The Seattle University women's swim team opened the 2013 Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships with a school record in the 200 medley relay as competition began Wednesday at the Aquatic Center at Palo Alto College.
The quartet of Tiffany Dang (Bothell, Wash.), Kevlyn Richards (Gig Harbor, Wash.), Melissa Randolf (Everett, Wash.), and Nicole Doi (Pleasanton, Calif.) posted a time of 1:46.15, 23/100ths of a second faster than the previous mark set two years ago at the MPSF Championships.
Thanks to an opening split of 1:56.17 by Bethany Gehrke (Lynnwood, Wash.), the eighth-fastest 200 freestyle time in program history, the 800 freestyle relay squad that also included Rachel Leighter (Eugene, Ore.), Allie McGavock (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), and Karla Ruff (Seattle, Wash.) posted a time of 7:48.55, the fourth-fastest time in the event in school history.
"The school record in the 200 medley relay started us off with a bang," Seattle U head coach Craig Nisgor said. "It was the right way to begin this meet, and we are ready to go tomorrow."
The Redhawks finished ninth in each event Wednesday and is sitting in ninth place in the team standings with 36 points. San Jose State won both swimming events, but a strong performance by Northern Arizona in one-meter diving put the Lumberjacks in first place with 118 points, ahead of the Spartans at 101 points.
The WAC Championships kick into full gear Thursday, Feb. 28, starting with the preliminaries of the 500 freestyle, 200 individual medley, and 50 freestyle at 11 a.m. local time. The finals of those three events as well as the 200 freestyle relay will commence at 6:30 p.m. Central time Thursday.