Bears remain in 3rd heading into final day of swimming at WAC Championships

Friday, February 19

St. George, Utah

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

WAC Championship (Swimming) Day 3

2/19/2021 8:58:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving

FINAL RESULTS

By: By Thomas Hoffman, UNCBears.com

ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Bears were back in the pool for the third of the four-day WAC Swimming Championships on Friday. UNC's gritty effort keeps them in third place with 338 points, trailing Northern Arizona by just 61 entering the final day of swimming before the diving portion begins next week.

Northern Colorado has owned the 400 IM for the last two years. Well, specifically Petra Kis has owned this 400 IM for the last two years.

Both Kis and freshman Paula Nunez Blazquez made the "A" final but it was Nunez Blazquez who swam a season-best and the fifth-best time in UNC history at 4:21.20 to grab the win. Kis hit the wall in seventh at 4:29.30.

That's how you start the night!! Paula Nunez Blazquez cruises to victory in the 400 IM in the 5th fastest time in UNC history!! 🥇🥇🥇#BearsStrong #WACsd pic.twitter.com/Om2Lvhv9Hh
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 20, 2021

Chloe Greiner and Natalie Kayfes each qualified for the "B" final in the 400 IM with season-bests.

The Bears had a pair of freshmen in the 100 fly "A" final. Irwin placed fifth with a time of 55.70 with Bergin right behind her at 55.82. Both times were season-bests and rank in the top 10 in Northern Colorado history.

Best times of the season for Payten Irwin and Katelyn Bergin in the 100 Fly 💪💪💪#BearsStrong #WACsd pic.twitter.com/W9pKJn3vGN
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 20, 2021

Another talented first-year swimmer in Ali Jackson made the "B" final in the 200 free. Jackson's effort was the best of year for UNC at 1:53.55.

Big swim from Ali Jackson in the 200 free to win the B final!!#BearsStrong #WACsd pic.twitter.com/hY5I8JqlU8
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 20, 2021

Since joining the team in January, Chelaine van de Westhuizen has been a spark in the pool for head coach Lisa Ebeling. Friday night, van de Westhuizen swam one of her best 100 breast times of the season (1:05.10). Fellow freshman Emina Pasukan was just .01 seconds off her prelim time with a 1:05.01.

Best time of the year for Chelaine van de Westhuizen in the 100 breast!! pic.twitter.com/SSfJta0tsO
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 20, 2021

Sunna Vilhjalmsdottir dialed up her best performance in the 100 breast this season, finishing with a 1:05.66.

A day after winning the 50 free, junior Madelyn was back looking for another first-place medal in the 100 back. Breaking her school record, Moore hit the wall at 54.66, good enough for third place on the evening.

🚨SCHOOL RECORD ALERT🚨

Madelyn Moore breaks her own record in the 100 back with a 54.66!!#BearsStrong #WACsd pic.twitter.com/okDhf92m88
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 20, 2021

AJ Popp landed in the "A" final with a season-best time of 56.40 in prelims. Popp came home in 57.20 in the finals and finished in eighth place.

Northern Colorado capped the night off with its fastest 400 medley relay time of the season. The quartet of Madelyn Moore, Chelaine van de Westhuizen, Payten Irwin and Saana Liikonen grabbed fourth place with a time of 3:45.21.

Fastest 400 medley of the season at 3:45.21#BearsStrong #WACsd pic.twitter.com/hwAojWfdj4
— UNCBears Swim & Dive (@UNC_BearsSwim) February 20, 2021

DECK TALK
Head Coach, Lisa Ebeling
"We had some fantastic swims tonight, highlighted by Paula's 400 IM championship and Maddy breaking the school record in the 100 back twice tonight! I'm proud of the fight the girls continue to bring to the pool and I'm excited to watch them power through one more day tomorrow."

WHAT'S AHEAD
Get ready for a whirl-wind Saturday of swimming. The final day of swimming at the Human Performance Center includes the 1,650 free, 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly and the 400 free relay.

To stay up to date on all things UNC Swim and Dive, visit UNCBears.com, follow the team on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the new UNC Athletics app by clicking here.