Bears Show Promise on First Day of Phill Hansel Invite

11/19/2015 11:40:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving

The Bears put up 105 points on the first day of the Invite

HOUSTON, Texas - The Northern Colorado swimmers competed in the first day of the Houston-hosted Phill Hansel Invite on Thursday, accumulating 105 team points, finishing 10th overall on the day.

"I am very pleased with how the girls swam today. We had a very strong morning, but even a better night. We had multiple career best times, with Jenny and Sydney Kimura in the 500 and Laura in the 200 IM. Every girl swam an in-season best time today, with most our returners very close to their conference times from last year. Kim Kuni was actually under her conference times from last year, giving her some much needed confidence coming back from her shoulder surgery."

Sydney Kovar, Carleigh Barrett, Sydney Kimura, and Jenny Brown each competed individually in the 500 yard freestyle. Kovar finished her finals run at 5:00.54 and Barrett at 5:01.49, for third and fourth best, respectively, in the third heat. Kimura finished at 4:59.90 for the fastest time in the fourth heat, and Brown picked up a 5:07.19 finish in the fifth heat.

Laura Ramirez competed in the fifth heat of the 200 yard IM, touching the wall at 2:06.61 in her finals run.

"Sydney Kimura took complete command of her evening 500 free heat, and stayed in the lead the entire way. Most freshmen shy away from commanding the pace of the heat, but she owned it the entire way. Her new time ranks her as our 5th fastest 500 freestyler of all time. Laura's 200 IM was one of the best I have ever seen her swim. She looked extremely comfortable the entire way, and her new time ties her with Kim as the 3rd fastest swimmer of all time."

Valeria Mihhailova finished third in the second heat of the 50 yard freestyle, with a time of 23.78 in the finals.

In the 200 yard freestyle relay, the Northern Colorado team of Kovar, Mihhailova, Kim Kumi, and Karlie O'Connell finished eighth overall, with a combined time of 1:36.25.

Mihhailova, Tara Olson, Ramirez, and Kovar had a combined time of 3:53.30 in the 400 yard medley relay, finishing tenth in the race overall.

Brianna Salanitro, Courtney Chrzas, O'Connell, and Kimura also raced as a team in the 400 yard medley relay, finishing with a 3:59.40 combined time.

"Both relays did very well, and the exchanges were pretty spot on. We still need to tweek the MR a little more, but we are getting much stronger at it. I am very happy with how the 200 FR stood up against ID and NMSU."

"We only had three individuals make it back to score tonight. So, between those three and the two relays to have 105 points after the first day is very good. The girls look very good in the water, so I am excited to see what the next two days bring."

The Bears jump right back in the pool on Friday for day two of the Invite, while the divers open up their first day of competition down in Tuscon, Arizona at the Wildcat Invite.

For more information on the Bears this season, check out UNCBears.com, visit the official Facebook page, or follow them on Twitter at @UNCOSwim_Dive.