University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Swimming & Diving Opens CCSA Championship With Podium and Multiple Broken Records
02.20.2019 | Women's Swimming & Diving
WEDNESDAY'S RESULTS
LYNCHBURG, Va. - Behind a second-place finish in the 800 freestyle relay and several broken records, the UNC Asheville women's swimming & diving team posted a successful day to open the 2019 CCSA Championships inside the Liberty Natatorium on Wednesday. Â
BULLDOG BITES
Relays
200 Medley Relay
In the first relay event of the CCSA Championships, the UNC Asheville swimming & diving team broke a school record that has been standing for four years. In fact, it was the longest active record entering the championship meet. However, that mark fell on Wednesday night, as Emma Nelson, Morgan Rulevich, Anna Nabors and Adee Weller shattered that mark by nearly a second. The four Bulldogs clocked a 1:43.85 time en route to a sixth-place finish.
Lily Sullivan, Marlee Burgess, Katie Brown and Elizabeth Conte also swam in the relay event, as they combined for a 1:51.11.
800 Freestyle Relay
One of the biggest highlights for the Bulldogs was earning its first relay podium in program history. Behind a school record time of 7:24.42, Rulevich, Catherine Allen, Skylar Rogan and Weller shattered the previous school record by nearly four seconds. The four Bulldogs earned second-place honors and 62 crucial team points in the standings. The previous school record was set last year at the CCSA Championships in Athens, Ga.
With her leadoff leg, Rulevich also broke the school record in the 200 freestyle. She held the previous-best time with a 1:51.17, but she broke that school record again this year with a 1:50.88 mark.Â
Diving
For the first time in program history, UNC Asheville had three divers compete at the CCSA Championships. Kerigan Martin, Megan Almond and Veronica Judson all performed at the championship meet. Martin led the trio with a 22nd-place finish place, while Almond and Judson finished closely behind Martin. The Bulldog trio combined for 18Â team points during the record-breaking day for UNC Asheville.
Time Trials
100 Butterfly
For the third time on Wednesday, another school record fell, as Madison Rogan posted a 55.66 time in the 100 fly. The junior bested the previous school record by 0.82 seconds.Â
Madison-Grace Bristow also raced in the trials, and the senior swam a 1:04.47 time.
200 Freestyle Relay
Four freshmen broke the 200 freestyle freshman record that has been standing since the 2013 CCSA Championships. Alexis Baker, Hannah Bruno, MacKenzie Humphrey and Nabors combined for a 1:38.15 time in the event. That time bested the previous freshman school record by over four seconds.Â
With Baker's leadoff performance of 24.84, she set a lifetime best mark for the rookie.
50 Backstroke
Senior Nelson and freshman Sullivan swam in the 50 backstroke. Nelson led the duo with a 26.80 time, while Sullivan posted a 28.11.
50 Butterfly
Brown raced in the 50 butterfly trials, and the senior clocked a 27.40.
200 Individual Medley
Senior Sydney VandenBerg clocked a lifetime best mark in the 200 IM, as she clocked a 2:10.43 time.
100 Breaststroke
Rookie swimmer Ellis Nelson competed in the 100 breaststroke, and she earned a 1:09.12.Â
Quotable
"Although inclement weather shifted our schedule a bit today, the ladies stepped up their game and came ready to compete on day one. Setting four school records in this short session really sets the stage for the start of individual events tomorrow morning. We are prepared to race and are looking forward to the competition."
- Head Swimming & Diving Coach Elizabeth Lykins -Â
What's Next?
Day two of the CCSA Championships commences on Thursday at 10 a.m. with the women's 500 freestyle. The finals of the events on Thursday will start at 6 p.m. in the Liberty Natatorium.
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Players Mentioned
