Texas A&M’s women’s swimming won all five events in Friday’s evening finals to win the 2018 Art Adamson Invitational. The Aggies have won each Art Adamson Invitational for the seventh straight year, winning each iteration of the vent since the 2012-13 season.
The Aggies ended the day with five times that ranked in the top 3 of the nation, and 13 NCAA A-or-B-cut times.
“We had a really good day today,” head coach Steve Bultman said. “We picked up a number of NCAA qualifiers, so we are really excited. Overall, it was a really exciting day and we got a lot of things accomplished.”
The day was highlighted by superlative performances in the 200-yard breaststroke, where Sydney Pickrem and Anna Belousova posted the two fastest times in the nation, NCAA A-cuts of 2:06.13 and 2:06.26, respectively. The Aggies took each of the top four spots in the event, with Kylie Powers posting a 2:11.47, the second-fastest time by a freshman nationally this season, and Victoria Roubique swimming 2:12.78, an NCAA B-cut time.
“It’s been a long meet over the past couple of days, so I’m happy that I came away with good times,” Pickrem said. “I really wasn’t focusing on the outcome, just trusting the journey and the process.”
The Aggies relay team of Katie Portz, Claire Rasmus, Raena Eldridge and Pickrem posted the country’s top time this season in the 400-yard freestyle relay, swimming a 3:16.33.
Pickrem won another event, the 200-yard backstroke, with the third-best time in Division I, an NCAA B-cut of 1:53.26. Sara Metzch also made an NCAA B-cut, finishing fifth in that event with a time of 1:56.42.
Taylor Pike posted the second-best time in the nation with an NCAA B-cut of 1:54.05 in the 200-fly, winning the event. Jing Quah finished second, also notching an NCAA B-cut with a 1:54.92
Four Aggies notched NCAA B-cuts in the 100-yard freestyle, led by Rasmus, who swam a 48.57, finishing second. Eldridge (49.25) and Portz (49.41) also notched NCAA B-cuts, finishing third and fourth. Amanda Armstrong won the B-Final with a B-cut time of 49.42.
Haley Yelle notched an NCAA B-cut in the afternoon session, swimming a second-place 16:06.87 in the 1650-yard freestyle.
In the men’s meet …
No. 13 Texas A&M’s men’s swimming team recorded four nation-leading times, as the Aggies swept the Friday schedule to win the Art Adamson Invitational for the third straight season.
“This was a great meet for our team,” said head coach Jay Holmes. “Our guys were on point this week, it was fun to see. These guys showed up and performed really well.”
Freshman Shaine Casas set a new Texas A&M school record, swimming a national-best 1:40.04 to win the 200-yard backstroke. Ethan Gogulski came in second, swimming an NCAA B-cut time of 1:42.94. Anthony Kim scored an NCAA B-cut with a 1:44.92 in the B-Final.
“I was just really excited to race,” Casas said. “It was the first time we’ve rested and got to put suits on this season, and I finally got to swim my race.”
The Aggies went 1-2-3 in the 1650-yard freestyle, led by Felipe Rizzo with the fastest time in Division I at 15:07.94, making an NCAA B-cut. Jake Gibbons finished second with a 15:26.24 and Mark Schnippenk finished third at 15:29.99.
The Aggies’ 400-yard freestyle relay of Adam Koster, Mike Thibert, Mark Theall and Clayton Bobo swam the event in 2:52.30, the top time in the country this season.
Angel Martinez posted a nation-leading 1:42.07 to win the 200-yard butterfly, posting a B-cut along with teammate Mateo Gonzalez (1:44.86), who finished third.
Bobo touched the wall first in the 100-yard freestyle, as the Aggies took each of the top four spots with NCAA B-cut times. Bobo’s 43.28 marks the best time for a Division I freshman this season. Koster (43.40), Theall (43.36) and Thibert (43.62) each notched an NCAA B-cut in the event.
Benjamin Walker took top honors in the 200-yard breaststroke, swimming a 1:54.54, the third-best time the country. Tanner Olson also posted an NCAA B-cut with a time of 1:57.43, finishing third.
— The above press release was posted by Swimming World in conjunction with Texas A&M. For press releases and advertising inquiries please contact Advertising@SwimmingWorld.com.
