2016 MWC Day 2 (Mountain West Conference) Women’s Championship
- Wednesday, February 17 – Saturday, February 20
- Texas A&M Natatorium, College Station, TX (Central Time Zone)
- Prelims 10AM / Finals 6PM (Wed-Sat)
- Defending Champion: San Diego State (results)
- Championship Central
- Live results
The University of Nevada has never won a Mountain West Conference championship. While it’s true that they have only been members of the league for four years, they have been consistently caught behind Boise State and San Diego State.
After a strong first night, Nevada asserted itself throughout the second day, building a solid thirty point lead over Boise State. Defending champion San Diego State risks moving out of the picture unless they bounce back on day three, as they are now nearly seventy points back.
200 Freestyle Relay
Boise State got off to a good beginning of the session. They knocked off defending relay champion San Diego St behind a stellar second leg from Samantha Wicks (21.98) followed by an event better swim from Katelyn Martin (21.86). The two were only bested in the entire field by Wyoming’s anchor from Emily Ridout (21.77).
Top three:
- Boise State 1:28.93
- San Diego St 1:29.25
- Wyoming 1:29.96
3M Diving
Diving continues to be a different maker for the Wolfpack. Nevada once again captured the top two spots, with the same order as the previous night’s 1M diving. Sharae Zeng set a conference meet record with her winning score, that just barely nudged out teammate and defending champion Krysta Palmer.
Top three
- Sharae Zeng, Nevada, 396.30
- Krysta Palmer, Nevada 396.20
- Ariana Milone, Colorado St 344.10
500 Freestyle
Genevieve Miller of Air Force defender her conference championship from last year. She did so in record breaking fashion- setting the conference mark along the way. She was pushed every stroke by Boise State Emma Chard. Chard, who was only in the B-Final the previous year, put on a big charge on the final 50, splitting 27.46 to finish just hundredths behind.
In the team race, Boise State managed three swimmers in the final in what was their best individual event of the night.
Top three:
- Genevieve Miller, Air Force 4:40.15
- Emma Chard, Boise State, 4:40.21
- Riley Spitser, San Jose State 4:44.95
200 IM
Samantha Wicks flipped the script on defending champion Yawen Lee of Nevada to win an easy victory in the 200 IM. Wicks absolutely scorched the first 100 of the race (53.67), and it was ultimately too large of a margin for any of the others to overcome.
Nevada did, however, get three swimmers in the A-Final and two of the top three in this event.
Top three
- Samantha Wicks, Boise State 1:57.18
- Yawen Lee, Nevada 1:59.31
- Teresa Baerens, Nevada 1:59.40
50 Freestyle
Taylor Johnson of San Diego State ensured that her team would once again claim the title in this event. After the departure of the top two finishers from the Aztecs last year, Johnson found a way to be .6 faster to win the title. Johnson was followed by some familiar names from the opening relay.
Top three
- Taylor Johnson, San Diego St 22.16
- Emily Ridout, Wyoming 22.42
- Tie between Katelyn Martin, Boise St and Morgan McInnis of New Mexico St, 22.46
The standings at the end of Day 2 of the MWC Conference Championships:
- Nevada, University of 284
- Boise State University 254.5
- San Diego State University 213
- University of Nevada, Las Vega 161
- University of Wyoming (W) 152
- San Jose State University 126
- New Mexico, University of 99.5
- U S Air Force Academy (W) 95
- Colorado State University 92
- Fresno State University 70
