times in prelims.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/VrI090Mweb
In the 500 free, Mackenzie Mergel, Mackenzie Degn and Rebeca Oviedo all logged top-eight times. Mergel took second place with a new personal record time of four minutes, 53.79 seconds that ranks fifth in CBU's top-10 history. Degn clocked a 4:56.27 that was good for fifth, while Oviedo's 4:58.46 was good for eighth. Kylie Morrison finished ninth with a personal-best of 4:59.40 that ranks ninth in program history.
Isabella Rhodes also took second in the 200 IM prelims, with a 2:02.32 – just off her PR of 2:02.11. Emily Longfellow took ninth with a 2:05.96.
Isabella Rhodes posts the second-best time in the 200 IM prelims to qualify for the championship final. Her time of 2:02.32 is not far off her PR of 2:02.11.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/HIeFXKMJpb
— CBU Swimming & Diving (@CBUswim) February 27, 2020
For the second day in a row, Kiree Lowe punched her ticket to the championship round on the boards. She placed sixth in the 3-meter prelims with a score of 250.40. Savannah Uhlir (229.40) and Madeline Wiese (229) finished back-to-back in ninth and 10th, with Uhlir's score being just 1.1 points off the eighth and final spot for the finals.
Kiree Lowe is headed back to the championship finals! The sophomore took sixth in the 3-meter prelims with a score of 250.40.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/xpOaHlzHlF
— CBU Swimming & Diving (@CBUswim) February 27, 2020
Evan Honer was the lone representative on the men's side to reach the championship final by taking fourth on the 1-meter board (276). Tyler Stevens took 13th in the consolation finals, with a 262.80, while Zane Freeman took 15th (247.15).
Evan Honer qualifies for the 1-meter dive championship finals. The freshman ended prelims in fourth place with a score of 276.#LanceUp⚔️ pic.twitter.com/NOmlsosgqB
— CBU Swimming & Diving (@CBUswim) February 27, 2020
Three Lancers finished top-16 in the 200 IM. Joe Molinari and Robert Moseley both clocked season bests in the event, with Molinari taking 10th in 1:49.14 and Moseley 11th in 1:49.21. Those times rank sixth and seventh in CBU history. Sean Foster took 14th in 1:49.52.
Jacob Leahy and Josh Walters both qualified for the consolation finals in the 50 free. Leahy took ninth in 20.18 and Walters came in 14th in 20.34. Leahy was just .07 of a second off his PR.
Quinn Birtles logged a personal best in the 500 free, with a 4:26.92. It ranks third in CBU history and was good for ninth place in the event.
Updates regarding the opening of the University of Houston can be found at http://alerts.uh.edu/. The WAC will post any further updates at WACsports.com and the WAC's Twitter and Facebook pages.
Day Two Results
Players Mentioned
