Swimming and Diving Closes Out Bruno Invitational
Dec 04 | Women's Swimming & Diving
Day Three Results | 3-Meter Diving Results
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Rutgers swimming and diving collected seven more NCAA B cuts and three pool records during its final appearance at the Bruno Invitational, hosted by Brown, Sunday night in Providence, Rhode Island. In total, the Scarlet Knights had 14 NCAA B qualifying standards during weekend action.
"We came together as a unit this weekend," said head coach Petra Martin. "It was the strongest and most genuine bond I have seen from this team! Our people were there for each other, working together, challenging each other, stepping up together and swimming and diving for the team!"
Sophomore Vera Koprivova continued her strong weekend with a personal best and NCAA B cut in the 200 backstroke, hitting the wall first with a time of 1:54.49. Koprivova also secured a NCAA B standard with a mark of 1:56.40 during preliminary action. Her result in the final was a Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center pool record.
In the 200 breaststroke, senior Rachel Stoddard and junior Larissa Neilan went one-two in the event, placing with NCAA B standards of 2:13.70 and 2:15.50, respectively. Both also finished with NCAA B cuts during preliminary action. Stoddard's time of 2:13.67 in preliminary racing was a Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center pool record.
Sophomore Francesca Stoppa also collected an NCAA B cut in the 200 butterfly with her first-place finish of 1:57.72.
"The team atmosphere was incredible. If that doesn't get you excited nothing will. We had people like Rachel Stoddard and Vera Koprivova that swam 11-12 races in the three days and they just kept on pushing and fighting in each of those races, getting B cuts, breaking pool records and setting PRs," Martin said.
In diving action, senior Alyssa Black secured her second first-place result of the weekend, finishing with a Zone qualifying standard of 326.55 in the 3-meter dive, a Katherine Moran Coleman Aquatics Center pool record. Junior Addison Walkowiak placed second with her Zone qualifying result of 308.90, while sophomore Rachel Byrne finished fourth with a Zone qualifying mark of 280.75. Byrne has now produced Zone qualifying marks in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform dives this season.
"Alyssa Black and Addy Walkowiak pushing the 3-meter pool record back and forth was awesome," Martin said.
In relay action, Rutgers finished third in the 400 freestyle relay, with freshman Sarah Davis, junior Karli Rymer, senior Meghan Kiely and freshman Clare Lawlor hitting the wall with a mark of 3:25.38.
"We had people like Karli Rymer who had a huge breakthrough in her 100 fly and kept following with very fast times in her other events, and Clare Lawlor in her 100 back, 100 and 50 free, who kept impressing," Martin said. "Alexandra Fabugais-Inaba in her 200 free, Larissa Neilan in all her breaststroke events were also notable. The strength of this team is rising and we don't have just a few people pulling the wagon anymore."
Rutgers returns to competitive action Jan. 7, 2017, when the Scarlet Knights participate in the Winter Sun meet in Clermont, Florida.
"The performances are coming hot from many different people and that is what we need - quality and depth," Martin said. "We were intense, we were consistent, we sent a strong message about who we are and what we are capable of when we do our work and pull together. This is the Rutgers team that will move us ahead and this is the culture that will make a difference nationally and in the Big Ten."
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Players Mentioned
