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After one day of competition, the UB Women's Swimming and Diving team sits tied for fourth in an eight team field at the MAC Championships, being held at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, OH.
Akron Leads After Day 1 of MAC Women’s Swimming & Diving Championships > MAC > News
MAC Women's Swimming & Diving Team Results (Following Day 1)
1. Akron -- 201 points
2. Miami -- 167
3. Eastern Michigan -- 148
T4. Buffalo -- 138
T4. Bowling Green -- 138
6. Ohio -- 114
7. Ball State -- 101
8. Toledo -- 85
Powers and Kuras Champions in Day One of MAC Women’s Swimming and Diving Championships - Buffalo
UB is unlikely to threaten for the team championship in this years event, but the first day of competition saw two individual champions.
Jessica Powers started things off right for Buffalo, winning the first individual event of the day, the 500 free, in a school-record 4:46.37. This time was nearly ten full seconds off her personal best, and bested the previous school record, set in 2008, by a second. Her time meets the 'B' threshold for NCAA qualification.
Also bringing home a top of the podium finish was senior Brittney Kuras, swimming in her signature event, the 200 Individual Medley. She also laid down a season best, touching the wall at 1:59.20. It was the third MAC Championship in the 200 IM for Kuras, who is the two-time reigning MAC Swimmer of the year and the best UB Athlete you've never heard of.
UB enjoyed second place in the 200 IM, as well, thanks to Spencer Rodriguez' personal-best 2:00.64, and also notched a second-place finish in the 200 free relay, getting out touched by Akron by just 15 hundredths of a second. Both Kuras and Rodriguez hit the 'B' qualifying mark, and the relay team was one of four teams to break the previous pool record in their race.
UB did not have a top five finisher in the 400 Medley Relay, 50 free, or 1 meter dives.
Today we'll see action in the 200 Medley Relay, the 400 IM, 100 Butterfly, 200 Freestyle, 100 Breaststroke, 3 meter diving, and the 800 Freestyle Relay. Lots of chances for individual podium finishes. Check back in the morning for coverage and a look ahead to Saturday's events!