2022 AAC Champs: SMU Breaks 200 MR Pool Record with 1:24.64, 18.73 Anchor Leg

2022 American Athletic Conference Swimming And Diving Championships

• February 16-19, 2022
• Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium, Dallas, TX
• SCY (25 yards)
• Championship Central
• Live Results

DAY 1 RESULTS

Team Scores

Men

1. SMU – 147
2. Cincinnati – 128

Women

1. Houston – 154
2. SMU – 109
3. Tulane – 90
4. Cincinnati – 38
5. East Carolina – 36

The 2022 American Athletic Conference Championships kicked off last night in Dallas. SMU is leading the men’s meet, which currently only features the Mustangs and Cincinnati. Houston, in their first year under a new head coach, have jumped out to an early lead in the women’s meet after winning a relay and having a strong showing in diving.

The Cougars won the women’s 200 medley relay in 1:39.48, holding off a charge by SMU anchor Johanna Gudmundsdottir. 5th year Katie Power led the Cougars off in 25.05 and was followed by 3 freshmen. Henrietta Fangli split 26.96 on breaststroke, Adelaide Meuter clocked a 24.46 on fly, and Emma Wright anchored in 23.01.

SMU cracked the pool record in the men’s 200 medley relay, swimming a 1:24.64. Cole Bruns (21.64), Caleb Rhodenbaugh (23.54), Riley Hill (20.73), and Justin Baker (18.73) teamed up to undercut the previous record of 1:24.91, which was held by Texas from earlier this month. Baker’s 18.73 free split is particular notable, and we’ll be looking to see what he does in the individual 50 today. Additionally, SMU was under the NCAA B standard in the event, but fell short of the A cut, which stands at 1:24.22.

The men’s 800 free relay ended up being a tight race at the finish, but SMU held a healthy lead through the first half of the race. Colin Feehery led off in 1:34.64 and Tyler Mansheim went 2nd with a 1:36.51, for a 3:11.15 on the first 200, which led Cincy by 2.63 seconds. Bobby King posted a 1:35.19 on the 3rd leg for SMU, but the gap shrank due to a heroic 1:33.29 split from Cincy’s Michael Balcerak. Wyatt Cronk anchored in 1:36.26, which was sufficient to hold off Cincy anchor Hunter Gubeno‘s 1:35.67. SMU finished in 6:22.60, while Cincy was 6:22.84.

Isabelle Pelka (1:47.51), Lilly Byrne (1:46.69), Sam Krew (1:49.72), and Noa Heron (1:47.72) teamed up to give Tulane a win in the women’s 800 free relay. They touched in a final time of 7:11.44

Wednesday diving winners

• Men’s 1-meter: Parker Hardigree (SMU) – 367.35
• Women’s 3-meter: Chase Farris (Houston) – 328.80