Akron Wins 5 of 6 Women’s Events on Final Day of Zippy Invite

2019 AKRON ZIPPY INVITE

• Friday-Sunday, December 6-8th
• Akron, OH
• Short Course Yards
• Complete Results (PDF)

TEAM SCORES

WOMEN

1. Akron, University of 2138
2. Oakland University 1731
3.  Cornell University 1441
4. University of Cincinnati 1317
5.  St. Bonaventure University 741
6. Clarion 478.5
7. Bloomsburg University 477.5
8. Malone University 59

MEN

1.  Cornell University 2527.5
2. Oakland University 1784
3. University of Cincinnati 1317.5
4. Bloomsburg University 876
5.  St. Bonaventure University 773
6. Clarion 514
7. Malone University 14

Akron and Cornell managed to hold on to win the women’s and men’s team titles at the conclusion of the final day of competition. More meet records, and even 3 pool records, fell on the 3rd and final day of the meet. The first record fell when Cincinnati freshman Noah Smith won the men’s 1650 by 13 seconds. Smith finished in 15:24.14, clearing both the meet record and Akron pool record, and clearing the NCAA B cut of 15:26.19. His swim was also a lifetime best.

Cornell freshman Paige Dacosta broke yet another record this weekend, tearing to a 1:43.66 en route to winning the men’s 200 back. Dacosta rattled off another NCAA B cut in anddition to leading runner-up Oakland freshman Marko Khotynetskyi by 1.20 seconds. Dacosta also led the Cornell A 400 free relay off in 46.16, marking the fastest lead-off split in the field, and a time that would have won the individual 100 free.

Oakland won the men’s 400 free relay in record fashion, taking down both the meet and pool records. Khotynetskyi led the Golden Grizzlies off in 44.80, followed by freshman Christian Bart with a field-leading 43.90. Mack Flowers then dove in with a 44.63, and Rudy Aguilar anchored the team with a 44.35, resulting in a final time of 2:57.68. Akron won the women’s relay in 3:18.27. Paulina Nogaj led them off in 49.33, and was followed by Sarah Watson (49.22), Rachel Schiffli (50.77), and Morgan Waggoner (48.95). The relay could have been even faster, as Weronika Gorecka split 50.25 anchoring the Akron B relay.

Paulina Nogaj broke the meet record in the women’s 200 fly, roaring to victory with a 1:56.49. Nogaj split the race very consistently, posting splits of 30.20, 30.18, and 29.88 on the last 3 50s respectively. Akron posted a 1-2 finish in the women’s 200 breast. Paula Garcia got her hands on the wall first, touching in 2:11.29, with Andrea Fischer right behind, touching in 2:11.68. The time was a season best for Garcia, and Fischer’s time was a lifetime best. Akron also won the 200 back and 100 free. In the women’s 200 back, Weronika Gorecka touched in a new best of 1:55.75, nearly negative splitting the race. Gorecka flipped at the 100 mark in 57.55, and coming home in 58.20 (29.18/29.02). Morgan Waggoner took the women’s 100 free in 49.42, with teammate Sarah Watson coming in 2nd in 49.84.

The only women’s event Akron didn’t win was the 1650 free, where Cincinnati’s Rocky Laabs swam a 16:37.96. Laabs had won the 500 free earlier in the meet, breaking the meet record in the process.

Cornell posted a 1-2 finish in the men’s 100 free. Trevor Lake led the charge, touching in 44.19, and Jack Mahoney swam a 44.58 for 2nd. Cornell’s James Huang won the men’s 200 fly in a new meet record of 1:47.10.