Rice University
UIW Invitational
Swimmers Win Six Events Saturday at UIW Invitational
12/19/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
SAN ANTONIO -- Rice sophomore Marie-Claire Schillinger registered the third-fastest time in school history on the way to winning the 100-breaststroke, one of six Owl victories on a solid second day of competition at the annual Incarnate Word Invitational Saturday evening in San Antonio.
Steady swims up and down the roster Saturday lifted Rice into first place in the team standings with 1,194.5 points through the first 12 swim events. Meet host Incarnate Word is in second place with 1,092 points, followed by the University of Houston (688 pts.) and North Texas (507.5 pts.).
Schillinger won the 100-breaststroke over a starting field of 12 entries with a finals time of 1:02.73. Not only was the mark a new career-best for the true freshman from Orinda, Calif., her time is now the third-fastest in Rice history. Schillinger's day also included swimming on two winning Rice relays as the Owls won both the 200-medley (1:43.91) and 800-free (7:33.08).
Schillinger had a notable day for Rice, but she wasn't the only one. Sophomore Jaecey Parham also swam on both of the same winning relays, working as the anchor leg on the 200- before serving as the lead-leg of the 800. In between she won the 100-backstroke with a time of 55.77 that is the third-fastest on the team this season.
Junior Anniina Ala-Seppälä followed Parham as the second leg of the 800-relay, and it would have been hard to keep her off that foursome. Earlier in the evening she coasted to an individual victory in the 200-freestyle with a 1:50.20 as four Owls made the event's `A' final.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Swinney followed her sensational opening day of the meet Friday with another high-scoring session. In addition to swimming the lead leg of the 200-medley relay, the Fort Bend, Texas, native swam a 4:18.35 to lead a 1-2 Rice finish in the 400-individual medley with fellow sophomore Kiley Beall (4:28.47). Beall meanwhile was also on both of the winning Rice relays.
The thee three-day, 18-event, UIW Invitational concludes Sunday. Rice is a day away from winning the event for the second year in a row.
Players Mentioned
