PITTSBURGH, Pa. – The field is set for six finals tonight at the men’s and women’s BIG EAST Swimming & Diving Championships on the second day of swimming action at Trees Pool at the University of Pittsburgh.
In the women’s 500 freestyle, West Virginia claimed the top three qualifying times with Rachael Burnett qualifying first with a time of 4:42.49, followed by Amanda Nugent and Kata Fodor. Villanova put a pair in the final with Hayley Edwards and Roxanne Tammadge. Pittsburgh’s Kelsey Herbst, Connecticut’s Jordan Bowen and Louisville’s Lindsey Laporte also claimed spots in the 500 freestyle final. This marks the second-straight year these eight competitors have qualified for the final.
Notre Dame will send five athletes to the final of the men’s 500 free with Frank Dyer recording the fastest prelim time of 4:25.06. Dyer is joined by teammates Brennan Jacobsen, James McEldrew, John Nappi, and Kevin Hughes. Louisville’s Michael Pryor and Pedro Oliveira and Pittsburgh’s Morne Boshoff round out the top-8 competitors.
In the women’s 200-yard individual medley, Louisville will send two swimmers, including Tanja Kylliainen and Stephanie Juncker. Pittsburgh will also have two representatives in the finals with Camille Dixon and Joanna Budzis. Also swimming are Notre Dame’s Emma Reaney, West Virginia’s Breanna McCann, Connecticut’s Caitlin Gallagher and Cincinnati’s Samantha Wheeler. Kylliainen recorded the fastest time of the prelims with a 1:59.21.
The men’s 200-yard individual medley finals will feature five Irish and three Cardinal swimmers. Participating for Notre Dame will be William Bass, Colin Babcock, Zachary Stephens, Patrick Olson and Cameron Miller. Louisville’s Alex Burtch, the prelims top competitor with a time of 1:46.86, Carlos Almeida and Albert Lloyd will round out the field of competitors.
In the women’s 50-yard freestyle, the Cardinals put the most participants in the finals with four. Aileen Cole, Kristina Brandenburg, Lacey Bobo and Danielle Barbiea qualified for UofL. Liz Hansson recorded the fastet qualifying time (23.09) and will compete for UC. Pitt’s Danielle des Tombe, UConn’s Chinyere Pigot and ND’s Amy Prestinario also will swim in tonight’s 50 free final.
On the men’s side, Louisville saw an impressive six swimmers qualify for the 50 freestyle final tonight, including the top-four qualifiers. Brendon Andrews, Joao De Lucca, Matthew Schlytter, Caryle Blondell, Samuel Hoekstra and Kameron Chastain will all compete in the finals for UofL. Also moving onto to the final are West Virginia’s Tim Squires and Taylor Camp. Andrews finished in a time of 19.77 to earn the top qualifying position.
BIG EAST Championship swimming action continues tonight with the men’s and women’s finals of the 500-yard freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle relay beginning at 6 p.m.
Men’s Team Standings
Rank Team Score
1 Notre Dame 197
2 Pittsburgh 132
3 West Virginia 110
3 Louisville 110
5 Connecticut 78
6 Georgetown 56
7 Cincinnati 46
8 Seton Hall 44
9 Villanova 40
10 Providence 31
Women’s Team Standings
Rank Team Score
1 Louisville 144
2 Notre Dame 135
3 Connecticut 108
4 Rutgers 101
5 West Virginia 88
6 Villanova 66
7 Pittsburgh 63
8 Cincinnati 52
9 Seton Hall 40
10 Georgetown 30
11 Providence 29
