NEW ORLEANS - The WKU swimming and diving teams took down New Orleans and Tulane winning day one of the two-day dual meet. In the women's competition, the Lady Toppers defeated New Orleans 106-50 and Tulane 99-62 while the Hilltoppers defeated New Orleans 101-65.
"I thought we raced well today," head coach Bruce Marchionda. "We were worried how they would handle it after our long trip. I thought they handled it very well and raced well. We won some key races and that is what we needed to do to win today. Our relay teams were strong and we started out the day finished first and second in the women's and men's medley relay events. That is what set up the tone for the entire event."
The Lady Toppers kicked off the meet by winning first and second place in the 400 medley relay. The first place team of Hilary Mishler, Brittany Doss, Claire Donahue and Kristiana Feeser picked up the win after recording a time of 3:49.21. The team of Laurel Chaney, Stephanie Martin, Chelsea Stephens and Meredith Dement picked up second place finishing with a time of 3:54.28.
Following the women's relay, the Hilltoppers followed up the Lady Toppers' performance by also taking home first and second place in the men's race. Cameron Watkins, Luke Musser, Nick Slattery and Billy Endi Babi and Sean Shannon.
In the first individual race of the night, Alex Van Oost picked up a first place win in the 400 IM posting a time of 4:29.86. The Lady Toppers also picked up the victory in the 100 Free behind the efforts of Claire Alexandre. Alexandre finished first with at time of 51.83 while Feeser placed third with a time of 52.89. Alexandre also added a second place finish in the 500 Free with a time of 5:06.23.
The Lady Toppers continued to add wins to their total in the 200 Breast. Martin posted a time of 2:20.53 to take home first place and Doss finished third after clocking in at 2:24.52.
WKU also picked up a win in the 200 Fly after Claire Donahue finished with a time of 2:02.81, over five seconds faster than the second place finisher.
In the 200 Back, the Lady Toppers finished second, third and fourth after Chaney finished with a time of 2:06.16, Mishler posted a time of 2:07.02 and Casey DeRidder recorded a time of 2:07.34.
Sean Penhale gave the Hilltoppers their first individual win of the night in the 400 IM. Penhale, who finished with a time of 4:00.81 claimed first place while Cameron Higdon finished with a time of 4:06.88 to finish third. Penhale also finished first in the 500 Free after touching the wall with a time of 4:34.88.
In the 100 Free, Kunkel picked up his second victory of the night posting a time of 45.80 to finish first. Zane Rowland also placed high for the Hilltoppers finishing third with a time of 47.76.
In the 200 Back, the Hilltoppers finished in first through fourth place behind Ethan Arave who placed first. Arave, who posted a time of 1:52.37, finished ahead of Cameron Watkins, David Menchinger and Chris Housden. Watkins finished with a time of 1:52.37, Menchinger posted a time of 1:54.41 and Housden finished with a time of 1:55.18.
In the men's 200 Breast it was Luke Musser who took home the top spot finishing with a time of 2:04.72. The Hilltoppers also picked up the win in the 200 Fly. In the race, Endi Babi placed first with a time of 1:52.58 and Higdon finished second with a time of 1:54.49.
In the final relay of the night, the men's 200 Free relay, the WKU team of Rowland, Menchinger, Kunkel and Stephen Claycomb finished in second place with a time of 1:27.27.
In the diving competitions, Caitlin Dean finished first in the one-meter competition after recording 222.40 points. In the men's competition, Jim Ritter was the top finisher placing third with 271.20 points.
The swimming and diving teams continue competition tomorrow in New Orleans against UNO and Tulane. "Tonight we will sit down and regroup and decide where we want to put people for tomorrow. We will try to go after their weaknesses and after our strengths."
