Friday, January 19
Dallas, TX
University of North Texas
107
at
246
SMU (vs SMU)
Photo by: Zach Del Bello
Swim & Dive Has Strong Showing at SMU
1/21/2024 9:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
UNIVERSITY PARK - The UNT swimming and diving team had a preview at the American Athletic Conference Championship on Friday and Saturday as the Mean Green competed in a quad meet against three conference foes at the site of the upcoming conference championship at SMU.
UNT took on SMU, RIce and Tulane in the quad meet and came away with several encouraging finishes and personal bests.
The Mean Green took seven top-3 finishes and several fourth-place showings at the meet, led by junior Shaena McCloud's second-place finish in the 100 freestyle (51.56) and third-place showing in the 50 freestyle (23.86). McCloud also swam the third leg on the 200 freestyle relay team (along with Noelle Marsh, Samantha Robles and Emily Ally) that finished third in 1:37.18.
Junior Kailey Turner and senior Diana Kolb rounded out the third-place finishes in the swim events, as Turner took third in the 200 butterfly (2:04.87) and Kolb was third in the 100 backstroke (56.13). The Mean Green also brought home a pair of third-place finishes in the diving events, as Saylor Hawkins took third in the 3-meter springboard (264.00) and freshman Sydney Guidara finished third in the 1-meter springboard with a score of 249.50.
"This weekend, our athletes had a great showing throughout the weekend of competition," UNT head coach Brittany Roth said. "The consistent work our team members have been putting in is helping them as they continue making steps forward. So many team members swam their best dual meet performances this weekend, a feat that is very difficult in the training cycle of January. Shaena McCloud has been putting in the work in the weight room, and she is reaping the benefits through her power and ability to race fast consistently through each event. Diana Kolb's range in backstroke and IM and her work in and out of the pool and her thoroughness on taking care of her rest and recovery has her swimming better than through the earlier days of her career.
"Kennedy Eichler had an awesome 1,000 freestyle, it is so fun seeing her willingness to go after big goals and bring that mindset to training day in and day out. Kailey Turner has had an amazing season thus far, and this weekend she continued to show her tenacity and toughness. I enjoy watching Kailey own her strength and put herself in a position to attack the back portion of a swim and close with the best of them. Noelle Marsh continues to fight tooth and nail for everything in her path. She is all heart and all grit, there is not one ounce of quit in that girl, and it's the reason our team looks to her leadership. Samantha Robles had an awesome meet and came through for the team in her relay swims and even raced the 200 fly, an event that we put on the shelf for her, and did awesome for the team!"
The Mean Green will have a quick turnaround as they travel to Little Rock for a meet on Saturday, before the conference championship back at SMU on Feb. 22-25.
UNT took on SMU, RIce and Tulane in the quad meet and came away with several encouraging finishes and personal bests.
The Mean Green took seven top-3 finishes and several fourth-place showings at the meet, led by junior Shaena McCloud's second-place finish in the 100 freestyle (51.56) and third-place showing in the 50 freestyle (23.86). McCloud also swam the third leg on the 200 freestyle relay team (along with Noelle Marsh, Samantha Robles and Emily Ally) that finished third in 1:37.18.
Junior Kailey Turner and senior Diana Kolb rounded out the third-place finishes in the swim events, as Turner took third in the 200 butterfly (2:04.87) and Kolb was third in the 100 backstroke (56.13). The Mean Green also brought home a pair of third-place finishes in the diving events, as Saylor Hawkins took third in the 3-meter springboard (264.00) and freshman Sydney Guidara finished third in the 1-meter springboard with a score of 249.50.
"This weekend, our athletes had a great showing throughout the weekend of competition," UNT head coach Brittany Roth said. "The consistent work our team members have been putting in is helping them as they continue making steps forward. So many team members swam their best dual meet performances this weekend, a feat that is very difficult in the training cycle of January. Shaena McCloud has been putting in the work in the weight room, and she is reaping the benefits through her power and ability to race fast consistently through each event. Diana Kolb's range in backstroke and IM and her work in and out of the pool and her thoroughness on taking care of her rest and recovery has her swimming better than through the earlier days of her career.
"Kennedy Eichler had an awesome 1,000 freestyle, it is so fun seeing her willingness to go after big goals and bring that mindset to training day in and day out. Kailey Turner has had an amazing season thus far, and this weekend she continued to show her tenacity and toughness. I enjoy watching Kailey own her strength and put herself in a position to attack the back portion of a swim and close with the best of them. Noelle Marsh continues to fight tooth and nail for everything in her path. She is all heart and all grit, there is not one ounce of quit in that girl, and it's the reason our team looks to her leadership. Samantha Robles had an awesome meet and came through for the team in her relay swims and even raced the 200 fly, an event that we put on the shelf for her, and did awesome for the team!"
The Mean Green will have a quick turnaround as they travel to Little Rock for a meet on Saturday, before the conference championship back at SMU on Feb. 22-25.
Players Mentioned
Backstroke/Freestyle
/ Swimming and Diving
Freestyle/IM
/ Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Swimming and Diving
Diving
/ Swimming and Diving
Backstroke/IM
/ Swimming and Diving
Freestyle
/ Swimming and Diving
Freestyle/Butterfly
/ Swimming and Diving
Butterfly/Freestyle
/ Swimming and Diving
Freestyle/Butterfly
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