Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, December 7
Greensboro, N.C.
7 AM/4PM
Colorado State
vs
U.S. Open
Performing Well on the Big Stage
12/7/2024 5:59:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Rams have four top-five finishes at Toyota U.S. Open
GREENSBORO, N.C.  – The statement to the swimmers was clear. The reaction from them was beneficial.
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Five swimmers from Colorado State women's swimming and diving program competed at the 2024 Toyota U.S. Open this weekend, with Erin Dawson producing two of the Rams' four top-five finishes at the high-level meet. Coach Christopher Woodard felt the trip was important to let them know if they get cuts for an elite meet, the team will honor the commitment they've made in practice by taking them to the big stage.
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Once the Rams arrived – doing so coming off a holiday break – they posted some strong performances, and for those who qualified for the finals at night, consistently dropped time from the preliminaries.
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"When we did get those night opportunities, we dropped time. That's the most crucial thing we're going to need," Woodard said at the close of Saturday's session. "We always want to get in position, but at the end of the day we have to move up at night. In all of our events, we bested all of our prelim times."
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That was an important step, because that wasn't the case when the team went to the Hawkeye Invitational prior to Thanksgiving. At the Greensboro Aquatics Center, the Rams lowered time in all seven opportunities.
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Dawson's top finish came in the 500-yard freestyle when she placed third with a season-best time of 4:49.54 on Thursday. On Friday, she came in sixth in the 400 individual medley in 4:17.20. Taking advantage of time trails, she posted a career-best of 51.54 in the 100 free.
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The team's other two top finishes were both in fourth place, which Tess Whineray did in the 200 backstroke with a 1:55.60 which moved her up three spots from the morning; and from Maya White in the 1,650 freestyle (16:41.04), both races taking place on Saturday. With the top 16 scoring, Whineray placed 12th in the 100 back on the first day.
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Woodard believes the five will benefit from the meet, carrying lessons to set them up for success at the Mountain West Championships.
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"It's learning how to race in tough situations. We knew that going in. It was going to be tough, having to race before the break and after the break when training isn't always consistent during the holidays. You're going to see some elite-level athletes, not just in conference, but a 15-year old like Kennedi Dobson or a pro like Drew Kibler. For them, it might be a mixed bag. Some are disappointed by some of their performances, but I'm hoping they learn something from it and take it into the next 10 weeks before conference."
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The Rams return to competition in January as the divers take part in the Lancer Diving Invitational at California Baptist (Jan. 9-11), while the swimmers face San Diego and San Diego State in a double dual on Jan. 11 at SDSU. The scores from diving will be factored into the team scores at the duals.
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Thursday Results
Preliminaries
500 free
4. Erin Dawson, 4:49.82
11. Maya White, 4:56.40
Finals
3. Dawson, 4:49.54*
10. White, 4:54.36
200 IM
Preliminaries
19. Dawson, 2:04.06
Finals
18. Dawson, 2:02.68
50 free
Preliminaries
21. Lexie Trietley, 23.26
Friday's Results
400 IM
Preliminaries
5. Dawson, 4:18.68
17. White, 4:24.94
Finals
6. Dawson, 4:17.20
17. White, 4:19.53
200 Free
Preliminaries
16. Dawson, 1:51.58
Finals
14. Dawson, 1:51.00
100 Breast
Preliminaries
39. Skyler Lyon, 1:04.06
100 Back
Preliminaries
9. Tess Whineray, 54.23
Finals
12. Whineray, 54.10
Saturday's Results
200 Back
Preliminaries
7. Whineray, 1:56.81
Finals
4. Whineray, 1:55.60
100 Free
Preliminaries
18. Trietley, 50.89
1,650 Free
Finals
4. White, 16:41.04
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Five swimmers from Colorado State women's swimming and diving program competed at the 2024 Toyota U.S. Open this weekend, with Erin Dawson producing two of the Rams' four top-five finishes at the high-level meet. Coach Christopher Woodard felt the trip was important to let them know if they get cuts for an elite meet, the team will honor the commitment they've made in practice by taking them to the big stage.
Â
Once the Rams arrived – doing so coming off a holiday break – they posted some strong performances, and for those who qualified for the finals at night, consistently dropped time from the preliminaries.
Â
"When we did get those night opportunities, we dropped time. That's the most crucial thing we're going to need," Woodard said at the close of Saturday's session. "We always want to get in position, but at the end of the day we have to move up at night. In all of our events, we bested all of our prelim times."
Â
That was an important step, because that wasn't the case when the team went to the Hawkeye Invitational prior to Thanksgiving. At the Greensboro Aquatics Center, the Rams lowered time in all seven opportunities.
Â
Dawson's top finish came in the 500-yard freestyle when she placed third with a season-best time of 4:49.54 on Thursday. On Friday, she came in sixth in the 400 individual medley in 4:17.20. Taking advantage of time trails, she posted a career-best of 51.54 in the 100 free.
Â
The team's other two top finishes were both in fourth place, which Tess Whineray did in the 200 backstroke with a 1:55.60 which moved her up three spots from the morning; and from Maya White in the 1,650 freestyle (16:41.04), both races taking place on Saturday. With the top 16 scoring, Whineray placed 12th in the 100 back on the first day.
Â
Woodard believes the five will benefit from the meet, carrying lessons to set them up for success at the Mountain West Championships.
Â
"It's learning how to race in tough situations. We knew that going in. It was going to be tough, having to race before the break and after the break when training isn't always consistent during the holidays. You're going to see some elite-level athletes, not just in conference, but a 15-year old like Kennedi Dobson or a pro like Drew Kibler. For them, it might be a mixed bag. Some are disappointed by some of their performances, but I'm hoping they learn something from it and take it into the next 10 weeks before conference."
Â
The Rams return to competition in January as the divers take part in the Lancer Diving Invitational at California Baptist (Jan. 9-11), while the swimmers face San Diego and San Diego State in a double dual on Jan. 11 at SDSU. The scores from diving will be factored into the team scores at the duals.
Â
Thursday Results
Preliminaries
500 free
4. Erin Dawson, 4:49.82
11. Maya White, 4:56.40
Finals
3. Dawson, 4:49.54*
10. White, 4:54.36
200 IM
Preliminaries
19. Dawson, 2:04.06
Finals
18. Dawson, 2:02.68
50 free
Preliminaries
21. Lexie Trietley, 23.26
Friday's Results
400 IM
Preliminaries
5. Dawson, 4:18.68
17. White, 4:24.94
Finals
6. Dawson, 4:17.20
17. White, 4:19.53
200 Free
Preliminaries
16. Dawson, 1:51.58
Finals
14. Dawson, 1:51.00
100 Breast
Preliminaries
39. Skyler Lyon, 1:04.06
100 Back
Preliminaries
9. Tess Whineray, 54.23
Finals
12. Whineray, 54.10
Saturday's Results
200 Back
Preliminaries
7. Whineray, 1:56.81
Finals
4. Whineray, 1:55.60
100 Free
Preliminaries
18. Trietley, 50.89
1,650 Free
Finals
4. White, 16:41.04
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Players Mentioned
FR, FLY, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Br
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BK
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, BR IM
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