Feb. 20, 2016 COLLEGE STATION, Texas (UNLVRebels.com) -
Senior Michelle Troup became the first Rebel since 2014 to win an individual title, helping the Rebels finish fifth overall on Saturday night at the 2016 Mountain West Women's Swimming & Diving Championships, held at the Texas A&M Natatorium. The Rebels posted 373 points for the meet, which was won by Nevada, Reno with 664 points Due to the Wolf Pack's higher finish in the championships, UNR receives three points for women's swimming in the Governor's Series, the all-sports competition between the two schools sponsored by NV Energy and Barrick Gold, and both schools are now tied at 7.5-7.5.
Finishing behind UNR in second was Boise State, as just 13 points decided this year's championship. San Diego State was third with 511, while Wyoming was fourth (457) in the 10-team field.
The night's first event was the 1650 free, and Josefine Hippi led the way with a 10th-place time of 16:57.63, the eighth-fastest time in UNLV history. Jessica Wong then followed that with an 11th-place swim of 1:58.47 in the 200 back, with a NCAA 'B' provisional time, while also moving into sixth-place in the team record book.
Then came the 100 free, where Troup swam out to a career-best 49.19 in the morning to earn the night's top spot, then a very tight swim, just .05 seconds separated first from third. Troup touched the wall in 49.12, just ahead of Whitney Weisz (49.14) of San Diego State and Emily Ridout (49.17) of Wyoming to claim her first career conference title. Both her swims on Saturday broke her previous school record in the event, while she became the first Rebel to win the event at the MW Championships since Jesse Bradshaw in 2004. Julia Fehervari joined Troup in scoring in the event, placing 10th in 50.15.
In the 200 breast UNLV placed two in the top eight, beginning with Lina Rathsack's sixth-place time of 2:14.65, good for a NCAA 'B' time. Kristana Hendrick meanwhile placed eighth, her third top-eight swim of the meet, in 2:16.23. Her morning time of 2:15.81 was a 'B' time and the fifth-fastest in UNLV history.
Goezde Tekin earned her first top-eight swim of this year's meet with a 2:00.44 in the 200 fly to place third overall, the second-best time in team history, while Janelle Nguyen was 15th in 2:05.26.
"We capped the week off with an outstanding group effort today," said interim head coach Bobby Folan. "Everyone picked up their game this morning and kept that rolling tonight. The day of course was highlighted by Michelle's two school record and her conference title. It was a great was to cap an amazing career, and we are very proud of her. As a team, we have come a long way this year and I couldn't be more proud of each and everyone."
The Rebels will now wait to see if they have any qualifying swims for next month's NCAA Women's Championships, held in Atlanta, Ga.
2016 Mountain West Women's Swimming & Diving Championships
Texas A&M Natatorium
College Station, Texas
Saturday, February 20
Fourth Day Results
Team Scoring
- Nevada, Reno - 664
- Boise State - 651
- San Diego State - 511
- Wyoming - 457
- UNLV - 373
- San Jose State - 258
- New Mexico - 248
- Colorado State - 223
- Air Force - 207
- Fresno State - 182
Top-Eight Finishes
100 Free - 1st place - Michelle Troup (49.12*)
200 Breast - 6th place - Lina Rathsack (2:14.65*), 8th place - Kristina Hendrick (2:16.23)
200 Fly - 3rd place - Janelle Nguyen (2:05.26)
400 Free Relay - 3rd place - 3:19.51 (Troup, Julia Fehervari, Elena Gavrilova, Lina Rathsack)
New UNLV Record time
100 Free: Michelle Troup (49.12)
^ - NCAA 'A' Automatic Time
* - NCAA 'B' Provisional Time
