Akron Swimming and Diving Takes an Early Lead at the Zippy Invitational

Friday, November 30

Akron, Ohio

PRELIMS - 9 AM | FINALS - 6 PM

University of Akron

Zippy Invitational - Day 1

Akron Swimming and Diving Takes an Early Lead at the Zippy Invitational

November 30 | Women's Swimming & Diving

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RESULTS (PDF)

AKRON, Ohio – The University of Akron women's swimming and diving team jumped out to an early lead after the first day of competition of the 2018 Zippy Invitational on Friday at Ocasek Natatorium.

Akron leads the women's competition with 734.5 points after one day of competition, followed by Buffalo with 482.5 points and Bowling Green with 381. On the men's side of competition, Oakland leads with 726.5 points, while Bloomsburg (461) and Niagara (397) round out the top three.

In the initial event of the evening, the 200 freestyle relay, the team of freshman Sarah Watson (Winnipeg, Manitoba), junior Morgan Waggoner (Fremont, Ohio), senior Sadie Fazekas (Windsor, Ontario) and freshman Sofia Henell (Linkoping, Sweden) recorded Akron's first top finish of finals, turning in a time of 1:30.50. Together, their time ranks eighth on Akron's Top Ten All-Time Performance list.

The Zips also garnered the third-place relay team in the event. In its two teams alone, Akron had five swimmers turn in 50 yard split times under 23.00 including, Waggoner (22.70), Fazekas (22.50), Henell (22.29), sophomore Paulina Nogaj (Radom, Poland) (22.78) and junior Ellie Nebraska (Delaware, Ohio) (22.72).

Although Buffalo's Brittney Beetcher took top honors in the 500 freestyle, the Zips owned the next four places to round out the top five. Sophomore Brooke Lamoureux (Belleville, Ontario) was the top Zip in the event, finishing second with a time of 4:50.19. Freshman Avery Movold (Prince George, British Columbia), freshman McKenzie Rice (Liberty Township, Ohio) and senior Emma King (Centerville, Ohio) took third, fourth and fifth, respectively.

Watson turned in a person best performance in the 200 individual medley recording a time of 1:58.39 to take first. Her time also set a new meet record, breaking senior Madison Myers' (Akron, Ohio) two-year-old record of 1:58.51. Her time also fell under the NCAA Division I B-Cut time standard and ranks second on Akron's top ten list. Nebraska earned points for Akron in the event coming in third at 2:01.00.

In the 50 freestyle, Henell finished first and also recorded a NCAA Division I B-Cut time of 22.68. Fazekas placed second with a time of 22.78, while Waggoner tied for third with Buffalo's Jillian Lawton with a time of 23.12.

On the boards, senior Karly Crail (Edgewood, Ky.) won the one-meter dive with a score of 249.30, while sophomore Andrea Bugariu (Troy, Mich.) took third with 247.10 points.

In the final event of the evening, the 400 medley relay, Fazekas, sophomore Ally Wharton (New Albany, Ohio), Watson and Henell placed first with a time of 3:39.35. In the initial leg, Fazekas posted a new personal best time with her 100 yard split of 53:36.

The Zippy Invitational continues Saturday, Dec. 1, with prelims starting at 9 a.m. Diving prelims are set to follow at approximately 1:30 p.m. and the finals are set to start at 6 p.m.

Tickets for each individual preliminary session can be purchased for $6, while tickets for final sessions are $8 each. Heat sheets will be for sale for $2. Spectators may also purchase a $35 pass, good for entry to all sessions throughout the weekend as well as heat sheets. Admission for Akron students will be free with a valid Zip Card.

Doors for spectators will open 90 minutes prior to the start of each session for admission.

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