MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Five Mountaineer victories lead the West Virginia University men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams to victory at the third annual WVU Invitational at the Mylan Park Aquatic Center on Saturday night in Morgantown.
“I’m very impressed with the way the teams competed this weekend,” the Mountaineer coach said Vic Riggs said. “They have done a great job in training this fall and to see their hard work pay off is very rewarding for them. We saw Mia Cheatwood set a new program record in the 100 breaststroke and multiple season and lifetime bests, and several new US Open cuts”
The WVU men’s team took first place with 2,035 team points, ahead of second-place Drexel with 1,223.5. On the women’s side, the Mountaineers took first place with 1,707 points, followed by William & Mary in second place with 1,335.5 points.
Saturday’s final session began with the men’s and women’s platform finals. The second student Sarah Krusinski finished second with a score of 233.25, while the first student Patrick Burke claimed the men’s race with 299.60.
The race began in the 200-yard backstroke pool. Both juniors Paige Dressel took second (1:59.11) and Justin Heims (1:49.65) in their respective events.
The second student Conner McBeth in the men’s 100 free (43.06) and second Mia Cheatwood in the women’s 200 breast (2:12.01) were WVU’s only individual swimming wins of the night.
West Virginia’s best marks came from the seniors Jacqueline McCutchan in the women’s 100 free (2 – 49.50), freshman Max Nielsen in the men’s 100 free (3 – 44.64), freshman Adam McDonald (2 – 1:58.30) and sophomore Reilly Keaney (3 – 1:58.80) in the men’s 200 breast, second Miranda Kirtley (2 – 16:36.89) and freshman Olivia Busch (3 – 16:42.16) in women’s 1650 and junior William Mullen (2 – 15:24.48) in the men’s race.
The three-day race ended with the 400 free relay. The women raced first, and the team of McCutchan, Cheatwood, junior Abby Reardonand freshman Ada Szwabinska won with a final time of 3:19.70. Next, the senior men’s team Roanoke Shirksophomore student Braden OsborneNielsen and McBeth touched the boards in 2:54.67, good for first.
Next, qualifying Mountaineers will compete in the Toyota US Open in Greensboro, North Carolina, from November 30 – December 3. As a full squad, WVU will ring in the New Year with the Backyard Brawl at Pitt on Jan. 14.
For more information on the Highlanders, visit WVUsports.com and follow WVUSwimDive at I tweetFacebook and Instagram.
