CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION – The 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Swimming & Diving Championship will take place February 13-15 at the Dr. Edward Shea Natataorium on the campus of Southern Illinois University.
Day One Recap
The University of Evansville took home the first award of the night. The team of Danielle Freeman, Sam Montgomery, Abby Smith, and Michelle Tipton claimed first-place in the 200 yard freestyle relay in a time of 1.33.23. Southern Illinois came in second (1:33.48) with Illinois State in third (1:33.93).
The 500 yard freestyle was an exciting event as only two seconds separated first and second-place. Dora Kiss, a sophomore from Missouri State, took gold with her time of 4:51.52. Pamela Benitez came in a close second with her 4:53.50 finish. Michelle Tipton of Evansville came in third (4:57.02).
Missouri State senior Renata Sander claimed the 200y IM gold, matching her MVC record time from a year ago (2:03.18). In second place was Illinois State's Courtney Taylor (2:03.88), and in third was Sander's teammate, Briana Horozewski (2:04.84).
The 50y freestyle race came down to the wire, and still there was no single winner. Kate Gately of Missouri State and Marissa Yontz of Illinois State tied for first place, both registering a time of 23.17 seconds. Danielle Freeman of Evansville took third (23.33)
In the first diving final of the Championship, Southern Ilinois' Sherry Zhang took home top honors with a score of 346.25, breaking the championship and pool record. Last year's champion, Wenting Zhang of Illinois State, took second place (343.00). Southern Illinois' Esther Chen came in third (324.05).
Missouri State took a commanding lead in the final race of the night and never let it go. The Bears' squad of Anna Ahlin, Renata Sander, Roni Balzam, and Kate Gately finished the 400 yard medley relay in 3:42.83, breaking the MVC Championship record. Illinois State came in second with their time of 3:46.62 and Southern Illinois claimed third-place (3:48.62).
Scores after Day 1: Missouri State 299.5, Southern Illinois 204, Illinois State 192.5, Evansville 139, UNI 102, UALR 63
Day Two Recap
Two records were broken in the prelims this morning and afternoon, with both athletes breaking their own records. Renata Sander set the new MVC Record for the 100y Breaststroke with a time of 1:01.45. In the 3 Meter Dive, Sherry Zhang shattered her record of 351.60 from a year ago with a score of 401.00.
Missouri State started day 2 exactly how they finished, in first-place. Setting a new championship record, Anna Ahlin, Renata Sander, Roni Balzam, and Kate Gately finished in 1:41.19. Illinois State came in second-place with a time of 1:42.50 and Evansville took third (1:44.31).
Briana Horozewski of Missouri State took home gold in the 400y IM, with a time of 4:20.58, less than one second off MVC Record pace. She was over three seconds better than the second place finisher. Cecilia Holms, ILS (4:23.92) and last year's champion Dora Kiss, MSU (4:26.29) took second and third, respectively.
Lexi Nash of Illinois State took gold in the 100 yard butterfly touching in 55766. Her teammate Kristin Verkler came in second-place with a time of 56.17 and Missouri State's Emily Chesser claimed third (56.40).
Pamela Benitez brought home gold in the 200 free for SIU with a time of 1:50.00. Marissa Yontz of Illinois State took second-place with her 1:50.04 finish, only .04 seconds off the championship mark, and Evansville's Michelle Tipton came in third after touching in 1:50.61.
Senior Renata Sander earned the gold in the 100y breaststroke with her time of 1:01.96. Mackenzie Powell of Evansville took silver (1:03.55) with Lauren Powell of Missouri State claiming bronze (1:03.58).
In the 100-yard backstroke, Anna Ahlin from Missouri State finished in 54.38, setting a new MVC record. Sammy Shuckles of Illinois State came in second-place with her time of 56.06 and Megan Holthoff of Missouri State took third-place (56.16).
Day 2 concluded with Illinois State (Marissa Yontz, Kristin Verkler, Laura Paskoff, Cecilia Holmes) taking home the 800 yard freestyle relay with their time of 7:30.81. Southern Illinois took second-place finishing in 7:32.77 and Missouri State was in third (7:33.24).
Scores after Day 2: Missouri State 647.5, Ilinois State 461.5, Southern Illinois 386, Evansville 273, UNI 226, UALR 161
Day Three Recap
Pamela Benitez of Southern Illinois took home first-place in the 1650 yard freestyle finishing in 16:48.23. Heather Snyder of Missouri State came in second-place with her time of 16:57.45 and her teammate, Suzanne Van Rensburg took third (17:03.96).
In the 200 yard backstroke, Anna Ahlin of Missouri State broke her own record with a score of 1:57.59. Following Ahlin for second and third were Briana Horozewski (MSU) and Sarah James (SIU), who touched in 2:00.58 and 2:02.34, respectively.
The third event of the night, the 100 yard freestyle, went to Marissa Yontz of Illinois State out of lane four. Yontz finished in 50.44. Missouri State's sophomore, Katherine Gately, took the silver in 50.92 and Evansville's Danielle Freeman came in third (51.00).
Renata Sander of Missouri State took home the 200y breaststroke yet again with a time of 2:15.78. Cecilia Holmes of Illinois State took second (2:19.18), and her teammate, Courtney Taylor, came in third with a time of 2:19.37.
In the last individual race of the Championship, the 200y butterfly, Dora Kiss from MSU came in first (2:00.84) with Isabela Castro in second (2:03.10) and Roni Balzam in third (2:04.47).
Sherry Zhang came in first in 3 meter diving with a new championship and pool record of 439.40 points. Ester Chen of Southern Illinois came in second with 374.95 points and Wenting Zhang of Illinois State in third (373.20 points).
The championship ended with the 400 yard freestyle relay and Illinois State winning it. The Birds touched in a time of 3:24.55. Evansville took second (3:25.11) with Southern Illinois in third (3:26.62).
FINAL SCORES - Missouri State 945.50, Illinois State 723.50, Southern Illinois 634, Evansville 377, UNI 366, UALR 218
Records Broken (Thursday & Friday)
1 Meter Dive: Sherry Zhang - 346.25
400y Medley Relay: Missouri State - 3:42.83
100y Breaststroke: Renata Sander - 1:01.45
3 Meter Dive: Sherry Zhang - 439.40
200y Medley Relay: Missouri State - 1:41.19
100y Backstroke: Anna Ahlin - 54.38 seconds
200y Backstroke: Anna Ahlin - 1:57.59
Specialty Awards
1st Team All-Conference | All-Conference Honorable Mention
Elite 18: Abigail Smith, Evansville
Diver of the Year: Sherry Zhang, Southern Illinois
Swimmer of the Year: Renata Sander, Missouri State
Diving coach of the year: Joy Zhao, Southern Illinois
Swimming coach of the year: Dave Collins, Missouri State
Thursday, February 13
Prelims 11:00 am - Results
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Finals 6:00 pm - Results
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| 200y Freestyle Relay** |
200y Freestyle Relay (1st - UE, 2nd - SIU, 3rd ILS) |
| 500y Freestyle |
-- 10 minute break -- |
| 200y IM |
500y Freestyle (1st - Kiss, 2nd - Benitez, 3rd - Tipton) |
| 50y Freestyle |
200y IM (1st -Sander, 2nd - Taylor, 3rd - Horozewski) |
| 1 Meter Diving Prelims |
50y Freestyle (1st - Gately/Yontz, 3rd - Freeman) |
| 1 Meter Diving (9-16) |
1 Meter Diving (1-8) (1st - S. Zhang, 2nd - W. Zhang, 3rd - Chen) |
| 400y Medley Relay** |
400y Medley Relay (1st - MSU, 2nd - ILS, 3rd - SIU) |
Friday, February 14
Prelims 11:00 am - Results
|
Finals 6:00 pm - Results
|
| 200y Medley Relay** |
200y Medley Relay (1st - MSU, 2nd - ILS, 3rd - UE) |
| 400y IM |
-- 10 minute break -- |
| 100y Butterfly |
400y IM (1st - Horozewski, 2nd - Holmes, ILS, 3rd - Kiss) |
| 200y Freestyle |
100y Butterfly (1st - Nash, 2nd - Verkler, 3rd - Chesser) |
| 100y Breaststroke |
200y Freestyle (1st - Benitez, 2nd - Yontz, 3rd - Tipton) |
| 100y Backstroke |
100y Breaststroke (1st - Sander, 2nd - Powell, 3rd - Pavel) |
| 3 Meter Diving Prelims |
100y Backstroke (1st - Ahlin, 2nd - Shuckles, 3rd - Holthoff) |
| 800 Freestyle Relay** |
3 Meter Diving (9-16) |
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800y Freestyle Relay (1st - ILS, 2nd - SIU, 3rd - MSU) |
Saturday, February 15
Prelims 10:00 am - Results
|
Finals 4:00 pm - Results
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| 1650y Freestyle* |
1650y Freestyle* (1st - Benitez, 2nd - Snyder, 3rd - Van Rensburg) |
| 200y Backstroke |
200y Backstroke (1st - Ahlin, 2nd - Horozewski, 3rd - James)
|
| 100y Freestyle |
100y Freestyle (1st - Yontz, 2nd - Gately, 3rd - Freeman) |
| 200y Breaststroke |
200y Breaststroke (1st - Sander, 2nd - Holmes, 3rd - Taylor) |
| 200y Butterfly |
200y Butterfly (1st - Kiss, 2nd - Castro, 3rd - Balzam) |
| 400y Freestyle Relay** |
3 Meter Diving (1-8) (1st - S. Zhang, 2nd - Chen, 3rd - W. Zhang) |
| 3 Meter Diving Prelims |
400y Freestyle Relay (1st - ILS, 2nd - UE, 3rd - SIU) |
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* The 1650 Freestyle is a “time final” event. The fastest heat will be contested during the Saturday evening Finals session. The remaining heats will be conducted at the end of the Saturday morning prelims session. The heats will run from fastest to slowest
** All relay events are “time Final”. They will be contested in the finals sessions.