Rockets Remain in First After Day Two of MAC Championships
2/26/2010 3:00:00 AM | Women's Swimming and Diving
OXFORD, OH - The No. 37 University of Toledo swimming and diving team concluded the second day of competition at the MAC Championships in first place Thursday night at the Nixon Aquatic Center on the campus of Miami University. The Rockets were led by Jacy Dyer and Carly Harter, as the pair each recorded individual titles on the evening.
Toledo sits first with 260 points, while Ohio is second with 218 points. Rounding out the top five are Eastern Michigan (166), Akron (163) and Buffalo (156).
Dyer set the tone for day two as the Lebanon, Pa., product picked up her second-straight 500 free title in a MAC-record time of 4:44.23. Dyer and Ohio's Amanda Traylor swam a tight race through the first 200 yards, but Dyer pulled away to pick up her first individual win of the meet. Dyer's time is her first NCAA "B" cut time in the event this season, and breaks her record of 4:45.50 she set in last year's championships.
Also scoring major points for the Rockets were junior Laura Heckroth and sophomores Louise Smyth and Claire Leichty. Heckroth finished fourth in a "B" time of 4:48.54, while Smyth came in sixth (4:53.21) and Leichty was seventh (4:53.41).
"I'm really proud of Jacy and the hard work she has put in," Lars Jorgensen, head coach, said. "She had a really good swim."
After having a solid swim during the morning session of the 200 IM, Harter, a freshman, knocked off time from the prelims to come away with first in the event with a career-best time of 2:01.19. Teammate Kelsey Atchison finished behind her in second with a time of 2:03.08.
Senior Ashley Cusack, swimming in the 200 IM "A" final, improved on her season-best time in the event by almost six seconds and took sixth in 2:03.85.
"It's a great accomplishment for a freshman to win a title," Jorgensen said. "Overall, we were very good in the 200 IM with a lot of contributors."
Katie White put together a career-breaking race as the senior set a new Toledo record in the 50 free, finishing sixth in a "B" cut time of 22.95. White broke the school mark set by Leah Woodard in November of 2007 by .01 seconds.
"Katie did a really good job, and being able to break that 23 second barrier for the first time in her life is great," Jorgensen said.
The team of White, Jacque Fate, Amanda Thompson and Harter closed out the evening strong, taking second in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:32.51. That mark just edged the third-place team from Akron by .16 seconds.
Senior Caitlin Cormack reached the 500 free consolation final and scored points for Toledo after finishing 10th in 4:53.13.
A trio of Rockets swam in the 200 IM "B" final, seeing Kenzie Bagan take 11th (2:05.59), Kirsten Smith in 13th (2:06.02) and Laura Lindsay finish 16th (2:07.80).
"Overall, this was a very good day for us," Jorgensen said. "But tomorrow is going to be absolutely critical and we'll have to have some more good swims."
Competition continues at the MAC Championships Friday with the 400 IM, 100 fly, 200 free, 100 breast, 100 back and 400 medley relay.
Team Scores:
1. TOLEDO, 260
2. Ohio, 218
3. Eastern Michigan, 166
4. Akron, 163
5. Buffalo, 156
6. Miami, 150
7. Ball State, 77
8. Bowling Green, 70
Contact: Scott Miles
scott.miles@utoledo.edu
Players Mentioned
