In lieu of honoring both a swimmer and diver this week, Conference USA has chosen to have two Co-Swimmer of the Week:
Sarah Vaisse- North Texas
Sarah Vaisse, University of North Texas (Courtesy: North Texas Athletics)
Sarah Vaisse had a strong performance this past weekend in the Mean Green’s triple-dual meet victory over Arkansas- Little Rock, Southern Illinois and Ouachita Baptist. The sophomore finished first in the 200 IM (2:07.39) and 100 breast (1:04.41). She was also the breaststroke leg of the first place 200 medley relay (1:45.42). Vaisse also finished third overall in the 100 free (54.18).
Prior to her time at North Texas, Vaisse was a member of the French National Team and has qualified for both the European Junior Championships (2011) and World Championships (2013). In her second season with the Mean Green, Vaisse has stepped up both as an individual and relay contributor to push points over to the UNT side of the score board. This is Vaisse’s first time winning the Conference’s Weekly award.
DENTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 26: North Texas Mean Green Swimming & Diving Green & White swim meet at Pohl Recreation Center. (Photo by Rick Yeatts)
Looking ahead to the Conference USA Championships, Vaisse currently sits at:
- 100 free- 15th fastest performer (52.31) behind teammates Bianca Bosca (3rd, 50.94) and Isabelle Morris (11th, 51.67).
- 100 breast- Tied for fastest conference performer with Rice’s Marie-Claire Schillinger (1:02.73)
- 200 IM- 3rd fastest performer (2:02.97).
Vaisse and the Mean Green return to action on the 29th when they host TCU for a dual meet.
Kaitlyn Swinney-Rice
Kaitlyn Swinney (Courtesy: Rice Athletics)
This is Kaitlyn Swinney‘s second time this season to win the weekly honor. This past weekend at the Arena Pro Series in Austin, Swinney snagged her first ever 2016 Olympic trials cut in the 400 IM- touching in 4:54.67. Swinney also competed in the 200 IM (finishing 39th) and 200 breast (finishing 48th) at this weekends big meet.
Swinney was a Conference USA scorer last season, helping her team on their way to a second place finish for the season. She’s going to be called on again this season to pick up some points to the Rice Owls.
Looking ahead to the Conference USA Championships, Swinney currently sits at:
- 200 free- 19th fastest performer (1:53.51) behind teammates Alicia Caldwell (2nd,1:48.62), Anniina Ala-Seppala (4th, 1:49.26), Sydney Franzen (6th, 1:50.87), Jaecey Parham (7th, 1:51.05), Hanna Huston (9th, 1:51.60) and Taylor Armstrong (16th, 1:53.14).
- 500 free- 4th fastest performer (4:52.60) behind teammate Franzen (3rd 4:51.61)
- 100 back- 13th fastest performer (56.74) behind teammates Caldwell (1st, 54.43), Kiley Beall (3rd, 54.94), Parham (6th, 55.77), and Julie Litver (9th, 56.34).
- 200 back- 2nd fastest performer (1:58.74) behind teammate Caldwell (1st, 1:57.19).
- 200 breast- 7th fastest performer (2:20.32) behind teammates Schillinger (2nd, 2:14.73), Dani Gordon (3rd, 2:17.50), and Shelbi Ragsdale (5th, 2:19.96).
- 200 IM- 4th fastest performer (2:03.60) behind teammate Parham (2nd, 2:02.67)
- 400 IM- 1st fastest performer (4:17.38)- by almost two seconds (next fastest is Marshall’s Caroline Wanner at 4:19.11.
Swinney and her Rice Owls return to action on January 30th in a quad meet against Houston, LSU and Tulane.