WSU Swimming Grabs Lead In Day One of Arkansas Invite

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.– The Washington State University women’s swim team jumped to the lead Friday during day one of the three-day Arkansas Invitational. WSU scored 358 points in the first day of competition to take the lead over host Arkansas with 262 and Houston with 212.

Three WSU school records, including the fastest 200 freestyle relay time in the nation this season, and 14 times on the school’s all-time top-10 list for individual events highlighted the day’s competition.

Washington State jumped out to a quick start in the 200 freestyle relay, with the Cougar team of Taryn Ternent, Rachel Dong, Lindsay Henahan and Andree-Anne LeRoy winning in a time of 1:32.82. The performance set a WSU record for the event, breaking the old mark of 1:33.95 set at last season’s Pac-10 Championships, and is the fastest time in the nation this season according to the College Swim Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). The Washington State team of Sara Schmied, Christina Swanson, Sasha Taylor and Theresa Dunn placed third in the event with a time of 1:35.91.

“It was amazing to watch this team come alive tonight,” Dong said. “Everyone gave it up in their races and swam aggressively. Our 200 free relay as of tonight is number one in the country, and to be a part of that was awesome.”

“I am so proud to be a part of this team because we are constantly improving. The 200 free relay was amazing,” Henahan said. “We all expected to swim fast, but to reach this point in November is a great sign of what's to come.”

WSU literally re-wrote the school’s all-time top-10 list in the 500 freestyle. Junior Rebecca Cohen recorded the fastest time in the prelims (4:58.36), good enough for second on the school list, then placed fourth overall in the finals. Freshman Jadine Louw recorded the best finish for WSU in the event, placing third in 4:58.75, moving into third place on the school list for the 500 free. Other Cougars swimming well were sophomore Sasha Taylor placing fifth in 4:59.22 (4th WSU all-time), sophomore Semah Zavareh placing sixth in 5:00.61 (5th WSU all-time), junior Jill Olson placing seventh in 5:01.25 (7th WSU all-time), and sophomore Katie Byrnes placing ninth in 5:02.41 (8th WSU all-time).

A trio of Cougar sophomores placed one-two-three in the 200 individual medley. Andree-Anne LeRoy broke her own school record in the event, winning with a time of 2:02.74 to rank No. 11 nationally according to the CSCAA. Rachel Dong placed second in 2:06.55 (2nd WSU all-time), and Nicole Chin grabbed third in 2:07.92 (7th WSU all-time).

“I am very happy because I wanted to win and break the record in the relay and the 200IM,” LeRoy said. “I am very impressed with this team's performances thus far, it is very exciting to see the team succeed.”

WSU sophomore Taryn Ternent won the 50 freestyle with a No. 13 nationally ranked time of 23.42 seconds. Junior Lindsay Henahan placed third in 23.76 seconds, and sophomore Christina Swanson finished fifth with a time of 24.18 to rank her eighth on WSU’s all-time list.

" I was very proud of our team tonight and excited to see everyone make such big breakthroughs especially at this time of the year,” Ternent said. “Our relay expected to swim fast and we are on track to make the NCAA's in this event.”

Washington State continued to swim strongly, winning the final event of the day, the 400 medley relay. The victorious Cougar team of Byrnes, Swanson, Melissa Hubley and Henahan clocked a time of 3:47.97, currently ranking No. 16 in the nation.

Also swimming in an exhibition event, Katie Byrnes broke the Washington State record for the 100 backstroke with a time of 56.74 seconds. Sasha Taylor also tied the school record for the 100 back at 58.24 seconds.

“I am excited with the time i posted tonight, it felt great to get the 100backstoke record at the same time,” Byrnes said.

Competition continues tomorrow, Nov. 30, with 10 a.m. CST prelims and 6 p.m. finals of the 400 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, and 100 backstroke.

Arkansas Invitational
Fayetteville, Arkansas
(all distances in yards)

TEAM SCORING:
Washington State (WSU) 358, Arkansas (UA) 262, Houston (UH) 212

DAY ONE FINALS RESULTS:
(top three places and all WSU finishers)

200 MEDLEY RELAY:
1. WSU (A)-(Ternent, Dong, Henahan, LeRoy) 1:32.82
2. UA (A) 1:35.29
3. WSU (B)-(Schmied, Swanson, Taylor, Dunn) 1:35.91

1000 FREESTYLE:
1. Whitney Lynn (UA) 4:56.33
2. Cheyne Bees (UA) 4:58.69
3. Jadine Louw (WSU) 4:58.75
4. Rebecca Cohen (WSU) 4:58.79
5. Sasha Taylor (WSU) 4:59.22
6. Semah Zavareh (WSU) 5:00.61
7. Jill Olson (WSU) 5:01.25
9. Katie Byrnes (WSU) 5:02.41
10. Melissa Hubley (WSU) 5:03.72

200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY:
1. Andree-Anne LeRoy (WSU) 2:02.74
2. Rachel Dong (WSU) 2:06.55
3. Nicole Chinn (WSU) 2:07.92
7. Theresa Dunn (WSU) 2:13.90

50 FREESTYLE:
1. Taryn Ternent (WSU) 23.42
2. Peggy Stoner (UA) 23.59
3. Lindsay Henahan (WSU) 23.76
5. Christina Swanson (WSU) 24.18
6. Sara Schmied (WSU) 24.28

400 MEDLEY RELAY:
1. WSU (A)-(Byrnes, Swanson, Hubley, Henahan) 3:47.97
2. UA (A) 3:51.34
3. WSU (B)-(Taylor, Chin, Irwin, Schmied) 3:59.03

–www.wsucougars.com–

Adam Love
Washington State University
Sports Information Department

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