Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, November 3
Charlotte, NC
2:00 PM
Colorado State
142
at
118
Queens University
Rams Sweep Trip Out East
11/3/2023 6:09:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Final relay team puts exclamation point on the day
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – They didn't need the win, but they weren't in any mood to lose the race, either.
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Having picked up some key wins down the stretch, Colorado State's women's swimming team built a margin against both Old Dominion and host Queens University, the hosts being the only true challenger. Even still, CSU coach Christopher Woodard watched the back half of his quad nail down strong split and come from behind to leave the East Coast with a pair of dual wins.
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The Rams, who won eight of the 14 events, beat Queens 142-118, topping Old Dominion 208.5-51.5. The squad has now won five consecutive duals, and the two wins came on the longest trip for the team in quite some time and their first competition against both schools.
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"I think when I've had teams that have struggled a little bit more, the tendency was to look for every obstacle along the way. This team just rolled with it," Woodard said. "They were like, no problem. They breezed in and out of the airport, they handled the warmup and any restrictions along the way. They were not to be deterred."
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Especially the final quad. Woodard went to freshman Mia Axelman to lead off the 400-yard free group, followed by Lucy Matheson. The Rams trailed at the midpoint, but both Megan Hager and Lexie Trietley posted the only 50-second splits in the field, breezing to the victory in a time of 3:26.58.
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It was the fastest time of the season on a day when a handful of Rams took advantage of being at sea level by posting personal bests. None more so than Hager and Trietley.
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"Lexie and Hager … Hager just had a meet. She had the fastest last 50 split, going a 26.1," Woodard said. "She just shut it down. It was amazing. The third and fourth leg, they just shut it down."
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Trietley won both the 50 and 100 freestyle in season-best times, her 50 time of 23.10 ranking second in the Mountain West this season, her 50.55 in the 100 the fastest to date. In that race, she led a 1-2 finish with Hager, who lowered her season best to 51.32.
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Freshman Tess Whineray was the Rams' other double winner on the day, touching first in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes, lowering her 200 time a touch.
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Other wins came from Erin Dawson in the 200 free, Matheson in the 200 backstroke and Maya White in the 500 free.
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There were a couple of races where the Rams were surprised by runner-up finishes, but Woodard felt they shook off every possible disappointment and found a way to bounce back. The team's depth played a big part, with Axelman, Anika Johnson, Maisy Barbosa, Sydney VanOvermeiren, Claire Wright and Rylee O'Neil placing in multiple events.
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"They haven't been getting fazed by taking a loss, like the first relay," Woodard said. "They were like, OK, let's just come back and we'll double up somewhere. They did, and they did not get fazed at any point by the swings at any point of the meet."
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Colorado State will be away from competition before hitting its midseason test, the Iowa Invitational on Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
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Having picked up some key wins down the stretch, Colorado State's women's swimming team built a margin against both Old Dominion and host Queens University, the hosts being the only true challenger. Even still, CSU coach Christopher Woodard watched the back half of his quad nail down strong split and come from behind to leave the East Coast with a pair of dual wins.
Â
The Rams, who won eight of the 14 events, beat Queens 142-118, topping Old Dominion 208.5-51.5. The squad has now won five consecutive duals, and the two wins came on the longest trip for the team in quite some time and their first competition against both schools.
Â
"I think when I've had teams that have struggled a little bit more, the tendency was to look for every obstacle along the way. This team just rolled with it," Woodard said. "They were like, no problem. They breezed in and out of the airport, they handled the warmup and any restrictions along the way. They were not to be deterred."
Â
Especially the final quad. Woodard went to freshman Mia Axelman to lead off the 400-yard free group, followed by Lucy Matheson. The Rams trailed at the midpoint, but both Megan Hager and Lexie Trietley posted the only 50-second splits in the field, breezing to the victory in a time of 3:26.58.
Â
It was the fastest time of the season on a day when a handful of Rams took advantage of being at sea level by posting personal bests. None more so than Hager and Trietley.
Â
"Lexie and Hager … Hager just had a meet. She had the fastest last 50 split, going a 26.1," Woodard said. "She just shut it down. It was amazing. The third and fourth leg, they just shut it down."
Â
Trietley won both the 50 and 100 freestyle in season-best times, her 50 time of 23.10 ranking second in the Mountain West this season, her 50.55 in the 100 the fastest to date. In that race, she led a 1-2 finish with Hager, who lowered her season best to 51.32.
Â
Freshman Tess Whineray was the Rams' other double winner on the day, touching first in both the 100 and 200 backstrokes, lowering her 200 time a touch.
Â
Other wins came from Erin Dawson in the 200 free, Matheson in the 200 backstroke and Maya White in the 500 free.
Â
There were a couple of races where the Rams were surprised by runner-up finishes, but Woodard felt they shook off every possible disappointment and found a way to bounce back. The team's depth played a big part, with Axelman, Anika Johnson, Maisy Barbosa, Sydney VanOvermeiren, Claire Wright and Rylee O'Neil placing in multiple events.
Â
"They haven't been getting fazed by taking a loss, like the first relay," Woodard said. "They were like, OK, let's just come back and we'll double up somewhere. They did, and they did not get fazed at any point by the swings at any point of the meet."
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Colorado State will be away from competition before hitting its midseason test, the Iowa Invitational on Nov. 30-Dec. 2.
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