Zips Hold Commanding Lead After Day One of Akron Zips Classic

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Zips Hold Commanding Lead After Day One of Akron Zips Classic

October 18 | Women's Swimming & Diving

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Results (PDF)

Zips Hold Commanding Lead After Day One of Akron Zips Classic

AKRON, Ohio – Akron Swimming and Diving made a statement Friday evening at the Ocasek Natatorium, as they end the day with 417 points, 121 points better than the next closest team (Miami).

Akron came out the gate strong in the 400 medley relay, as the quartet of Weronika Gorecka (Wroclaw, Poland), Paula Garcia (Madrid, Spain), Paulina Nogaj (Radom, Poland), and Morgan Waggoner (Fremont, Ohio) swam a 3:37.60, the fourth fastest time in the country. Gorecka's lead offtime of 54.18 is the 15^thfastest time in the NCAA so far this year in the 100 back.

The Zips followed that up with a strong performance in the 500 free, as junior Brooke Lamoureux (Victoria, Canada) swam a 4:51.83, currently the 23^rdfastest time in the nation. Not far behind was senior Jessica Bonezzi (Wooster, Ohio), who swam a 4:54.55, the 39^thbest time in the nation. Also finishing that race with a strong time was fellow senior Mackenzie Vargas (Roseville, Calif.), who swam the 41^stbest time in the nation with a 4:55.67.

In the third event for the women, the 200 IM, senior Jackie Pash (Carmel, Ind.) placed third with a solid time of 2:03.25, cracking the top 50 in that race.

Nogaj followed up her strong performance from the 400 medley relay (splitting 52.08 in the butterfly)with an even better performance in the 50 free, touching the wall at 22.84, setting a new meet record. This also ranks as the 16^thbest time in the nation.

Sophomores Sofia Henell (Linkoping, Sweden), Sarah Watson (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and senior Waggoner finished second (23,02), third (23.16) and fourth (23.23) respecitively. All rank in the top 30 in the 50 free so far this season.

In the final event for the women, the 800 freerelay, Nogaj capped off the night with a strong performance. She posted a 1:47.94 in the first leg of the race, leading Akron to a first place finish with strong early seasontime of7:20.76.

TOP AKRON FINISHES

400 Medley Relay – 3:37.60, Gorecka (54.18), Garcia (1:00.96), Nogaj (52.08), Waggoner (50.38), (First)

500 Freestyle - Lamoureux, 4:51.83, (First)

200 Individual Medley - Pash, 2:03.25, (Third)

50 Freestyle - Nogaj, 22.84, (First)

800 Freestyle Relay – 7:20.76, Nogaj (1:47.94), Gardner (1:51.19), Pash (1:51.00), Waggoner (1:50.63), (First)

Day 1 Rankings

Women: