2015 Conference USA Championships
- Wednesday, February 18- Saturday, February 21
- Knoxville, TN- Allan Jones Aquatic Center
- Prelims/Finals Wednesday 2 PM (diving)/6 PM, Thursday-Saturday 10:30 AM/6 PM (Eastern Time Zone)
- Championship Central (Link to live results on this page once meet starts)
The 2015 Conference USA Championship meet opens up on Wednesday, February 18th in Knoxville TN. Rice looks to repeat after a dominate performance in 2014 where they finished 260 points ahead of second place Florida International University. Returning from that squad are conference champions Cora McKenzie, Casey Clark, Marissa Konicke, Rachel Moody, and Erin Flanigan. With conference leading times in 8 individual events Coach Seth Huston’s Owls look to put on a show in their quest for another title.
Western Kentucky University could be the surprise contender to challenge Rice after a 4th place finish last season. The Hilltoppers may only have Conference USA leading times in 3 individual events, but they hold the top times in 4 of the 5 relays (200 MR, 400 MR, 400 FR, and 800 FR). While relay swings aren’t overly-impactful at the conference level, the point swings by jumping up to first are still very, very meaningful.
Freshman standout Silvia Scalia set a record by winning 5 Conference USA Swimmer of the Week awards during her first season at Florida International University. The Italian native currently has the 38th best time in the nation in the 200 backstroke. She was a mid-season addition for FIU, as was South African distance standout Kyna Pereira, and those two were key to helping the Panthers finish off an undefeated dual meet season.
Overall, this should be a competitive meet as Conference USA settles into its new look with a little stability finally coming to the conference. This meet will also include a “men’s invitational,” but that won’t be a formal championship.
Participants in Women’s Championship (7):
- FIU
- Florida Atlantic
- Marshall
- North Texas
- Old Dominion
- Rice
- WKU
