Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, February 16
San Antonio, Texas
All Day
Colorado State
vs
Mountain West Conference
Photo by: Jack Dempsey / NCAA Photos
Recap: Rams break more school records, record pair of podium finishes on third day of MW Championship
2/16/2018 10:26:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Rowley wins 400 IM, Thomas takes second in 100 breaststroke, both set program records
SAN ANTONIO – Juniors Haley Rowley and Tonicia Thomas starred for Colorado State on Friday at the 2018 Mountain West Championship, breaking records and earning podium finishes as the Rams leapt up the leaderboard.
Rowley won the 400 IM in 4:10.67, breaking the CSU record in the event for the second time on the day. The Lafayette, Colo., native had already broken the record in the preliminary round earlier. She won the event by nearly two seconds over San Diego State's McKenna Meyer, who was the defending champion in the 400 IM. Rowley became CSU's first individual event winner at a MW Championship since Tove Tornstrom won the 200 butterfly in 2012.
Thomas placed second in the 100 backstroke after earning the top seed in the prelims with time of 52.94, topping Breann Fuller's record in the event by .01 seconds.
"Toni has been an emotional spark plug for the team and she fought for and deserves that record," CSU head coach Woody Woodard said.
Rowley and Thomas combined to produce 60 points for the Rams' team effort, helping to propel the team to fifth on the leaderboard after entering the day in eighth.
Freshman Maddie Ward also provided a historic performance for the Rams, finishing the 100 breaststroke in 1:01.44 to set another program record. The time was good for fourth and 26 more points for the Rams.
Sophomore Marie Goodwyn also had a fourth-place finish on Friday after posting a 4:16.85 in the 400 IM finals. Goodwyn posted a 4:15.99 in the prelims, making her the second-fastest 400 IM swimmer in program history (only behind Rowley).
Three other Rams scored in the 400 IM, and all posted lifetime best marks – junior Ida Donohue (10th, 4:21.84), freshman Jennae Frederick (14th, 4:23.70 in prelims) and sophomore Andrea Basile (21st, 4:26.14).
Rowley, who became the first CSU swimmer to win the 400 IM at the MW Championship in 13 years (Abigail Iler, 2005), led a group of Rams that absolutely threw down in 400 IM on Friday.
"We are very proud of them," CSU assistant coach Mackenzie Novell said of the 400 IM crew. "All the IMers knew they put in the work during the season and they swam confident and fearless races. They were well supported by each other and the team. They take pride in their training, and it really shows in days like today."
The first final of the evening was the 400 medley relay. Thomas, Ward, Goodwyn and senior Rowan Hauber teamed up to place fifth with a time of 3:39.71 – the second-fastest mark in program history. Hauber would later add more points with an eighth-place finish in the 100 backstroke. Thomas scored an additional 12 points for CSU by placing 15th in the 100 butterfly.
Freshman Sofia Dionisio recorded the first conference points of her career with a 17th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke in a season-best time of 1:03.99. Senior Gianna Salanitro (21st) and junior Nina Stitt (22nd) also scored in the 100 breast. Freshman Olivia Chatman took 20th in the 100 backstroke.
In total, the Rams scored 251 points on Friday – more than they'd scored over the first two days of the meet. It helped propel the Rams from eighth to fifth on the leaderboard, and they now hold a 46.5 point edge over sixth-place UNLV.
"This was a really big day for us," Woodard said. "Our girls really showed up and threw down today."
The Rams have broken seven school records over the first three days of the meet:
Fans can watch the championship live with FloSwimming by clicking here.
Rowley won the 400 IM in 4:10.67, breaking the CSU record in the event for the second time on the day. The Lafayette, Colo., native had already broken the record in the preliminary round earlier. She won the event by nearly two seconds over San Diego State's McKenna Meyer, who was the defending champion in the 400 IM. Rowley became CSU's first individual event winner at a MW Championship since Tove Tornstrom won the 200 butterfly in 2012.
WE HAVE A WINNER! @HalesRowley beats the defending 400 IM champion in the event by nearly 2 seconds!@floswimming: https://t.co/IQJPuUuf6R
— CSU Rams Swim & Dive (@CSUSwimDive) February 17, 2018
#StalwartRams pic.twitter.com/EyZN2SiUg7
Thomas placed second in the 100 backstroke after earning the top seed in the prelims with time of 52.94, topping Breann Fuller's record in the event by .01 seconds.
"Toni has been an emotional spark plug for the team and she fought for and deserves that record," CSU head coach Woody Woodard said.
That feeling when you break a school record you've been aiming for your entire career.
— CSU Rams Swim & Dive (@CSUSwimDive) February 16, 2018
?? @toninianne pic.twitter.com/EsgyvurzXA
Rowley and Thomas combined to produce 60 points for the Rams' team effort, helping to propel the team to fifth on the leaderboard after entering the day in eighth.
Freshman Maddie Ward also provided a historic performance for the Rams, finishing the 100 breaststroke in 1:01.44 to set another program record. The time was good for fourth and 26 more points for the Rams.
Sophomore Marie Goodwyn also had a fourth-place finish on Friday after posting a 4:16.85 in the 400 IM finals. Goodwyn posted a 4:15.99 in the prelims, making her the second-fastest 400 IM swimmer in program history (only behind Rowley).
Three other Rams scored in the 400 IM, and all posted lifetime best marks – junior Ida Donohue (10th, 4:21.84), freshman Jennae Frederick (14th, 4:23.70 in prelims) and sophomore Andrea Basile (21st, 4:26.14).
Rowley, who became the first CSU swimmer to win the 400 IM at the MW Championship in 13 years (Abigail Iler, 2005), led a group of Rams that absolutely threw down in 400 IM on Friday.
"We are very proud of them," CSU assistant coach Mackenzie Novell said of the 400 IM crew. "All the IMers knew they put in the work during the season and they swam confident and fearless races. They were well supported by each other and the team. They take pride in their training, and it really shows in days like today."
The first final of the evening was the 400 medley relay. Thomas, Ward, Goodwyn and senior Rowan Hauber teamed up to place fifth with a time of 3:39.71 – the second-fastest mark in program history. Hauber would later add more points with an eighth-place finish in the 100 backstroke. Thomas scored an additional 12 points for CSU by placing 15th in the 100 butterfly.
Freshman Sofia Dionisio recorded the first conference points of her career with a 17th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke in a season-best time of 1:03.99. Senior Gianna Salanitro (21st) and junior Nina Stitt (22nd) also scored in the 100 breast. Freshman Olivia Chatman took 20th in the 100 backstroke.
In total, the Rams scored 251 points on Friday – more than they'd scored over the first two days of the meet. It helped propel the Rams from eighth to fifth on the leaderboard, and they now hold a 46.5 point edge over sixth-place UNLV.
"This was a really big day for us," Woodard said. "Our girls really showed up and threw down today."
The Rams have broken seven school records over the first three days of the meet:
- Wednesday: 200 medley relay (Thomas, Ward, Goodwyn, Hauber) – 1:39.77; 800 free relay (Donohue, Kelsey Lawton, Rowley, Colleen Olson) – 7:20.01
- Thursday: 500 free (Rowley) – 4:45.67; 200 IM (Goodwyn) – 2:00.88
- Friday: 400 IM (Rowley) – 4:10.67; 100 back (Thomas) – 52.94; 100 breast (Ward) – 1:01.44
Fans can watch the championship live with FloSwimming by clicking here.
Players Mentioned
IM, Freestyle, Backstroke
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Freestyle
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Freestyle, Butterfly, IM
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Butterfly, IM
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Backstroke, Freestyle Relay
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Backstroke
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Sprint Freestyle, Backstroke
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Backstroke, Sprint Freestyle
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Backstroke, IM
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Breaststroke, IM
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Breaststroke, IM
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Backstroke, Freestyle
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