University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
Arena Pro Swim Series Meet
Koutsouveli Finishes 16th at Arena Pro Swim Series
4/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
HOUSTON - University of Houston swimmer Eleanna Koutsouveli placed 16th overall at the Mesa Arena Pro Swim Series competing against some of the world's best swimmers at the Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa, Ariz., Friday.
"It was a great morning swim with lots of room for improvement this evening," head swimming and diving coach Ryan Wochomurka said. "Eleanna is measuring herself against some of the best in the world at this meet so it is a great learning opportunity."
Koutsouveli, the American Athletic Conference 100-yard and 200-yard Backstroke Champion, had an impressive prelims after being seeded 42nd in the field of 52. The Athens, Greece, native placed 16th overall to move on to finals. She touched the wall at 1:03.80, 3.73 seconds behind the leader, five-time long-course world champion Katinka Hosszu.
In the consolation finals, freshman Koutsouveli finished eighth in Heat B with a time of 1:04.31, 1.64 seconds behind the Heat B winner Lisa Bratton from Texas A&M.
Koutsouveli's time in prelims, 1:03.80, ties the second best time in her home country Greece.
The three-day meet is the fourth stop on the Arena Pro Swim Series. The Arena Pro Swim Series at Mesa will serve as a FINA-approved competition where swimmers can achieve qualifying times for the 2016 Olympic Games.
Koutsouveli will compete again tomorrow in the 200-meter backstroke. The Arena Pro Swim Series offers a live stream through USAswimming.org.
"She was a little off from this morning, but battled hard in tough weather conditions," Wochomurka said. "We're looking forward to the 200 back tomorrow and hopefully a little less wind."
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