FIU’s Johanna Gustafsdottir, ODU’s Sidni Hoxha With Meet Records at Conference USA Champs

ATLANTA, Georgia, February 27. A pair of meet marks fell during Thursday night at the Conference USA Championships being held in Atlanta on the campus of Georgia Tech University.

After Thursday night’s competition, Rice led the women’s team title race with 339 points, while Florida International stood second with 227 points. Western Kentucky (217), East Carolina (164) and North Texas (147) comprised the top five. Florida Atlantic (142), Tulane (137), Old Dominion (135) and Marshall (117) also scored for the women.

WKU leads the way on the men’s side with 397 points, while East Carolina (339), Old Dominion (325) and Florida Atlantic (226) are the other teams in the men’s field.

Icelandic National Teamer Johanna Gustafsdottir, who swims for FIU, took down the first meet record of the night with a swift 1:57.94 in the women’s 200-yard IM. That swim eclipsed the previous mark of 1:58.08 set by SMU’s Therese Svendsen back in 2012. Gustafsdottir’s performance also led a foursome of NCAA B cuts in the event. Rice’s Shelly Patton picked up second in 1:58.99, while WKU’s Nadine Laemmler (1:59.92) and Allie Duff (2:01.41) also posted provisional times.

Another meet record fell in the men’s 50-yard free when ODU’s Sidni Hoxha stopped the clock in a strong 19.41. That swim beat the 19.53 set by SMU’s Thomas Fadnes back in 2009. WKU’s Heitor Rodrigues (19.90) and East Carolina’s Nikola Simic (20.13) also cleared the NCAA B cut in the finale.

Rice’s Erin Flanigan opened the night with a 4:44.53 to take down the women’s 500-yard freestyle finale, and earn an NCAA B cut in the process. FIU’s Sonia Perez Arau checked in with a second-place time of 4:45.06, that also beat the B cut, while North Texas’ Jana Burkard rounded out the top three in 4:48.92.

Western Kentucky’s Cody Reul raced his way to victory in the men’s 500-yard free with a 4:23.97 to lead a trio of NCAA B cuts in the middle distance event. East Carolina’s Michael Dugan finished second in 4:24.47, while his teammate Julien Dodu touched third in 4:24.78.

WKU’s Fabien Schwingenschlogl nearly cracked the meet record in the men’s 200-yard IM with a time of 1:45.81. That performance just missed Ian Clark’s 2006 mark of 1:45.70 set while swimming for SMU. East Carolina’s Frank Krznaric (1:47.11) and Attila Kiraly (1:47.90) checked in second and third behind the German.

Tulane’s Mia Schachter touched out WKU’s Pagie Drazga, 22.90 to 22.96, to win the women’s 50-yard free with both swimmers bettering the NCAA B standard. East Carolina’s Ana Amoiroglou rounded out the podium with a third-place time of 23.05.

In diving action, ODU’s Rachel Eckert won the three-meter event with 294.30 points, while FIU’s Sabrina Beaupre picked up second with 293.70 points. ECU’s Colleen Jones rounded out the top three with 291.90 points in what proved to be an exciting final round.

Rice’s Cora McKenzie, Marissa Konicke, Chelsea Fong and Kierly Steinhouse topped the women’s 200-yard free relay to end the night with a 1:31.52. FIU’s Gustafsdottir, Jennifer Alfani, Jenny Deist and Klara Andersson finished second in 1:32.09 with Tulane’s Jonna Frantz, Cari Caprio, Amy Needham and Mia Schachter picking up third in 1:33.95.

WKU’s Rodrigues, Richard Russell, Brennan Elsas and Schwingenschlogl took the men’s 200-yard free relay title in 1:20.09. ODU’s Vitor Sa, Eddie Hubert, Jacob Zeidler and Hoxha placed second in 1:20.38 with Hoxha posting a 19.06 anchor. East Carolina’s Simic, Shawn Hunter, Dugan, and Trevor Irish placed third in 1:20.74.

Results For: Conference USA; Day Two

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