Houston Earns More Hardware on Day Two in Indy

INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Houston Swimming & Diving team didn't take its foot off the gas on the second day of action at the 2019 American Athletic Conference Swimming & Diving Championships. Houston won two individual championships and won the 200 Freestyle relay, setting a program record in the process.

"It was a very impressive day," said Head Coach Ryan Wochomurka. "Certainly, we had some great swims in the morning and positioned ourselves for the finals this evening. To win three out of four events tonight was special. To finish the night with a school record on that 200 Freestyle relay we hadn't won before was exciting. "

"We're three sessions into a seven-session meet. Tomorrow morning will be very telling for the final outcome when you look at point totals. Day three of a meet like this for us is like a golf tournament. It's moving day. Hopefully we can move, shift a little bit, and put a little separation from a point's standpoint. Tomorrow morning in the prelims is certainly going to be the biggest challenge. I'm proud of Zarena, Laura, that relay, and certainly Mykenzie for getting on the podium. Our (athletes in the individual Medley) were fantastic tonight. To have four in the finals (of the 200 IM), to have Sam and Monique both make the championship final in the 500 Free, and Haley did a great job in the consolation final. Today was a great day all around and I'm excited to see what we can do tomorrow".

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Cougars picked up right where they left off on the previous day, sending four swimmers to finals of the 500 Freestyle. Zarena Brown led the group, finishing in first-place with an NCAA B-Cut time of 4:47.20 in the prelims and advancing to the A-Final where she clocked her second NCAA B-Cut time of 4:45.58 for first-place. Monique Rae ( 6^th; 4:53.12), Samantha Medlin (7^th; 4:53.25), and Haley Benjamin (13^th; 4:54.50) rounded out the field for the Cougars.
Houston continued to put itself in a good position heading to the evening session after sending a field-leading five swimmers to the finals of the 200 Individual Medley.
Laura Laderoute led the Cougars, finishing second in the prelims at 2:00.17, followed by Ioanna Sacha in third-place (2:00.17), Peyton Kondis is fourth-place (2:00.24), Eleanna Koutsouveli in seventh-place (2:01.60), and Morgan Rosas in tenth-place (2:02.09).
In the finals of the 200 IM, Laderoute won the event for the second time in three years after clocking a personal record and NCAA B-Cut time of 1:59.20. Kondis also clocked a personal best and NCAA B-Cut time, finishing third-place at 1:59.50. Eleaanna Koutsouveli (6^th; 2:00.27), Ioanna Sacha (7^th; 2:00.36), and Morgan Rosas (11^th; 2:02.97) rounded out the field for Houston.
In the final event of the day, Mykenzie Leehy and Kathryn Power advanced to the finals of the 50 Freestyle after posting lifetime best in the prelims. Leehy led Houston with a second-place finish at 22.89 and Power finished in fifth-place at 23.35.
In the finals of the event, Leehy and Power each posted lifetime best, with Leehy taking second place at 22.76 and Power in fifth-place at 23.16.
The Cougars once again made a statement in the final event of the day, posting a program best time of 1:30.59 in the 200 Freestyle Relay for first-place. Brown, Laderoute, Power and Leehy posted the third relay win of the meet for the Cougars. The victory also marks the first time the Cougars have won the 200 Freestyle Relay at the conference meet.
Laderoute has now won the 200 IM twice in three years and Brown is now a back-to-back champion in the 500 Freestyle.
Houston will head into the third day of competition leading the field with 303 points.

UP NEXT
Houston will continue meet action at the 2019 American Athletic Conference Championships with prelims beginning at 10 a.m. ET tomorrow at IUPUI Natatorium. Ticket for all sessions are on sale and can be purchased here.

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Haley Benjamin

Zarena Brown

Peyton Kondis

Eleanna Koutsouveli

Laura Laderoute

Mykenzie Leehy

Samantha Medlin

Kathryn Power

Monique Rae

Morgan Rosas

Ioanna Sacha

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