Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, November 21
Houston, Texas / CRWC Natatorium
All Day
Colorado State
vs
Phill Hansel Invite Day 1
Williams Hits Zones Cut on First Day of Hansel Invitational
11/21/2019 7:56:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Rams improve in eight of 11 finals swims
HOUSTON – Heading into the meet, the Rams knew there was still the majority of the season in front of them. Diver Skylar Williams made hers a bit longer on the opening day of the Phill Hansel Invitational at the CRCW Natatorium on the University of Houston campus.
Colorado State's junior diver placed second in the 1-meter competition with a career-best score of 269.10, clearing the NCAA Zones qualifying mark by 4.1 points. Now a three-time Zones qualifier under three coaches, Williams beat her personal best on the board by 3.2 points.
"That was huge. She dove really, really well, as did Rachel Holland," CSU head coach Christopher Woodard said. "Skylar is a stud. To her credit, she's adapted each time there's been a change. Two things this year: One, the result of being healthy has allowed her to be more consistent in practice. Two, her relationship with (diving coach) Chris Bergere, she had a goal of increasing her degree of difficulty and throwing some new dives, and her relationship with Chris, she trusts him and that's allowed her to explore those things."
Holland added points for the team in the event, placing 15th at 240.65 as the Rams closed the day in fifth place with 162 points in the 10-team field.
The swimmers took advantage of being at sea level, qualifying for 11 finals swims, three of them in scoring position. Of those 11 swims, eight of the times were faster than in the preliminary round from the morning.
Freshman Sydnee Whitty placed 10th in the 50-yard freestyle in a season-best time of 23.38, while the 500 free produced points from Madison Hunter (19th, 4:57.21) and Abbey Owenby (24th, 5:0159).
Both relays scored well for the Rams, as the 200 free team of Whitty, Sarah Mundy, Andrea Basile and Julia Box played sixth in a season-best time of 1:34.07. The Rams placed fifth in the 400 medley relay, with the quad of Elsa Litteken, Maddie Ward, Box and Whitty coming in at a season-best 3:44.25.
The A, B and C finals are the scoring races, with the D and E heats providing second chances for others, with the Rams taking advantage. In the 500 free, Mundy (4:59.40), Madison Gordley (4:58.53) and Hannah Sykes (5:01.98) all dropped time. In the 200 individual medley, Caroline Perry (2:04.93), Kate Meunier (2:06.07) and Jennae Frederick (2:06.83) earned bonus swims, with the first two dropping time. Box (23.98) and Mundy (24.39) competed, Box dropping time.
Woodard felt the team started out a bit slow in the morning, but the encouraging part was the number of finals swims and what they did with them. Whitty wasn't healthy in the prior meet, and Thursday showed a glimpse of what she can achieve her inaugural season.
"She can move," Woodard said. "She's coming along. There's some things technically we need to clean up, but if she's rested, not stressed and healthy, she's dangerous.
"I think that's the one thing we're going to hammer on. Maybe it wasn't the best morning, or even night, but if we have a lane, we have an opportunity to improve, and doing it in eight of 11 swims is a good sign."
On Friday, the event schedule consists of the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and the 100 backstroke, as well as 3-meter diving and the finals in the 200 medley and 800 free relays. The preliminaries begin at 9 a.m. MT, the finals at 5 p.m.
Colorado State's junior diver placed second in the 1-meter competition with a career-best score of 269.10, clearing the NCAA Zones qualifying mark by 4.1 points. Now a three-time Zones qualifier under three coaches, Williams beat her personal best on the board by 3.2 points.
"That was huge. She dove really, really well, as did Rachel Holland," CSU head coach Christopher Woodard said. "Skylar is a stud. To her credit, she's adapted each time there's been a change. Two things this year: One, the result of being healthy has allowed her to be more consistent in practice. Two, her relationship with (diving coach) Chris Bergere, she had a goal of increasing her degree of difficulty and throwing some new dives, and her relationship with Chris, she trusts him and that's allowed her to explore those things."
Holland added points for the team in the event, placing 15th at 240.65 as the Rams closed the day in fifth place with 162 points in the 10-team field.
The swimmers took advantage of being at sea level, qualifying for 11 finals swims, three of them in scoring position. Of those 11 swims, eight of the times were faster than in the preliminary round from the morning.
Freshman Sydnee Whitty placed 10th in the 50-yard freestyle in a season-best time of 23.38, while the 500 free produced points from Madison Hunter (19th, 4:57.21) and Abbey Owenby (24th, 5:0159).
Both relays scored well for the Rams, as the 200 free team of Whitty, Sarah Mundy, Andrea Basile and Julia Box played sixth in a season-best time of 1:34.07. The Rams placed fifth in the 400 medley relay, with the quad of Elsa Litteken, Maddie Ward, Box and Whitty coming in at a season-best 3:44.25.
The A, B and C finals are the scoring races, with the D and E heats providing second chances for others, with the Rams taking advantage. In the 500 free, Mundy (4:59.40), Madison Gordley (4:58.53) and Hannah Sykes (5:01.98) all dropped time. In the 200 individual medley, Caroline Perry (2:04.93), Kate Meunier (2:06.07) and Jennae Frederick (2:06.83) earned bonus swims, with the first two dropping time. Box (23.98) and Mundy (24.39) competed, Box dropping time.
Woodard felt the team started out a bit slow in the morning, but the encouraging part was the number of finals swims and what they did with them. Whitty wasn't healthy in the prior meet, and Thursday showed a glimpse of what she can achieve her inaugural season.
"She can move," Woodard said. "She's coming along. There's some things technically we need to clean up, but if she's rested, not stressed and healthy, she's dangerous.
"I think that's the one thing we're going to hammer on. Maybe it wasn't the best morning, or even night, but if we have a lane, we have an opportunity to improve, and doing it in eight of 11 swims is a good sign."
On Friday, the event schedule consists of the 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and the 100 backstroke, as well as 3-meter diving and the finals in the 200 medley and 800 free relays. The preliminaries begin at 9 a.m. MT, the finals at 5 p.m.
Players Mentioned
FREE, BACK, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE, FLY
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FLY
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FREE, IM
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DIVE
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FREE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BREAST
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE, FLY
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BACK, BREAST, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE, FLY
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BREAST, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE, BACK
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
DIVE
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