Kicking off 2015 at the short course meters Copa Coqui Invitational in San Juan, Puerto Rico, the Illinois State Redbirds took the top spot in the 12-team field, winning two individual events and one relay. The University of Connecticut men and women each swam to second place finishes.
The Huskies started off the meet with a first-place finish in the women’s 200 Medley Relay (2:04.61) ahead of Illinois State (2:06.59). The MIT women followed up for third, swimming a 2:08.14. On the men’s side, MIT touched first (1:49.31), just three tenths of a second ahead of the UConn huskies (1:49.69).
Redbird Marissa Yontz took the first individual event of the meet, claiming the top spot in the 100 Free in 59.93 ahead of Loyola Marymount University teammates Erin Calderoni (1:01.68) and Brianna Keelan (1:01.89). MIT’s Emmie Ryan followed up for fourth in 1:01.98.
Husky Felix Samuels touched first on the men’s side, swimming to a 53.52. Loyola Marymount’s Madison Hardimon touched second in 55.33, just ahead of MIT’s Scott Mayberry (55.75). One one-hundredth of a second behind for fourth place was University of Connecticut’s Chris Girg (55.76).
MIT’s Margaret Guo was first to the wall in the 100 Fly in 1:06.71 ahead of Wellesley’s Keelin Nave (1:07.72). Guo‘s teammate Sarah Osmulski followed up for third (1:08.77) to complete a first and third-place point grab. The Beavers rolled on to take first in the men’s 100 Fly, with Dougie Kogut touching first in 58.47. Husky Greg Baliko touched less than three tenths of a second behind for second (58.73). Puerto Rico’s Yeziel Morales was two one-hundredths of a second behind for third in 58.75.
Laura Hyland took the women’s 100 Breast for the Huskies (1:18.09). Trinity College’s Audrey Butler touched second in 1:18.55 ahead of Redbird Courtney Taylor (1:19.13). Just one tenth of a second behind for fourth was MIT’s Jessica Chen (1:19.27). On the men’s side, St. Cloud State University Freshman Justin Winnett took first (1:07.87) ahead of MIT teammates Justin Chiu (1:08.34) and Ben Bauchwitz (1:09.09).
University of Connecticut’s Christine Pederson took home a win for the Huskies in the 100 Back (1:08.06) ahead of Illinois State’s Rachel Root (1:09.23). Husky Samantha Park was third in 1:09.99. Puerto Rico’s Yeizel Morales claimed another top three finish with a win on the men’s side, swimming close to his own meet record with his time of 59.74. Loyola Marymount’s Aidan O’Hara followed up for second in 1:01.03.
The Huskies picked up another event win with Chinyere Pigot‘s first-place finish in the 50 Free (27.46) ahead of Illinois State’s Marissa Yontz (27.86). MIT’s Lena Yang followed up for third in 28.01. On the men’s side, MIT’s Austin Fathman (24.48) finished ahead of a 2-3-4 Husky finish led by Felix Samuels (24.55). His teammate James Donlevy touched third in 24.79 ahead of fellow Husky Jeff Magin (24.94).
Illinois State’s Cecilia Holmes (2:30.71) and Taylor Courtney (2:32.90) swam to a 1-2 Redbird finish in the 200 IM. MIT teammates Joanna Han (2:33.52) and Amanda Wu (2:34.00) touched third and fourth, respectively. Yeizel Morales took his second win of the meet on the men’s side, touching almost three seconds ahead of the rest of the field in 2:11.62. University of Connecticut’s Greg Baliko followed up for second in 2:14.35.
The Illinois State women took the top spot in the 500 Free Relay (4:42.70) ahead of MIT’s A relay (4:44.17). Loyola Marymount’s A team was third in 4:54.03. On the men’s side, MIT’s A relay took home the win for the Beavers (4:05.62) ahead of St. Cloud State’s A team (4:09.40).
Click here to read the full results.