Feb. 27, 2008
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The UNLV men's and women's swimming and diving teams combined for a total of three relay victories as the first day of action concluded at the 2007 Mountain West Swimming and Diving Championships held at the Oklahoma City Community College. UNLV stands in second on the men's side, and fifth in the women's standings.
The Rebel men, who are looking to defend their title for the third straight year, are in better position than they have been in either of their previous championship years of 2005 and 2006, finishing the day with 96 points. They began with a victory in the 200 medley relay in a time of 1:28.72, which ties for fourth fastest in UNLV history. Making up that relay team was Tiger Christian, Jonas Andersson, Peter Lorring, and Thomas Andolfsson, who finished in a NCAA "B" time. UNLV then finished the night by winning the 800 free relay in a new school and MWC record time of 6:29.39. It was the third straight year the Rebels won the event, with this year's relay consisting of Richard Hortness, Devin Phillips, Calan Eldridge, and Johan Claar.
Also scoring on the night for UNLV were three on the 3-meter diving event. Vincent English placed eighth with a score of 246.90, while Matt Arb was 14th (232.2), and Eli Tanimoto was 15th (228.5).
Wyoming is atop the men's standings thanks to placing four in the top seven of the diving event, and finished the day with 116 points. UNLV was next, and the Rebels were followed by TCU in third (94), Air Force in fourth (88), BYU in fifth (82), and Utah in sixth (58).
UNLV also set a new school and league record in the women's 200 medley relay, as Amanda Weinbrecht, Kim Bonney, Marina Sandback, and Megan Hunt-Higgins touched the wall in 1:40.23, breaking the old MWC record by over a second, and also reaching a NCAA "B" time.
The Rebels also finished third in the 800 free relay, as Marva Harpak, Ana Dangalakova, Kari Nettenstrom, and Lisa Gillespie finished in 7:25.01, second-fastest in school history.
For the women divers, Wendy Williams scored for UNLV, placing 15th in the 1-meter event with a score of 217.25.
BYU leads the women's standings as well, with 111 points over Wyoming's 102. Colorado State is third (87), Utah fourth (78), UNLV fifth (74), New Mexico in sixth (61), TCU in seventh (59), San Diego State eighth (55), and Air Force ninth (36).
The four-day meet continues tomorrow, and will conclude on Saturday.
