Pacific Leads Women, Wyoming Leads Men After Day Two of UNLV Winter Invitational

LAS VEGAS, NV, December 21. UNIVERSITY of the Pacific, Wyoming and host UNLV split up the top three spots for both men and women after on the second day of the UNLV Winter Invitational on Sunday, held at Buchanan Natatorium.

The meet, featuring 10 teams, concludes on Monday. Pacific leads the women's teams with 645.5 points, with UNLV in second at 522. Wyoming is third (412), UC Santa Barbara fourth (370.5), San Jose State fifth (304), San Diego State sixth (193), Cal State Northridge seventh (172), and Tennessee eighth (59).

On the men's side, Wyoming leads with 519.5 points, while Pacific is second with 464 and UNLV third at 452.5. UCSB is fourth (443.5), Tennessee fifth (407), and Cal State Northridge sixth (133.5).

Wyoming’s men picked up two school records. Their 4 x 50 Medley Relay (freshman Carl Marais, senior Scott Usher, junior Gene Birks and senior Grant Kritzinger) swam an NCAA “B” cut of 1:30.27; Marais won the 200 Freestyle in 1:37.71, after setting the record with his prelim swim of 1:37.24. The Cowboys also won the 4×200 freestyle relay as Birks, Marais, freshman Henry Holmberg and Kritzinger swam a time of 6:41.88. The Cowboys were also solid on the 3-meter springboard with three in the top five finishers — sophomore John Lynch, senior Adam Miller and sophomore Kevin Bretting.

Usher, a US Olympian in Athens at 200 breaststroke, won the 100 breaststroke in an NCAA “B” qualifying time of 54.11. Birks tied for first with UC Santa Barbara’s Pat Cary in the 100 butterfly with a time of 48.76.

“Today was another awesome day for both teams,” said UW head coach Tom Johnson. “Once again, I am very pleased with our divers performances, they have been carrying us very well. John (Lynch) dove especially well in picking up his Zone qualification. We had some great performances in the pool especially with a new school record and “B” cut in the 200 medley relay and with Carl’s (Marais) new school record in the 200 freestyle. Hopefully the men can hang on and win this invite and the women can stay as solid as they have been.”

Senior Patrick Adams lead the hosts with runner-up finish in the 100 breaststroke (56.15). Other notable individual swims by the Rebels included Julie Babin taking third in the 400 IM (4:26.92), and the women's 800 yard relay second place time of 7:42.23.

"We had some good performances, and are looking better as the meet continues, our efforts in conditioning and fitness are definitely showing off this weekend," said UNLV head coach Jim Reitz

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