University of North Texas Athletics
MGSD Sets Two School Records
2/28/2019 10:22:00 PM | Swimming and Diving
ATLANTA – North Texas Swimming and Diving continued their pursuit of a title at the 2019 Air Force Reserve Conference USA Swimming and Diving Championships Thursday.
"Tonight was one for the record books," head coach Brittany Roth said. "This team did a great job of rising up. Our freshman started showing off what we have to look forward to in the coming years."
Thursday was the first day of competition for the divers in Atlanta. All four Mean Green divers set a new personal best in the 3M with sophomore Meghan Miller leading the way.
"Our divers are doing well," diving Coach Mark Murdock said. "They are staying strong and confident through each dive."
Miller placed sixth overall with a score of 262.70 after a score of 253.85 placed her seventh in prelims. Senior Averie Ruiz won the B Final with a score of 269 placing her ninth overall. Freshman Altaira Wallquist finished the day 12th overall scoring 242.55 and junior Gabryella Silva finished in 13th scoring 238.
"Meghan had a solid day," Murdock said of the Mean Green's highest scorer. "She put up a good score in prelims and made it to the finals. I'm impressed with her consistency and confidence against the tough competition."
The divers earned North Texas a total of 31 team points.
The Mean Green competed in four swimming events Thursday - the 50-yard and 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard IM relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The Mean Green swam well in the 50 free. Senior Kelsey Opiela placed 13th overall in the B-final with a time of 23.62. Senior Emmabeth Jensen swam the A-Final setting a personal record at 23.08. The highlight of the day in the pool was when senior Brittany Thurstin broke her own school record in the 50-yard freestyle. Thurstin turned in a 22.79 in the finals, taking over her own record set in 2018 of 22.99, a mark she beat in the prelims. Her swim earned the Mean Green 17 points.
"They swam hard all the way down to the wire," Roth said. "I think they showed their team spirit and passion for racing."
Sophomore Leigh Faires McGee had the highest finish by a North Texas swimmer in the 500-yard freestyle finals. In the B-final freshmen Bryanna Vasquez and Jordan Gorham swam well. McGee placed fifth overall with 4:52.21 (personal record), earning the team 14 points.
North Texas earned another seven points in the 200 IM finals. Freshman Alvena Walople and junior Jowita Sienczyk finished 13th and 14th with times of 2:05.36 and 2:05.61 respectivley.
The 200-yard freestyle relay rounded out the events on Thursday. North Texas claimed 32 points with a third-place finish by the quad of Thurstin, Sienczyk, Jensen and Opiela. The team crushed the previous school record by over a second finishing with a time of 1:31.88.
North Texas will go into Friday in third place with 183.5 points, trailing Rice who has 273.5 points and leaders FIU who is out in front with 328.5 points.
Action will continue Friday with prelims starting at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m. You can stream the day's action on ESPN+.
"Tonight was one for the record books," head coach Brittany Roth said. "This team did a great job of rising up. Our freshman started showing off what we have to look forward to in the coming years."
Thursday was the first day of competition for the divers in Atlanta. All four Mean Green divers set a new personal best in the 3M with sophomore Meghan Miller leading the way.
"Our divers are doing well," diving Coach Mark Murdock said. "They are staying strong and confident through each dive."
Miller placed sixth overall with a score of 262.70 after a score of 253.85 placed her seventh in prelims. Senior Averie Ruiz won the B Final with a score of 269 placing her ninth overall. Freshman Altaira Wallquist finished the day 12th overall scoring 242.55 and junior Gabryella Silva finished in 13th scoring 238.
"Meghan had a solid day," Murdock said of the Mean Green's highest scorer. "She put up a good score in prelims and made it to the finals. I'm impressed with her consistency and confidence against the tough competition."
The divers earned North Texas a total of 31 team points.
The Mean Green competed in four swimming events Thursday - the 50-yard and 500-yard freestyle, 200-yard IM relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The Mean Green swam well in the 50 free. Senior Kelsey Opiela placed 13th overall in the B-final with a time of 23.62. Senior Emmabeth Jensen swam the A-Final setting a personal record at 23.08. The highlight of the day in the pool was when senior Brittany Thurstin broke her own school record in the 50-yard freestyle. Thurstin turned in a 22.79 in the finals, taking over her own record set in 2018 of 22.99, a mark she beat in the prelims. Her swim earned the Mean Green 17 points.
"They swam hard all the way down to the wire," Roth said. "I think they showed their team spirit and passion for racing."
Sophomore Leigh Faires McGee had the highest finish by a North Texas swimmer in the 500-yard freestyle finals. In the B-final freshmen Bryanna Vasquez and Jordan Gorham swam well. McGee placed fifth overall with 4:52.21 (personal record), earning the team 14 points.
North Texas earned another seven points in the 200 IM finals. Freshman Alvena Walople and junior Jowita Sienczyk finished 13th and 14th with times of 2:05.36 and 2:05.61 respectivley.
The 200-yard freestyle relay rounded out the events on Thursday. North Texas claimed 32 points with a third-place finish by the quad of Thurstin, Sienczyk, Jensen and Opiela. The team crushed the previous school record by over a second finishing with a time of 1:31.88.
North Texas will go into Friday in third place with 183.5 points, trailing Rice who has 273.5 points and leaders FIU who is out in front with 328.5 points.
Action will continue Friday with prelims starting at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 5 p.m. You can stream the day's action on ESPN+.
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