Grusova Sets Rutgers Aquatic Center Pool Record in 100 Backstroke

Courtesy: Rutgers Athletics

PISCATAWAY, N.J.  – Rutgers swimming and diving takes the lead into the final day of the Rutgers Invitational on Saturday after posting three event victories during Friday’s finals session, highlighted by freshman Terka Grusova‘s pool record in the 100-yard backstroke.

THE BOTTOM LINE

Rutgers leads the competition with 1,627.5 points, ahead of Columbia’s 1,517 and Queens-Charlotte’s 1,230.5.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

• Freshman Terka Grusova set a new Rutgers Aquatic Center pool record with a 52.98-second performance in the 100-yard backstroke, taking first place by less than a second ahead of senior Vera Koprivova. For Grusova, it’s a collegiate-best, an NCAA B cut and currently the 25th ranked time in the NCAA. The record supplants Koprivova’s record of 53.65.
• Koprivova posted a lifetime best in the 400-yard individual medley, dropping nearly nine seconds from the morning’s preliminary heat and claiming gold in the distance for her fourth event win of the season.
• Senior Rachel Byrne won a thrilling competition over freshman teammate Jenna Douglass in 1-meter diving. Byrne bested Douglass by just a quarter of a single point to win first place points with a score of 273.67.

FANTASTIC FINISHES

• Freshman diver Lauren Boone placed second in 3-meter diving with a score of 283.35 and Douglass was runner-up with a score of 273.45 on 1-meter, which both qualify for the 2019 NCAA Zone A Championships. They are the third and fourth Rutgers divers to qualify, joining Byrne and Marin Bloise.
• Senior Federica Greco finished second in the 100-yard butterfly by just 0.15 seconds. Freshman Kasja Dymek was right behind in third for significant Rutgers points.
• Rutgers divers made up five of the top six places in 1-meter diving: Byrne (1st), Douglass (2nd), Megan Demeo (3rd), Lauren Boone (5th) and Marina Wilkins (6th).

KNIGHT NOTES

• Senior Francesca Stoppa swam the program’s fastest 100-yard butterfly of the season in a time trial in an NCAA B cut time of 53.16 seconds, which ranks 31st nationally and eighth in the Big Ten.
• Delaney Carey made the Friday finals and placed fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke.
• Alexandra Fabugais-Inaba added points with a fifth place finish in the finals of the 200-yard freestyle.