Rice Relay Makes NCAAs In Time Trial, Ends 14-Year Hiatus

Photo Courtesy: Casey Clark

By Jaecey Parham, Swimming World College Intern

Fourteen years ago was the last time Rice swimming automatically qualified a relay for NCAAs. At Conference USA Championships, four Owls changed that during their record-breaking 200 medley relay. Most notable though is that after barely missing the A-cut during the previous night’s finals, the foursome qualified during a time trial the next morning. The relay is comprised of Alicia Caldwell, Rachel Moody, Casey Clark, and Marissa Konicke.

Alicia Caldwell started the relay off with a backstroke split of 24.97. Caldwell is the freshman rookie of the relay. To conclude her first year at Rice, she already will compete at NCAAs- not everyone has accomplished such a feat. Caldwell said she regards the veteran relay members in high esteem.

“I really looks up to the successful careers my teammates have achieved, and can’t wait to be able to race with them one last time,” Caldwell said. “The race at NCAAs will be bittersweet.”

Rachel Moody, an invaluable breaststroker for the Owls, swam a 26.96. Moody recounts how the relay managed to improve their time by over a second during a time trial. According to Moody, the four went into the time trial knowing they needed to only drop .3 of a second.

“We all talked about it before the time trial and discussed how personally we each thought we could go faster, whether it was improving our turn or having a quicker exchange,” said Moody.

Casey Clark, the Owls’ individual qualifier in the 100 fly, swam her leg in 22.98. Clark focuses on how the qualification is an indicator that the team is on the right track for further success. Clark said the qualification is big for the team in a number of ways.

“Transitioning from having individual qualifiers to having relay representatives really demonstrates the vision Seth Huston has for the future of the team and a relay qualification brings us one step closer to achieving those goals,” Clark said.

Marissa Konicke anchored the relay in a time of 22.13. Konicke previously swam her split in 22.4, but was able to drop down even further during the time trial. Konicke said she credits the other relay members to help her have that extra power.

“After seeing how fast they were swimming, when I dove in I was inspired and motivated to push myself to go even faster,” Konicke said. “We didn’t need anyone else in the pool to race, we had each other.”

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Nancy Loveless Hinrichs

9 years ago

Congrats Rice… Great job!!

Mary Liston

9 years ago

Nice work ladies – congrats seth

Bill Morling

9 years ago

It sounds as if a certain St. Charles (Il.) might help them improve their record.