Marshall University Athletics
Marshall University
Nike Cup
Swimming and Diving Post Big Day One in Nike Cup
11/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Marshall University sits in fifth place after day one of the 2015 Nike Cup hosted at the University of North Carolina. Duke leads the nine team event.
In tonight's Final, Marshall improved on its qualifying times in 12 of 14 swims. Once again, freshman Anna Lynch led the way, powering to a 4th place tie in the 500 Freestyle with NC State's Rachel Muller (4:49.37). Lynch's time is now the 2nd fastest in school history. The time reset Conference USA's season leading time set by Lynch earlier today.
Also strong for the Herd, Madi Pulfer finished 12th (4:54.13), Brittany Wilkerson was 20th with a Lifetime Best (4:59.05), Savannah Ruedt (22nd - 5:01.48), Teel Hartmann (24th - 5:02.86), Nele Albers (29th - 5:01.25) and Laura Bradley rounded out the 500 with a Lifetime Best 5:05.44 for 31st.
Fellow freshman, Caroline Wanner won the Consolation Final of the 200 IM, also resetting the C-USA season best of 2:02.62. That time moves Wanner into the second fastest on Marshall's All-Time list. In addition to Wanner, Emma Lockyer finished 27th (2:06.50), Mikaya Reynolds (29th - 2:07.03), and Maddie Schaffer (30th - 2:07.37).
Marshall also won the Bonus Final of the 50 Freestyle. Lauren Cowher touched the wall in a Lifetime Best 23.41, which is another Conference USA No. 1 time this season. Gloria Mavrova finished 26th (23.58) and Chloe Parsemain was 28th (23.89).
In 3-meter diving, Megan Wolons was the top scorer for Marshall, finishing 15th with a score of 275.10. Kelly Toner was 21st (229.70), Heather Lonkert (23rd - 218.90).
Team scores:
Duke 555
North Carolina 480
Yale 472
NC State 402.5
Marshall 234.5
East Carolina 215
Old Dominion 153
Clemson 43
James Madison 24
Session three begins Friday at 9:30 a.m. with the 400 IM, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, 100 Backstroke and 1-Meter Diving. The finals will start at 5:30 p.m.
TRAMEL TALK
Coach Bill Tramel on the session:
"Tonight was another fantastic session. Anna Lynch is really on fire right now. She had a 4:49 in the 500. Her best before today was 4:57. Anytime you are dropping that kind of time it's special. Really, I'm not all that shocked. Well, a little, with 4:49, but I see signs of this every day in practice. Swimming is a sport in which you get what you pay for, almost always. Anna has certainly invested in the hard work every day in practice. This is the reward. And the smile on her face is the payback for me as a coach."
"But Anna's not the only one. We had many great swims and dives tonight. Caroline Wanner in the IM and our sprint crew swimming the No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 fastest times in Conference USA this year. Wow! I'm really proud of what we did tonight but we have two more days to go. I expect us to be better as we go because I think we feel a little bit more confident after today. We are going toe-to-toe against some of the best teams in the country and not just hanging in, but beating them in some events. We need to be ready and awake in the morning so we can have more fun tomorrow night."
#BEHERD
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The Nike Cup resumes on Friday with preliminaries at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 5:30 p.m.
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