Rice University
NCAA Championships
Massengale, Gu, Complete First Day Of Action At NCAA Championships
3/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
March 16, 2006
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ATHENS, Ga. -- Rice sophomore Brittany Massengale and freshman Diane Gu both wrapped up competition in Thursday's morning round of the 2006 NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships without making the finals of their respective events, but the Owl duo will be back to compete in two more events on Saturday.
Massengale placed 27th among a field of 54 entries in Thursday's prelims of the 500-yard freestyle. Only the top 16 in each event advance to the day's championship and consolation finals. Massengale posted a time of 4:49.51 in the prelims, just 2.09 seconds off the finals' cut of 4:47.42. Last month the sophomore from Alma, Ark., set a new Rice record in the event when she registered a 4:46.58 at the Conference USA Championships.
Gu was 34th among 76 entries in the 50-yard freestyle, but her time of 23.12 was only three-tenths of a second from making the evening finals. Gu needed to match her C-USA meet time of 22.78 to advance. The Orlando, Fla., native had the 14th-best time in the country in the 50-free among all NCAA freshmen.
It was the first appearance in the NCAA Championships for both Gu and Massengale. The two Owls are not yet finished at the national meet. Both are set to return to action on Saturday (Mar. 18). Gu competes in the prelims of the 100-freestyle while Massengale swims the mile (1,650-yard freestyle). The NCAA meet can be followed live on the web at the above links.
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