Rice University
Nike Cup
Swimmers Finish Fourth At NIKE Cup
11/18/2007 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
Nov. 18, 2007
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Senior Brittany Massengale set a quick early pace and then added to her winning margin of victory on the way to taking first place in the 1,650-yard freestyle on the third and final day of competition at the prestigious NIKE Cup Saturday evening at the Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach Calif.
As a team Rice finished fourth overall with a final total of 727 points. The Owls managed to close the gap on third place with some strong showings in the distance and backstroke events and the foursome of Carlyann Miller, Keri Hyde, Pam Zelnick and Diane Gu took second place in the 400-freestyle relay and finished ahead of 38 other teams from 21 schools at the meet.
Massengale got it all started for Rice Saturday. In her first time to race in the mile this season, the Alma, Ark., native posted an NCAA provisional qualifying time of 16:37.65 to win the rugged distance race over 60 other competitors entered in the event. Her time was just two seconds off her school record in the 1,650 and it was the second time in three days for the senior to post an NCAA provisional time after she won the 500-freestyle on Thursday.
Not only did Massengale finish a convincing 30 seconds ahead of second place, she sparked a Rice charge in the event as Owl swimmers claimed three of the top nine spots and five of the top 23 places. Junior Caitlin Warner finished 4th overall with a season-best time of 17:12.38 and freshman Karen Gerken was ninth (17:20.54).
With the distance race in good hands, sprinter Carlyann Miller won the consolation finals of the 100-freestyle with a season-best mark of 51.05. Zelnick was 11th among the field of 177 competitors and Gu scored for the team with a 17th place. The three were joined by Hyde on the 4x100 relay posted a season-best time of 3:26.29.
Freshman Kait Chura led four Owls among the top 17 in the backstroke events. Chura swam a 2:04.67 in the prelims to reach the championship finals where she finished eighth. Justine Lin (2:06.58) and Skylar Craig (2:06.80) were 10th and 11th, respectively, while Angela Wo was 17th with a 2:07.01.
The NIKE Cup marked Rice's last meet appearance of the fall semester. The team will next be in action at the West Florida Relays in Largo, Fla., on Dec. 29. The Owls' next dual meet is after New Year's. The Owls host national power Texas A&M at home on Jan. 11 at the Rice Pool.
FINAL NIKE CUP TEAM SCORES
Team - Points
1. UCLA - 1498.5
2. Brigham Young - 887.5
3. Pacific - 795
4. Rice - 727
5. San Jose State - 558
6. UC Irvine - 523
7. UC San Diego - 439
8. New Mexico - 379.5
9. Pepperdine - 310
10. Loyola Marymount - 249
11. Air Force - 223.5
12. San Diego - 223
13. Cal State Northridge - 195
14. UC Santa Cruz - 184
15. Alaska - 162.5
16. Cal Lutheran - 118
17. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps - 86
18. Fresno Pacific - 68
19. Grand Canyon - 56
20. Soka - 22
20. La Verne - 22
22. Occidental - 14
Players Mentioned
