Zips Break MAC record in 200 Free Relay on Day Two of MAC Championships

Thursday, February 28

Akron, Ohio

Prelims - 10:30 AM | Finals - 6:30 PM

University of Akron

MAC Championships - Day 2

Photo by: Ernie Aranyosi

Zips Break MAC record in 200 Free Relay on Day Two of MAC Championships

February 28 | Women's Swimming & Diving

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RESULTS | CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION

AKRON, Ohio – The No. 23-ranked University of Akron women's swimming and diving team extended its lead on day two of the 2019 Mid-American Conference Championships on Thursday evening at Ocasek Natatorium. The Zips qualified yet another relay to the NCAA Championships, while setting a third MAC relay record.

Akron increased its lead with a two-day total of 319 points. Eastern Michigan sits in second with 221 points, while Buffalo is in third with 199 points.

Both senior Emma King (Centerville, Ohio) and junior Mackenzie Vargas (Roseville, Calif.) swam best times in the preliminary round of the 500 freestyle. King finished seventh (4:50.17) in the finals, while Vargas finished eighth in 4:50.93.

In the 200 individual medley, freshman Sarah Watson (Winnipeg, Manitoba) clinched the MAC title with a personal best and NCAA "B" Cut time of 1:57.33. Also swimming "B" Cut times in the event was sophomore Paulina Nogaj (Radom, Poland) (1:59.32), who finished fourth, and junior Ellie Nebraska (Delaware, Ohio) (1:59.77), who placed sixth. Rounding out Akron's top four swimmers was junior Jackie Pash (Carmel, Ind.) who took seventh with a time of 2:02.20.

The Zips captured the top four spots on the podium in the 50 freestyle. Senior Sadie Fazekas (Windsor, Ontario) finished first, breaking a program record with a time of 22.20. Senior Ragen Engel (Springfield, Ohio), freshman Sofia Henell (Linkoping, Sweden), junior Morgan Waggoner (Fremont, Ohio) finished in second, third and fourth, respectively. All four Zips recorded NCAA "B" Cut times. Fazekas, Engel and Henell swam personal best times in the finals, while Waggoner recorded a personal best time in prelims.

In the one-meter diving, freshman Kamryn Goodrick (Chesterland, Ohio) finished second overall with an NCAA zone cut score of 284.95. Senior Karly Crail (Edgewood, Ky.) also earned a place on the podium, finishing seventh with a score of 257.30.

The 200 freestyle relay team of Engel, Fazekas, Henell and Waggoner earned a trip to the NCAA Championships with a MAC, program and pool record breaking time of 1:28.54. Their time beat the MAC and program record of 1:29.35 set by Akron just two weeks ago at the Ohio State Winter Invite. Additionally, their time topped the pool record of 1:29.71, which was set by an Akron team in 2017. The relay time ranks 12^th in the nation.

The 2019 MAC Championships continue on Friday, March 1. Prelims will begin at 10:30 a.m., while finals are set to start at 6:30 p.m. Finals will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

Team Standings