Cowgirls In Fourth Going into Final Day
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The University of Wyoming Cowgirls swimming and diving team finished action on the third day of the Mountain West Championships on Friday at the Texas A&M Natatorium.
Maria Harutjunjan repeated as the 100 breast champ with an all-time record. She touched the pads first in 1:00.21 to shatter the Cowgirl all-time record and notch the top-MW mark to lead UW in College Station. The Cowgirls sit in fourth place with 309 points.
The 400 medley relay team of Isobel Ryan, Harutjunjan, Molly Coonce and Emily Ridout took gold in 3:35.86 to set a new school record. It was the first-ever victory for Wyoming in the 400 medley relay at the championships.
“The win in the relay was nothing short of a complete team effort. A couple of them felt they got off the blocks a little slower than they had wanted, but Maria (Harutjunjan) was outstanding and separated herself.” – UW Head Coach Tom Johnson.
“Isobel (Ryan) and Molly (Coonce) knew exactly what they had to do and went out and did just that. Then Emily (Ridout) refused to take anything but first. It was amazing to watch and I am very happy with the win,” Johnson continued.
In the 400 IM, Emma Dow made the championship final and finished 3rd with a mark of 4:19.03. She recorded her first NCAA “B” cut time of 4:18.90 during prelims this morning, which is the third-best time in UW history. In the consolation final, Shannon Chelsvig (4:25.63) and Casey Duckworth (4:31.48) competed for UW and finished 12th and 16th overall, respectively.
“Emma (Dow) worked hard all day,” Johnson said. “She had a great time this morning for her first NCAA cut and I am very proud of the times for Shannon (Chelsvig) and Casey (Duckworth).”
Molly Coonce was the lone Cowgirl in the 100 fly finals session. She finished the championship final in fourth place with a time of 53.71, after swimming an NCAA “B” cut time of 53.70 in prelims, which is the second best all-time mark for a Cowgirl.
“Molly (Coonce) had a lot of events today,” Johnson mentioned. “But she was up for the challenge and did extremely well. She didn’t get much rest as times, and I know she wanted to do a little better, but the effort is always there and she did great.”
Kelly Sheldon and Emily Stucky each made the consolation final in the 200 free. Sheldon (1:49.32) took 13th and the fourth-best time in UW history, while Stucky claimed 16th in the event with a mark of 1:51.99. Danielle Badger swam in the 200 free bonus final for UW, taking 21st with a time of 1:51.63.
Emily Ridout followed Harutjunjan in the 100 breast championship final. Ridout had an NCAA “B” cut time of 1:01.18 to claim 3rd place for the Cowgirls and the fourth-best time in school history. Coonce (1:03.50) and Susanna Schumann (1:03.93) each participated in the 100 breast bonus final before Ryan notched an NCAA “B” cut time of 53.24 in the 100 back final. Ryan’s time was the third best in Cowgirl history and second in the event.
Stevens and Samantha Burke also recorded NCAA “B” cut times in the 100 back. Stevens (54.69) took tenth overall, in addition to recording the fourth best mark in UW history, while Burke (54.88) claimed 11th in the event and the fifth-best mark in school history to round out the competition for Wyoming on day three of the championships.
“We were able to jump another team tonight,” Johnson added. “We now have to keep the momentum going and battle for another day. I am proud of all the alumni watching, and even more proud of these girls.”
The meet concludes Saturday with the 1,650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 fly, platform dive and 400 free relay. Prelims are set to begin at 10 a.m. MT, with finals beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Charles Sets Facility and School Records
LARAMIE – Junior Jordan Charles set facility and school records in the 55-meter hurdles at the Rocky Mountain Classic on Friday afternoon, but he wasn’t the only University of Wyoming track and field student-athlete to shine.
Redshirt freshman Jerayah Davis tied a facility record in the 55 meters on the Hager-LeBar Indoor Track at War Memorial Fieldhouse, while sophomore Day Timberman broke her own school record in the triple jump.
“Our kids love competing here at home. We purposely put these meets at home before the conference meet so they can gain some confidence. They get great momentum from competing well in these meets and from what we’ve seen that carries over to the conference meet.” – UW Head Coach Bryan Berryhill.
Charles won the 55-meter hurdles with a blazing time of 7.13 to break the previous facility record of 7.23 by Greg Hines of Clemson in 1998. The time converts to a 60-meter hurdles mark of 7.68, which breaks Charles’ own school record of 7.87 he set last season. With the addition of an altitude conversion, Charles time of 7.72 ranks seventh in the NCAA this season.
Five other Cowboys also won events on Friday, including senior Scott Carter with a season-best leap of 51-0 1/4 in the triple jump. The mark was just three inches shy of his personal best. Freshman Kyle Alexander won the long jump with a personal-best leap of 22-6 1/2 to better his previous mark by four inches. Senior Tyler Anderson was first in the weight throw with a toss of 63-4, while sophomore Calum Kepler and junior Alex Pawlak crossed the line first in the 800 meters and mile in 1:57 and 4:22, respectively.
Davis and Timberman paced eight event titles for the Cowgirls. Davis won the 55 meters in 6.84 to tie the facility record by Janay DeLoach in 2005. Her time coverts to 7.36 for 60 meters, which ties her personal best and keeps her fourth in school history in the event. Timberman furthered her own school record in the triple jump by almost four inches with a leap of 40-2 1/4.
Other victories for the Wyoming women included senior McKenzie Brogan in the 300 meters with a time of 39.75, freshmanJa’la Henderson in the long jump with a mark of 19-6 and freshman Emelda Malm-Annan in the weight throw at 62-3.
Wyoming now turns its attention to the Mountain West Indoor Championships on Thursday through Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Cowboys sit in 13th after one round of play
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The University of Wyoming Cowboy golf team opened the spring season at its eighth-annual Wyoming Cowboy Desert Intercollegiate at The Classic Club in Palm Desert, Calif. The Pokes, sitting in 13th with 303 (+15) after the first round, were led by sophomore Drew McCullough, who shot a team best 74 (+2) on the afternoon.
“We had a really good week of practice,” Wyoming head coach Joe Jensen said. “It’s our first tournament back so we are looking to improve as the tournament goes on.”
Junior Ryan Wallen trailed McCullough by one stroke, carding a 75 (+3) on the afternoon. Senior Kamrin Allen followed Wallen with a score of 76 (+4). Sophomores Drew McCullough and Quintin Pope rounded out the scorers for the Cowboys, tallying numbers of 78 (+6) and 82 (+10), respectively.
Sophomore Arron Lickteig and freshman John Murdock played as individuals for Wyoming. Lickteig finished his round strong turning in a card of 76 (+4). Murdock ended his day with a tally of 83 (+11).
Kansas leads the 20-team field after the first round of competition turning in a total of 285 (-3).
“We are very appreciative that we have the opportunity to play on a championship course,” Jensen added. “We really enjoy hosting a big field at a place like the Classic Club.”
The Wyoming Cowboy Desert Intercollegiate continues tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. MT.
Wyoming Round One Individual Results
T29. Drew McCullough: 74 (+2)
T37. Ryan Wallen: 75 (+3)
T50. Kamrin Allen: 76 (+4)
T50. Arron Lickteig*: 76 (+4)
T75: Glenn Workman: 78 (+6)
T101. Quintin Pope: 82 (+10)
T106. John Murdock*: 83 (+11)
*Playing as an individual
Cowgirls Set to Open Spring Campaign Monday
LARAMIE – The University of Wyoming women’s golf team will kick off the 2016 spring campaign on Monday. The Cowgirls travel to Phoenix, Ariz., for the Grand Canyon Invitational held at the par-71, 6,029-yard Grand Canyon University Golf Course.
The tournament will feature 54 holes of action with 18 holes played each day. The event is hosted by Grand Canyon University and features a 14-team field consisting of Creighton, Fairleigh Dickinson, McNeese State, Montana State, Nebraska-Omaha, North Dakota State, Northern Colorado, Portland State, Siena College, South Dakota, South Dakota State, Texas Rio Grande Valley and Wyoming.
Wyoming will play with a line-up featuring freshman Megan Knadler, sophomore Gabrielle Gibson, senior’s Kathleen Kershisnik and Emily Woodard, as well as junior Taylor Dorans. Junior Mackenzie Barrie, sophomore Klara Castillo, redshirt freshman Amanda Hinchey and freshman Kaylee Knadler will play this weekend as individuals.
UW is entering the spring season after finishing with its lowest team average during the fall season since 2008. The Cowgirls averaged 306.8 strokes per tournament after competing in four during the fall. Megan Knadler and Gibson each recorded one top-10 finish for UW. Knadler tied for eighth place at the Cowgirl Desert Intercollegiate, while Gibson tied for fifth at the Denver Ron Moore Intercollegiate. Gibson also finished tied for 11th at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational and led UW with a 75.2 stroke average.