Day One of MAC Women's Swim Championships is Complete
2/28/2013 12:00:00 AM | Swimming and Diving
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo won three of the first night's six events as the 2013 Mid-American Conference Women's Swimming and Diving Championships came to a conclusion on Thursday evening at UB's Alumni Arena Natatorium.
The Bulls opened the meet with a victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay as the foursome of Brittney Kuras, Marissa Murphy, Karly Moore and Mallory Morrell broke the pool record with a 1:30.46 clocking. The time was .01 seconds off of the school record set at last season's MAC Championships. The time also earned the foursome an NCAA B qualifying mark.
Kuras then repeated her 2012 success by defending her league title in the 200-yard individual medley. Kuras, the fastest qualifier in Thursday's heats as she took a half-second off her school record, won the race by nearly two seconds as she broke the MAC, MAC meet, UB and pool records at 1:59.17. Kuras also earned a B cut in the championship.
Mallory Morrell broke her pool, UB, MAC and MAC meet records as the fastest qualifier in winning Thursday's 50-yard freestyle in 22.24 seconds. She set all four marks in the morning heats when she finished in 22.29 earning an NCAA B qualifying mark and breaking her own UB record by .30 seconds.
Eastern Michigan's Briana Emig won the 500-yard freestyle in 4:46.17. UB's Jessica Powers was third in the championship final in 4:47.97.
Eastern Michigan divers Danielle Hulvey and Kelly Hendricks finished one-two in the one-meter springboard competition. Hulvey set the MAC and MAC meet records with a six-dive total of 316.10 points bettering Hendricks' winning total from 2012. Hendricks turned in a total score of 314.85, more than three points better than her 2012 record. UB's Ava Giachino was sixth in the championship final with 281.70 points.
Ball State won the night's final race, the 400-yard medley relay. The team of Katelyn Pratt, Bridgette Ruehl, Haley Richter and Carlena Magley set a UB pool record with their 3:39.86 finish. UB's foursome of Alexis Valedon, Spencer Rodriguez, Murphy and Morrell set a season-best time of 3:46.36 as they placed seventh.
Buffalo stands fourth in the eight-team meet with 147 points. Miami (OH) leads the meet with 191 points with Ohio (172) and Eastern Michigan (155) in second and third places.
"I think we did a great job getting out there and racing tonight," said UB head coach Andy Bashor. "They had the opportunities to do it and they stepped up tonight and that was great to see. We were conference champions in three events and we're breaking MAC records and pool records. It's just exciting."
Competition continues Friday and Saturday at Alunni Arena Natatorium with preliminaries at 11:00 am and championship finals at 7:00 pm.
Team scores (after six events): Miami (OH) 191, Ohio 172, Eastern Michigan 155, Buffalo 147, Bowling Green 135, Toledo 109, Akron 96, Ball State 87.
Thursday's champions
200 freestyle relay: Buffalo (Brittney Kuras, Marissa Murphy, Karly Moore, Mallory Morrell) 1:30.46
500 freestyle: Briana Emig (Eastern Michigan) 4:46.17
200 individual medley: Brittney Kuras (Buffalo) 1:59.17
50 freestyle: Mallory Morrell (Buffalo) 22.24
1-meter diving: Danielle Hulvey (Eastern Michigan) 316.10
400 medley relay: Ball State (Katelyn Pratt, Bridgette Ruehl, Haley Richter, Carlena Magley) 3:39.86
