Rams Open MW Championships with School Record

Calendar

Show:/

Jan 5

TBA

Women's Swimming & Diving

at Northern Arizona

Jan 10

TBA

Women's Swimming & Diving

at Air Force

Jan 10

TBA

Women's Swimming & Diving

vs New Mexico

Jan 24

11:00 AM

Women's Swimming & Diving

vs Northern Colorado

Jan 29

All Day

Women's Swimming & Diving

at Air Force Diving Invitational

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – When you have four of the fastest 200-yard freestylers in program history on the same roster, as a coach, you kinda like your chances.

The final event of the first night of the Mountain West Championships was the 800 freestyle relay, and while the first two events of the day hadn't gone exactly as scripted, the Rams had a chance to grab a bit of momentum before individual swims began Thursday at the Texas A&M Natatorium.

As they gathered behind the blocks Wednesday night, senior Kristina Friedrichs ranked second in school history in the event with a 1:49.42. Sarah Mundy ranked third (1:49.59), Anika Johnson fourth (1:49.60) and Megan Hager eighth (1:50.33). CSU head coach Christopher Woodard wasn't just confident, he felt he was certain to see some history.

And he was right, as the foursome put together a 7:18.04, beating the previous standard by 1.98 seconds, placing fourth in the process.

"There was little doubt in my mind," Woodard said. "The only doubt in my mind was did they believe it. As long as they believed it, it was going down."

They were confident, but setting a school mark wasn't something any of them really thought about until the midseason meet in Houston. There, after just swimming the 200 freestyle, they went out and posted a time of 7:25.87. It was in Houston where Hager put her name in the school's top 10, and they all had solid times while partially tapered but definitely tired.

The wheels started to turn. They did for Woodard, who talked to all of them about it. At the time, Friedrichs was ready to put more focus on the 100 butterfly. Plans change when times get posted.

"Prior to a couple of weeks ago, I hadn't really thought about it. I hadn't put two and two together," Friedrichs said. "I thought my last 200 free was going to be in Houston, but Woody approached me and said he thought we could do it this year. I think he planted the seed in my head. The more I thought about it the more I realized this is the year we can get it done and we can do it because I think everybody felt confident going into that race."

Another change, too. Swimming in the first heat, he led off Friedrichs instead of having her anchor, which gave her a shot at breaking the school record in the 200 free from a set start, but more importantly, Woodard hoped it would light a fire. And thinking of the future, Friedrichs won't be around next year, so the sooner the others learn to carry the load, the better.

The present works, and he was right. Friedrichs put down a 1:48.67, which is a personals best, then Mundy and Hager both were in the 1:50 neighborhood, and Johnson brought it home in 1:48.46. And they did it all swimming in the first of two heats, which did give them open water to work with, but also no team next to them to really push them. What they did, they did through self motivation.

Johnson, a sophomore like Hager, said earlier in her swimming days being the anchor would have brought on some pressure, but she's developed into a strong back-end swimmer. Besides, swimming for three others adds juice. Almost as much as watching Friedrichs lead off.

"That was really cool. It was very inspiring," she said. "I was like, oh crap, she just threw down, there's no reason why I can't either. I felt that build watching the other two girls swim, too."

Going after a record can drive a person, but it can also make one tight. Friedrichs is aware of it, and so were the others. Knowing you have the right quad to do it feels good, but it still has to get done.

With that in mind, Friedrichs wanted them to all go in with the right approach.

"I just wanted all of us to have fun. I think it can be nerve-wracking swimming relays on the first day, and we haven't really raced all that much out of altitude since midseason," she said. "A lot of things change between midseason and conference. Personally, I just wanted to have a good time, rip it in the first heat and just get it done."

Johnson and Mundy started their evening as part of the 200 medley relay, joining Liza Lunina and Katie McClelland to produce a sixth-place showing in the meet's first scoring swim, posting a 1:42.15, an effort which impressed Woodard. For one, he thought it was a tough – not impossible – ask for Johnson and Mundy, as they had to go from an all-out sprint with a lot of underwater work to one of controlled and maintained aggression.

Johnson liked the double, as she felt it helped her work the kinks out for the main event.

"It helped me shake out my nerves a lot. I was shaking in the blocks before my medley relay," she said. "I feel it's always good to have a first race before a big one."

Colorado State's first points came from the 1-meter springboard, with three Rams placing. Topping the list was Jozie Meitz and Katie Leonard, both of who produced personal-best scores and hitting NCAA Zones cuts in the process. Meitz placed 18^th with a 269.20, and Leonard was one place behind with a 266.30. Freshman Lindsay Gizzi, the school record holder in the event, had to bounce back from one uncharacteristically missed dive to earn points, placing 23^rd with a 254.15.

Nevada built a lead in the team race by putting five divers in the final, finishing the day with 236 points. The Rams sit sixth with 100, yet also with a bit of momentum leaving the pool on a true high.

"I think so. What we did today is really inspiring, so I'm excited to see what happens the rest of the meet," Johnson said. "I know it's going to be great, but we will see."

Thursday's preliminary session begins at 10 a.m. (MT) in the lanes for the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 50 free. Prelims for the 3-meter springboard begin at 11:30 a.m., followed immediately by the consolation finals. Finals for all four events and the 400 medley relay begin at 5:30 p.m.

Follow us at -- Twitter: @CSUSwimDive | Instagram: @csuswimdive | Facebook: @CSUSwimDive

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results