University of North Texas
Sun Belt Championships
Weickgenant Sets New SBC Record
2/23/2012 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
Half way through the championships, North Texas has 234 points, trailing Denver (275) and Western Kentucky (256).
"Tonight we performed well," commented Dykstra. "We set school records in the 500 free and 200 IM. Across the board we generally moved up the board from where we were qualified this morning. Based on this morning's qualifying, we should have 15 points less then we do now."
7:48 p.m.- In the final event of day two, North Texas grabbed a bronze medal in the 200 free relay (1:33.91) and jolted up the record books to the second fastest time in program history.
7:01 p.m.- Becca Ploetz pushed a 23.87 in the 50 free, beating her fastest time set last year at the Sun Belt Conference Championships (24.19).
6:44 p.m.- In the 200 IM, Krista Rossum recorded a program best and NCAA "B" cut time 2:00.65. The fourth place-finishing freshman has broken the 200 IM school record three times this season.
"Krista struggled this morning and really turned it on tonight coming out with vengeance in the 200 IM. She had the fastest breaststroke split in the field by a full second, which speaks volumes for the remaining breastsroke events."
6:14 p.m.- Catia Weickgenant was crowned the 500 free champion and NCAA "B" cut qualifier after setting a new Sun Belt Conference and meet record in 4:47.01, topping her SBC record of 4:48.89 set on December 1, 2011 at the Mizzou Invitational. Hiliary Riedmann and Kimmy Phillips clocked new personal best times in the 500 free at 4:48.84 and 4:51.44. Riedmann, who took the remaining spot on the podium earning a bronze medal, would have owned the fastest SBC and meet time if Weickgenant had not been racing. With a one, three, five finish, North Texas extended its lead over second place Denver 167-140.
"The girls in the 500 free final all swam their best and timed new personal bests. Going first, third, and fifth is huge with Hiliary under the old record as well at third place"
12:08 p.m.- Seabre Pope timed a 23.75 in the 50 free prelims, qualifying for the finals along with Becca Ploetz (24.05) and Shannen Wehrman. In the three preliminary events, ten out of the 14 Mean Green swimmers qualified for finals.
11:26 a.m.- Hiliary Riedmann won the 500 free prelims in 4:49.73, less than one second off the Sun Belt record set earlier this season by Catia Weickgenant (4:48.89). Riedmann chopped over five seconds off her personal best in the 500 free, surpassing her 4:54.81 at the 2009 Sun Belt Conference Championships. All five North Texas swimmers qualified for the finals.
The Mean Green continue their pursuit of their first Sun Belt Conference Championship tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. at the Rockwall ISD Natatorium. The schedule of events and live results can be followed at www.sunbeltsports.org.
Players Mentioned
