Courtesy: East Carolina Athletics
GREENVILLE, N.C. — ECU rising sophomore Marek Osina and incoming freshman Laura Benkova each captured gold medals at their country’s national championship meet this summer.
“We have a lot of swimmers and divers competing at big meets this summer and to have our student-athletes competing on a national stage at various top level meets around the world is awesome,” Pirate head coach Matthew Jabs said. “To see our kids making finals, winning medals, and national titles at these meets is really special.”
Osina collected three medals at the 2019 Czech national championships, winning the 200 IM and helping the 4×100 medley relay team earn a spot atop the medal stand. He also captured the bronze medal in the 400 IM.
Osina wasn’t the only ECU swimmer to earn at a place on the medal stand at the Czech national championships. Incoming freshman Adela Vavrinova stood on the podium after she placed third in the women’s 200 and 400 IM.
Benkova won the women’s 200 freestyle at the Slovakian National Swimming Championship and narrowly missed capturing a second and third medal as she placed fourth in both the 50 and 100 freestyle.
Senior Catherine Johnson competed in the prestigious Charlotte Ultraswim meet and earned a spot in the 50 freestyle finals.
“I’m very excited about all of our newcomers,” Jabs said. “Laura and Adela will be great additions to the team, and I can’t say enough good things about Marek, and Catherine. Both of them are so important to our team, they do things the right way and have earned the respect of their teammates. I am really happy for them.”