Cullen Breaks Record Again, Cougars Win Three Events on Day Two of Phill Hansel Invitational
11/21/2024 8:24:00 PM | Swimming & Diving
Cullen, Fangli and McLeod collect wins while Cougars claim 11 podiums
HOUSTON – The RV University of Houston Swimming & Diving team won three events, broke a program record, earned 11 podium finishes and clinched a NCAA Zone Cut on the second day of the Phill Hansel Invitational on Thursday at CRWC Natatorium.
Houston continues to lead through the second day of the meet, leading the pack by over 400 points with 1,243. Rice holds second with 792 while Nevada rounds out the top three with 656. Air Force sits in fourth (627) with Florida Gulf Coast (523), New Mexico State (460.5), New Mexico (387.5) and San Jose State (312) trailing behind.
For the third time this season, freshman Lottie Cullen set a new program record in the 100-yard backstroke. After toppling her previous mark in the leadoff of the 400-yard medley relay yesterday, the Belfast, Northern Ireland, native swam a 51.19 to improve her record and claim the top spot in the event. Sophomore Elizabeth Jimenez finished fourth in the event and moved up to sixth on Houston's top 10 list with a time of 53.94. Fifth-year Danielle Titus won the B-Finals (54.98) while freshmen Regina Torres Pomar and Alexandra Curcan also earned points in the event, finishing 13th (55.49) and 18th (56.51), respectively.
The Cougars shined in the day's diving event as the team swept the podium of the 3-meter. Sophomore Michelle McLeod dominated, posting a score of 345.05 for first place with fifth-years Hedda Grelz and Emilia Waters placing second (309.50) and third (309.25). Freshman Caroline Roelen earned her second NCAA Zone Cut of the weekend, tallying a score of 304.85 in the consolation finals for ninth place with senior Josie Graves finishing in 10th (272.30).
Senior Henrietta Fangli capped Houston's wins on the day, leading a Cougar 1-2 in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.17. Sophomore Evelyn Entrekin earned sole possession of third on Houston's top 10 times list in the event, placing second with a 59.76. Junior Virag Peter capped Houston's representation in the A-Finals, claiming fourth (1:01.98).
The Cougars' 800-yard freestyle relay team of junior Liya Goupil, Entrekin, freshman Sienna Bruner and Jimenez took second (7:17.40), missing out on the top spot by less than a tenth of a second to Rice (7:17.31).
Goupil also shined in the 200-yard freestyle, using the fifth fastest time in program history of 1:47.31 to place third. Bruner (1:50.11) took seventh while freshman Kaeli White (10th, 1:50.12), sophomore Megan Unruh (17th, 1:50.70) and senior Mary Catherine Jurica (19th, 1:51.15) completed Houston's points haul in the event.
Another five Cougars earned points in the 400-yard individual medley. Junior Landry Hadder bettered her fourth fastest time in program history by three thousandths of a second, touching the wall in 4:16.97 for third place. Also in the A-Final, sophomore Sydney Nethercutt placed sixth (4:22.24) while sophomore Nora Hetyei took seventh (4:23.82) and freshman Kristina DiPietro finished eighth (4:25.93). Freshman Mariana Cote also earned points in the event, taking 20th with a time of 4:28.39.
Junior Noor El Gendy led Houston's effort in the 100-yard butterfly, placing third with a time of 53.72. Just behind her, senior Adelaide Meuter took fourth with a 53.77 while senior Abbie Alvarez placed sixth with a 54.98. Torres Pomar and sophomore Tierney Howell finished 11th and 21st with times of 55.71 and 56.14, respectively.
The 200-yard medley relay team of Cullen, Fangli, El Gendy and Goupil capped Houston's point scoring on the day, taking third in the event with a time of 1:39.06.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
Events: 1650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle Relay, Platform diving
Bolded events will have preliminary heats earlier in the day. For swimming, there will be five final heats for each event. Diving will have championship finals for the top eight from preliminaries, with the following eight competing in the consolation finals.
Swimming prelims start at 10 a.m., followed by diving prelims immediately afterward along with the 1,650 free competitions. Diving consolation finals begin right after prelims conclude. Final heats start at 4:30 p.m., and diving finals will begin during the break before the final relay of the day.
JOIN the FREESTYLE FUND
Fans are invited to join the Freestyle Fund to support Houston Swimming & Diving. Freestyle Fund members provide financial support directly to Houston Swimming & Diving for needs beyond the program's operating budget. For more information, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSwim on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarSwim or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougarswim.
– UHCougars.com –
Houston continues to lead through the second day of the meet, leading the pack by over 400 points with 1,243. Rice holds second with 792 while Nevada rounds out the top three with 656. Air Force sits in fourth (627) with Florida Gulf Coast (523), New Mexico State (460.5), New Mexico (387.5) and San Jose State (312) trailing behind.
For the third time this season, freshman Lottie Cullen set a new program record in the 100-yard backstroke. After toppling her previous mark in the leadoff of the 400-yard medley relay yesterday, the Belfast, Northern Ireland, native swam a 51.19 to improve her record and claim the top spot in the event. Sophomore Elizabeth Jimenez finished fourth in the event and moved up to sixth on Houston's top 10 list with a time of 53.94. Fifth-year Danielle Titus won the B-Finals (54.98) while freshmen Regina Torres Pomar and Alexandra Curcan also earned points in the event, finishing 13th (55.49) and 18th (56.51), respectively.
The Cougars shined in the day's diving event as the team swept the podium of the 3-meter. Sophomore Michelle McLeod dominated, posting a score of 345.05 for first place with fifth-years Hedda Grelz and Emilia Waters placing second (309.50) and third (309.25). Freshman Caroline Roelen earned her second NCAA Zone Cut of the weekend, tallying a score of 304.85 in the consolation finals for ninth place with senior Josie Graves finishing in 10th (272.30).
Senior Henrietta Fangli capped Houston's wins on the day, leading a Cougar 1-2 in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 59.17. Sophomore Evelyn Entrekin earned sole possession of third on Houston's top 10 times list in the event, placing second with a 59.76. Junior Virag Peter capped Houston's representation in the A-Finals, claiming fourth (1:01.98).
The Cougars' 800-yard freestyle relay team of junior Liya Goupil, Entrekin, freshman Sienna Bruner and Jimenez took second (7:17.40), missing out on the top spot by less than a tenth of a second to Rice (7:17.31).
Goupil also shined in the 200-yard freestyle, using the fifth fastest time in program history of 1:47.31 to place third. Bruner (1:50.11) took seventh while freshman Kaeli White (10th, 1:50.12), sophomore Megan Unruh (17th, 1:50.70) and senior Mary Catherine Jurica (19th, 1:51.15) completed Houston's points haul in the event.
Another five Cougars earned points in the 400-yard individual medley. Junior Landry Hadder bettered her fourth fastest time in program history by three thousandths of a second, touching the wall in 4:16.97 for third place. Also in the A-Final, sophomore Sydney Nethercutt placed sixth (4:22.24) while sophomore Nora Hetyei took seventh (4:23.82) and freshman Kristina DiPietro finished eighth (4:25.93). Freshman Mariana Cote also earned points in the event, taking 20th with a time of 4:28.39.
Junior Noor El Gendy led Houston's effort in the 100-yard butterfly, placing third with a time of 53.72. Just behind her, senior Adelaide Meuter took fourth with a 53.77 while senior Abbie Alvarez placed sixth with a 54.98. Torres Pomar and sophomore Tierney Howell finished 11th and 21st with times of 55.71 and 56.14, respectively.
The 200-yard medley relay team of Cullen, Fangli, El Gendy and Goupil capped Houston's point scoring on the day, taking third in the event with a time of 1:39.06.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
Events: 1650 Freestyle, 200 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, 200 Breaststroke, 200 Butterfly, 400 Freestyle Relay, Platform diving
Bolded events will have preliminary heats earlier in the day. For swimming, there will be five final heats for each event. Diving will have championship finals for the top eight from preliminaries, with the following eight competing in the consolation finals.
Swimming prelims start at 10 a.m., followed by diving prelims immediately afterward along with the 1,650 free competitions. Diving consolation finals begin right after prelims conclude. Final heats start at 4:30 p.m., and diving finals will begin during the break before the final relay of the day.
JOIN the FREESTYLE FUND
Fans are invited to join the Freestyle Fund to support Houston Swimming & Diving. Freestyle Fund members provide financial support directly to Houston Swimming & Diving for needs beyond the program's operating budget. For more information, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSwim on X and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarSwim or on the team's Instagram page at @uhcougarswim.
– UHCougars.com –
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