Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, November 18
Houston, TX
All Day
Colorado State
at
Phill Hansel Invite
Rams Hit Lone Star State for Invitational
11/16/2021 12:11:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Team gets first prelims-finals test of season
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Three days of racing, hopefully twice a day. Better yet, at sea level.
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Colorado State's women's swimming and diving team – which has already set a program record with a 13-0 start to the dual season – steps into a true invitational this week at the University of Houston CRWC Natatorium for the Phill Hansel Invite. The meet runs Thursday through Saturday, with the preliminary session starting each morning at 10 a.m. Central Time. Finals the first two days begin at 6 p.m.; on Saturday 3 p.m. Diving prelims begin at noon each day. Live results will be available through the UH website.
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The format has a lot to offer head coach Christopher Woodard and his staff in looking ahead to the Mountain West Championships in February.
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"I think you learn a couple of things. You learn about their mental fortitude," Woodard said. "We always preach to get yourself in position in the morning, then improve upon that in the night, but you have to get yourself there in the morning. I think you learn a lot about kids and their preparation and their mental fortitude – am I going to get myself in the position I need to be, then can I capitalize on that at night. The other thing is we just learn physiologically who recovers better and who can withstand a three-day meet."
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The meet schedule presents two races the Rams have not yet competed, the 1,650 freestyle and the 800 freestyle relay. The Rams have done well in distance events this year, with freshman Maya White still holding the top time in the conference in the 1,000 freestyle, a tune up race early in the season which is not competed at the championships.
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It also represents the first time the team will compete at sea level this season. They will moderately taper for the meet, as well as wear tech suits and shave for competition for the first time.
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"I think it takes a special kind of athlete. I think there's still a little bit of a stigma for some athletes to come to a college or university at altitude and know their times may reflect that difficulty, but coming down from altitude, its' a huge, huge boost," Woodard said. "Our girls get amped to come out of altitude and put suits on."
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Colorado State will be one of eight teams in the field, which includes host Houston, Rice, Tulane, Washington State and Mountain West foes San Diego State, Air Force and New Mexico.
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With the size of the meet, each swimmer can compete into up to four individual races and five relays, giving Woodard a chance to load up his relays during the weekend. As for the individual races, it will help formulate a plan for each swimmer as to what their schedule may look like at the conference championships.
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"With most kids, we know what their two primaries are," he said. "With the third event, we might be able to mess around with it a little bit, because we get a fourth event. It might be something that helps them prep for one of their other races, or it might be an off event where we might see we have to make a decision on the third event, or it could be a fourth event to see if we can put somebody in a relay. Those third and fourth events give us some latitude in moving our lineup around."
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Rams in the Mountain West Top 10
1. Maya White, 1,000 free, 10:13.17*
4. Maisy Barbosa, 400 IM, 4:25.17*
6. Kristina Friedrichs, 100 free, 51.77*
7. Liza Lunina, 200 back, 2:03.05*
9. Kristina Friedrichs, 50 free, 23.62
10. Maya White, 500 free, 5:0321*
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Colorado State's women's swimming and diving team – which has already set a program record with a 13-0 start to the dual season – steps into a true invitational this week at the University of Houston CRWC Natatorium for the Phill Hansel Invite. The meet runs Thursday through Saturday, with the preliminary session starting each morning at 10 a.m. Central Time. Finals the first two days begin at 6 p.m.; on Saturday 3 p.m. Diving prelims begin at noon each day. Live results will be available through the UH website.
Â
The format has a lot to offer head coach Christopher Woodard and his staff in looking ahead to the Mountain West Championships in February.
Â
"I think you learn a couple of things. You learn about their mental fortitude," Woodard said. "We always preach to get yourself in position in the morning, then improve upon that in the night, but you have to get yourself there in the morning. I think you learn a lot about kids and their preparation and their mental fortitude – am I going to get myself in the position I need to be, then can I capitalize on that at night. The other thing is we just learn physiologically who recovers better and who can withstand a three-day meet."
Â
The meet schedule presents two races the Rams have not yet competed, the 1,650 freestyle and the 800 freestyle relay. The Rams have done well in distance events this year, with freshman Maya White still holding the top time in the conference in the 1,000 freestyle, a tune up race early in the season which is not competed at the championships.
Â
It also represents the first time the team will compete at sea level this season. They will moderately taper for the meet, as well as wear tech suits and shave for competition for the first time.
Â
"I think it takes a special kind of athlete. I think there's still a little bit of a stigma for some athletes to come to a college or university at altitude and know their times may reflect that difficulty, but coming down from altitude, its' a huge, huge boost," Woodard said. "Our girls get amped to come out of altitude and put suits on."
Â
Colorado State will be one of eight teams in the field, which includes host Houston, Rice, Tulane, Washington State and Mountain West foes San Diego State, Air Force and New Mexico.
Â
With the size of the meet, each swimmer can compete into up to four individual races and five relays, giving Woodard a chance to load up his relays during the weekend. As for the individual races, it will help formulate a plan for each swimmer as to what their schedule may look like at the conference championships.
Â
"With most kids, we know what their two primaries are," he said. "With the third event, we might be able to mess around with it a little bit, because we get a fourth event. It might be something that helps them prep for one of their other races, or it might be an off event where we might see we have to make a decision on the third event, or it could be a fourth event to see if we can put somebody in a relay. Those third and fourth events give us some latitude in moving our lineup around."
Â
Rams in the Mountain West Top 10
1. Maya White, 1,000 free, 10:13.17*
4. Maisy Barbosa, 400 IM, 4:25.17*
6. Kristina Friedrichs, 100 free, 51.77*
7. Liza Lunina, 200 back, 2:03.05*
9. Kristina Friedrichs, 50 free, 23.62
10. Maya White, 500 free, 5:0321*
Players Mentioned
BK, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE, FLY, BACK
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, BR IM
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