UW Achieves Seven More NCAA Times, One Automatic
November 30, 2007 | Women's Swimming & Diving
The No. 19 UW women's swimming and diving team completed its second-straight successful day at the Texas Invitational on Friday, coming up with one 'A ' time to gain an automatic NCAA tournament bid and six 'B' times to receive NCAA consideration. The meet, which concludes tomorrow, was held in Austin, Texas, at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.
"The women swam really well today," said head coach Eric Hansen. "We have qualified several swimmers for the NCAA Championships so we are above and beyond where we thought we'd be (after today's competition)."
After being disqualified in the event yesterday, UW's 200-yard freestyle relay team of Hannah McClurg (San Diego, Calif.), Jackie Vavrek (W. Chicago, Ill.), Maggie Meyer (North Oaks, Minn.), and Kelsey Gergen (Hastings, Minn.) bounced back in a big way, claiming an 'A' time to earn an automatic NCAA bid with a time of 1:29.70.
Jen Illescas (East Elmhurst, N.Y.) was the first individual of the day to garner a 'B' time. The junior swam a 1:48.29 in the 200-yard freestyle prelims to claim eighth place in the event, along with the NCAA consideration that came with it. In the finals for the same event, Illescas put forth an even better effort, swimming the event in 1:48.10 to improve her chances at an NCAA spot.
Freshman Maggie Meyer struck next. The young star finished in ninth place in prelims for the 100-yard backstroke with a 'B' time of 55.32.
In the very next women's event, Meyer led off UW's 200-yard medley relay team and, along with Rose Morahan, (London, England), Christine Zwiegers (Somerset West, South Africa) and Jackie Vavrek achieved a 'B' time of 1:39.94 to come in third place.
The finals of the 100-yard breaststroke saw sophomore Rose Morahan win the event 's second heat. Morahan too will receive NCAA consideration with the 1:03.23 time she recorded.
In the 100-yard backstroke finals, sophomore Candice Peak (Andover, Mass.) joined teammate Meyer in putting up a 'B' time in the event. Peak finished the race in exactly 56 seconds, good for 14th place.
Finally, the Badgers were able to end the day by going out on top. In the 800-yard freestyle relay, Wisconsin's top team came in second place and achieved the 'B' time of 7:23.23. Jen Illescas, Rose Morahan, Maggie Meyer and Hannah McClurg formed UW's team.
Complete results from the day's events can be found here .
The Badgers will complete their run in the Texas Invitational on Saturday, with the 1,650-yard freestyle, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly and 400-yard freestyle relay set to occur. Competition will start at 10 a.m. at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center in Austin, Texas.
