Akron Invite: Day Two

AKRON, Ohio, December 6. THE University of Akron swimming and diving team used impressive showings in the final three races at day two of the 2009 Zippy Invitational to catapult themselves two slots up to number one. The Zips were third heading into tonight's finals but rattled off a run at the end of the session to claim a 19-point lead with a team score of 902 points. Ohio University and the University at Buffalo trail in second and third with respective scores of 883 and 869.

The Zips began maneuvering their way into first place with a 1-2 collaborative effort in the 100-yard backstroke event. Senior Kendall Karchner narrowly missed breaking the meet record as she finished in 56.74 ahead of teammate and freshman Kelsea Cross who finished second, with a 57.19 timestamp in heat "A". Freshmen Molly Raspopovich and Rebecca Emerich chipped in with respective fifth and seventh place finishes in the "C" consolation. Raspopovich finished with a time of 1:00.23 while Emerich swam the race in 1:00.45.

The UA divers kept the Zips moving in a positive direction as five members finished amongst the top-15 divers competing. Sophomore Leeanna Hoover dove into third place in the 3-meter stanza with a score of 281.70 to lead the Zips. Junior Amanda Angeloff finished the event in seventh place with a score of 222.55 while sophomore Aubrey Akromas and junior Jacquie Paumier finished ninth (216.20) and 12th(183.20) respectively. Junior Jayne Malloy rounded out the divers in 14th place with a score of 180.70.

Akron wrapped up the evening and cemented their first place finish through day two with an exhilarating performance in the 800-yard freestyle relay, pulling ahead of Shippensburg and Illinois State to take second place in a time of 7:39.23. Seniors Stephanie Zielinski and Julia Gregos, freshman Rebecca Zimmer and senior Cathryn Collins all shared duties on the swim, churning out 200 yards each.

The Zips began the night with the 200-yard medley relay, which saw the respective "A" and "B" relay teams take fourth and 10th place. Karchner, junior Julie Reynolds, sophomore Jessica Ickes and freshman Katie Miles collaborated for the 1:47.36 finish to secure fourth place. The "B" relay, consisting of Cross, freshman Rachel Szymkowiak, Collins and sophomore Meg Finnerty finished 10th with a 1:50.09 timestamp.

Reynolds was the lone swimmer in the 400-yard individual medley where she earned an eighth place finish with a time of 4:38.39 in heat "A".

Moving onto the 100-yard butterfly, Miles won the "B" heat, finishing first in a time of 57.39 while senior Kylie Bombrys earned a second place finish in the consolation heat with a 59.11 timestamp. Rachel Heim of Ohio would tap in first, in record-breaking fashion, shattering her own record of 55.91 set last year, with a time of 55.59.

Collins narrowly missed victory in the 200-yard freestyle, taking second in a time of 1:52.63, just six tenths behind Kari Peglar of Xavier (1:52.03).

In the 100-yard breaststroke, Zielinski finished fourth in heat "A" with a time of 1:06.22 while Szymkowiak also finished fourth in the consolation heat with a time of 1:09.64.

Another record-breaking night at Ocasek Natatorium saw five event records and three pool records fall this evening. Ohio's Heim claimed the event record in the 100-yard butterfly, Buffalo's 200-yard medley team set a meet and pool standard of 1:44.92 on the women's side. The men broke four meet records and two pool records on the evening as well.

The men of Xavier University lead with a team score of 1102.5, trailed by the University at Buffalo with 951 points and Clarion University with 860.5 points.

The Zippy Invitational resumes tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. for the final preliminary round of the event. Tomorrow afternoon's finals are slated for 4 p.m.

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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