Records Fall as Houston Wins Phill Hansel Invitational

HOUSTON – The RV University of Houston Swimming & Diving team capped a successful Phill Hansel Invitational, winning the meet while breaking two school records and securing nine NCAA standards at CRWC Natatorium on Friday.

Houston dominated the scoring, securing the victory with 1,941 points. Rice took second (1,155) with Air Force (1,022) rounding out the podium in third. Nevada (1,001), FGCU (792), New Mexico State (607.5), New Mexico (569.5) and San Jose State (431). Rounded out the standings.

Freshman Lottie Cullen continued a remarkable debut season, breaking the 200-yard backstroke record for her third record of the meet having bettered her 100-yard backstroke mark on Thursday while aiding in the 400-yard medley relay team toppling the program record on Wednesday. Her time of 1:53.24 won her the B-Finals in the event and was the fastest among anyone in the finals heats.

Junior Virag Peter also set a new program-best, winning the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:08.72 to lead a podium sweep for Houston. Senior Henrietta Fangli earned a NCAA B-Cut in the event to finish second (2:11.88) while sophomore Evelyn Entrekin placed third (2:14.12).

Sophomore Sydney Nethercutt led another podium sweep for the Cougars in the 200-yard butterfly. After swimming the sixth fastest time in program history and earning an NCAA B-Cut in the prelims, Nethercutt shined again, posting a 1:57.49, the third fastest time in team history, to win the event. Behind her, senior Adelaide Meuter placed second (1:57.62) and junior Noor El Gendy touched the wall in third (1:57.71), both earning NCAA B-Cuts with the fourth and fifth fastest times in program history, respectively. Also earning points, sophomore Nora Hetyei finished fifth (2:00.13), senior Abbie Alvarez took eighth (2:03.36), freshman Kristina DiPietro placed ninth (2:00.70) and junior Isabella Lojewski earned 14^th (2:05.38).

Joining Cullen in the 200 back, sophomore Elizabeth Jimenez won the event with a B-Standard time of her own (1:56.92). The mark also moved her up to sixth on Houston's top ten times list. Fifth-year Danielle Titus also earned a spot on the podium, placing third with a time of 1:57.31. Hetyei (10^th, 1:58.86), freshman Regina Torres Pomar (14^th, 2:01.27), junior Landry Hadder (23^rd, 2:04.39) and freshman Kaeli White (24^th, 2:05.77) capped Houston's haul of points in the event.

Freshman Caroline Roelen continued a successful meet, earning her third NCAA Zone Cut of the invitational and taking first place in platform with a score of 279.40. Sophomore Michelle McLeod took third (249.75) while senior Josie Graves (242.15, fourth), fifth-year Hedda Grelz (235.10, fifth) and fifth-year Emilia Waters (222.45, sixth) also placed in the championship finals. Both Graves and Waters also clinched Zone Standards with their scores in prelims.

Junior Liya Goupil led Houston in the 200-yard freestyle, placing second with a time of 49.84. Freshman Siena Bruner earned a spot in the A-Finals and placed eighth (50.88) while junior Jenna Kerkman touched the wall in 12^th (50.63).

In the day's distance event, Nethercutt placed fourth, posted the team's ninth fastest all-time mark and earned a B-Cut with a time of 16:40.96 in the 1,650-yard freestyle. Freshman Mariana Cote took sixth (16:46.68) while White (11^th, 17:01.98) and junior Gigi Casten (15^th, 17:28.98) also earned points for Houston.

Houston's 400-yard free relay team of Goupil, Bruner, Kerkman and Entrekin put a cap on the meet for the Cougars, placing second in the final event with a time of 3:20.93.

UP NEXT
Houston breaks for the winter before returning on Jan. 11 for a dual meet against Kansas.

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Records Fall as Houston Wins Phill Hansel Invitational

Players Mentioned

Abbie Alvarez

Gigi Casten

Mariana Cote

Lottie Cullen

Kristina DiPietro

Noor El Gendy

Evelyn Entrekin

Henrietta Fangli

Liya Goupil

Josie Graves

Hedda Grelz

Landry Hadder

Nora Hetyei

Elizabeth Jimenez

Jenna Kerkman

Isabella Lojewski

Michelle McLeod

Adelaide Meuter

Sydney Nethercutt

Virag Peter

Caroline Roelen

Danielle Titus

Regina Torres Pomar

Emilia Waters

Kaeli White

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