Colorado State University Athletics
Friday, November 19
Houston, TX
All Day
Colorado State
at
Phill Hansel Invite
Rams Continue Assault on Record Book
11/19/2021 8:23:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving
Barbosa cracks 400 IM; Friedrichs breaks through in fourth event
HOUSTON, Texas. – Another day at the Phil Hansel Invitational, another freshman produces a top-five program time. Another event, another top-five time for Kristina Friedrichs.
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The second day of the invitational at the University of Houston Natatorium didn't disappoint for Colorado State's women's swimming and diving team, as the Rams continued to drop time and take aim at the school record book. While the newest members of the team continue to make a name for themselves, Friedrichs – a senior captain – is just strengthening her reputation.
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Colorado State remains in fourth place with 619 points, one ahead of Washington State. San Diego State continues to lead the meet at 1,014.
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"I knew we were capable of this, but I'm a little bit surprised, just because of our situation the last four weeks, not knowing whether we'd be physically capable of handling it," head coach Christopher Woodard said. "I knew we'd see season bests, I knew we'd see some personal bests, but some of the swims have surprised me, especially considering our situation."
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She placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly in at time of 53.96, but posted a 53.84 in the prelims, the second-fastest time in the event for a Ram. She is one of two swimmers who have their name listed in four different events, the other being Haley Rowley, who owns the top time in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyles, as well as the 400 individual medley.
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Friedrichs, who began the year with a top-five time in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, has picked up the 100 fly as one of her normal events this year and is swimming the leg on the medley relay teams to bolster their times. Her breathing pattern may not be normal – she's looks to the side – but her results have been stellar.
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"It was something she wanted to pursue, and I had no doubt she could do it," Woodard said of Friedrichs' pursuit the fly. "I think the issues we talked about were the strength of her kick and the speed in terms of her turns, but when she hits open water, there's no doubt, she's a bull. She hard charges. She did exactly what she set out to do. She said I'm going to skip over the 54s and hit a 53."
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Rowley may eventually have a challenger for her 400 IM crown (4:10.67), as freshman Maisy Barbosa placed fifth in the event with a 4:20.90 after dropping 1.83 seconds from her prelims swim, and classmate Maya White was eighth in 4:26.39, a day after she cracked the top five in the 500 freestyle. The IM proved to be a big event for the Rams, with Emily Chorpening placing 12th, Abbey Owenby 14th and Olivia LeBlanc 20th.
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The event was one – along with the 500 free – where Woodard kept cautious optimism in his pocket, but both have proven to be big for the team, and Barbosa backed up a strong finish in the 200 IM the day before with another outstanding finish with the yardage doubled, posting the fourth-best time in program history.
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"There's no two ways about it, and we talk about it and sometimes we think we don't deserve the attention," Woodard said. "She's come to the conclusion – which is a really good conclusion to come to – that she deserves the limelight and she takes advantage of it."
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The Rams had three placers each in both the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. In the freestyle, Sarah Mundy led the pack in 12th, followed by Anika Johnson (13th) and Megan Hager (15th). Mundy and Johnson were both less than half a second off their personal records in the event, with the duo ranking 3-4 in program history with times set at the Mountain West Championships a year ago on a full taper.
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Emma Breslin led the breaststroke crew in 14th, with Katie McClelland a spot behind in 15th, Kate Meunier in 19th. Liza Lunina came in 12th in the 100 backstroke, with Elsa Litteken 23rd.
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In the diving well, Colorado State produced three placers on the 3-meter, with Lindsay Gizzi fifth overall, Jozie Meitz ninth and Jessica Albanna 15th.
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The finals started and ended with relays, with the Rams placing fifth in both the 200 medley and 800 free relay. Lunina, McClelland, Friedrichs and Mundy were on the medley team, which posted a 1:42.07; Friedrichs and Mundy were joined by Johnson and Hager on the free team, coming in at 7:25.87.
Â
Through the first two days, the Rams have made it a habit of dropping time and establishing personal records. Even still, Woodard is seeing aspects of their swims where they can improve, and he wants his team to carry both truths forward.
Â
"I don't want to temper expectations; I want them to hard-charge, but basically get them to realize this is a set-up for conference and there's still things to work on, so let's pat ourselves on the back and then Monday morning kick ourselves in the butt," he said. "This should only encourage them there are so many more avenues we can pursue in training, both mentally and physically."
Â
Saturday's seven events will conclude the meet, with the Rams competing in the 1,650 freestyle and the divers on the platform for the first time this season. The preliminaries begin at 9 a.m. MT, with the finals starting at 2 p.m.
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The second day of the invitational at the University of Houston Natatorium didn't disappoint for Colorado State's women's swimming and diving team, as the Rams continued to drop time and take aim at the school record book. While the newest members of the team continue to make a name for themselves, Friedrichs – a senior captain – is just strengthening her reputation.
Â
Colorado State remains in fourth place with 619 points, one ahead of Washington State. San Diego State continues to lead the meet at 1,014.
Â
"I knew we were capable of this, but I'm a little bit surprised, just because of our situation the last four weeks, not knowing whether we'd be physically capable of handling it," head coach Christopher Woodard said. "I knew we'd see season bests, I knew we'd see some personal bests, but some of the swims have surprised me, especially considering our situation."
Â
She placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly in at time of 53.96, but posted a 53.84 in the prelims, the second-fastest time in the event for a Ram. She is one of two swimmers who have their name listed in four different events, the other being Haley Rowley, who owns the top time in the 500, 1,000 and 1,650 freestyles, as well as the 400 individual medley.
Â
Friedrichs, who began the year with a top-five time in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, has picked up the 100 fly as one of her normal events this year and is swimming the leg on the medley relay teams to bolster their times. Her breathing pattern may not be normal – she's looks to the side – but her results have been stellar.
Â
"It was something she wanted to pursue, and I had no doubt she could do it," Woodard said of Friedrichs' pursuit the fly. "I think the issues we talked about were the strength of her kick and the speed in terms of her turns, but when she hits open water, there's no doubt, she's a bull. She hard charges. She did exactly what she set out to do. She said I'm going to skip over the 54s and hit a 53."
Â
Rowley may eventually have a challenger for her 400 IM crown (4:10.67), as freshman Maisy Barbosa placed fifth in the event with a 4:20.90 after dropping 1.83 seconds from her prelims swim, and classmate Maya White was eighth in 4:26.39, a day after she cracked the top five in the 500 freestyle. The IM proved to be a big event for the Rams, with Emily Chorpening placing 12th, Abbey Owenby 14th and Olivia LeBlanc 20th.
Â
The event was one – along with the 500 free – where Woodard kept cautious optimism in his pocket, but both have proven to be big for the team, and Barbosa backed up a strong finish in the 200 IM the day before with another outstanding finish with the yardage doubled, posting the fourth-best time in program history.
Â
"There's no two ways about it, and we talk about it and sometimes we think we don't deserve the attention," Woodard said. "She's come to the conclusion – which is a really good conclusion to come to – that she deserves the limelight and she takes advantage of it."
Â
The Rams had three placers each in both the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. In the freestyle, Sarah Mundy led the pack in 12th, followed by Anika Johnson (13th) and Megan Hager (15th). Mundy and Johnson were both less than half a second off their personal records in the event, with the duo ranking 3-4 in program history with times set at the Mountain West Championships a year ago on a full taper.
Â
Emma Breslin led the breaststroke crew in 14th, with Katie McClelland a spot behind in 15th, Kate Meunier in 19th. Liza Lunina came in 12th in the 100 backstroke, with Elsa Litteken 23rd.
Â
In the diving well, Colorado State produced three placers on the 3-meter, with Lindsay Gizzi fifth overall, Jozie Meitz ninth and Jessica Albanna 15th.
Â
The finals started and ended with relays, with the Rams placing fifth in both the 200 medley and 800 free relay. Lunina, McClelland, Friedrichs and Mundy were on the medley team, which posted a 1:42.07; Friedrichs and Mundy were joined by Johnson and Hager on the free team, coming in at 7:25.87.
Â
Through the first two days, the Rams have made it a habit of dropping time and establishing personal records. Even still, Woodard is seeing aspects of their swims where they can improve, and he wants his team to carry both truths forward.
Â
"I don't want to temper expectations; I want them to hard-charge, but basically get them to realize this is a set-up for conference and there's still things to work on, so let's pat ourselves on the back and then Monday morning kick ourselves in the butt," he said. "This should only encourage them there are so many more avenues we can pursue in training, both mentally and physically."
Â
Saturday's seven events will conclude the meet, with the Rams competing in the 1,650 freestyle and the divers on the platform for the first time this season. The preliminaries begin at 9 a.m. MT, with the finals starting at 2 p.m.
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Players Mentioned
DIVE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BK, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, BR
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BR, FLY, IM
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
DIVE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, FLY
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE, FLY, BACK
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
DIVE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
BREAST
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE, FLY
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FREE
/ Women's Swimming & Diving
FR, BR IM
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