AKRON, Ohio, December 7. – Three grueling days of competition drew to a close at Ocasek Natatorium this evening as the Zips came together to make their mark, clinching a third place finish in the 2009 Zippy Invitational with a team score of 1189. Akron kept familiar company in the top-three as Mid-American Conference foe Ohio University claimed the top slot for the second consecutive year with a team score of 1318. The University at Buffalo trailed in second with a score of 1225 points to wrap up the top three performers this season.<\/p>\n
Xavier University captured the title in the men's competition with a convincing 1578.5 points. The University at Buffalo followed in second place with 1327.5 while St. Bonaventure University finished third with 1212.5 points.<\/p>\n
The lengthy mile swim (1650-yard freestyle) got tonight's finals underway and saw senior Julia Gregos tap in 10th with a time of 17:41.38 in tonight's "A" heat. Fellow senior Madelyn Robinson went on to finish in a time of 18:13.10 for a 22nd place finish on the night.<\/p>\n
Senior Kendall Karchner managed a third place finish in the 200-yard backstroke for the Zips' highest place in the event, recording a 2:04.90 mark. Freshman Kelsea Cross tapped in with a 2:05.94 mark to finish fifth behind Karchner in heat "A". The consolation round saw freshman Rebecca Emerich and Rebecca Zimmer swim into fourth and fifth place with respective times of 2:09.04 and 2:09.56.<\/p>\n
Kaitlyn Johnson of Clarion University and Chelsey Bower of Ohio combined to break the meet record in the 100-yard freestyle, sharing the victory in the "A" heat with a time of 51.18. Freshman Katie Miles and senior Stephanie Zielinski placed fifth and sixth with back-to-back finishes in times of 52.49 and 52.92 respectively. Sophomore Meg Finnerty claimed a sixth place finish in the bonus race with a time of 53.95.<\/p>\n
The 200-yard breaststroke saw a pair of Zips take sixth and seventh as junior Julie Reynolds and freshman Rachel Szymkowiak finished with respective times of 2:28.94 and 2:29.46.<\/p>\n
Cathryn Collins turned up the heat in the last individual race of the meet for the women, warding off swimmers from Clarion and Ohio to capture the victory in a time of 2:04.56. Fellow senior Kylie Bombrys achieved a similar feat, winning the consolation heat in a time of 2:11.01.<\/p>\n
The meet ended with the 400-yard freestyle relay, which was neck and neck for most of the race. Ohio claimed the victory and event record with a time of 3:27.03, relinquishing the Zips to second place in a time of 3:29.50. Miles, Finnerty, Collins and Zielinski all tapped in with a 3:29.50 timestamp for the "A" team. Akron's "B" relay, including sophomore Jessica Ickes, senior Melissa Gary, junior Brigid Wolf and Gregos finished with a time of 3:37.21 to take 11th place.<\/p>\n
The Zippy Invitational marks the end of competition for the Zips in 2009. Akron will return to the pool, ushering in 2010 with a meet at St. Francis (Pa.) on January 9th in Loretto, Pa.<\/p>\n
The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine<\/i>. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World<\/i> offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World<\/i> reserves the right to choose what material is posted.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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