TicketsDALLAS – The University of Cincinnati swimming and diving program got off to a strong start on the first day of the 2021 American Athletic Conference Championships, inside the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium.
The Bearcats claimed gold in both the men's and women's 500 free Thursday evening.
Matea Sumajstorcic paced the competition in the women's event, touching the wall in 4:47.77, claiming her first conference championship victory.
The men's team swept the same event with Michael Balcerak leading the charge with a clocking of 4:22.64 for UC's second gold of the championship. Following Balcerak in second and third was Calvin Coetzee (4:23.19) and Noah Smith (4:23.36), respectively.
The men' 200 free relay team of Alberto Garcia, Dominic Polling, Hunter Gubeno, and Murat Sagdullaev broke the school record with a time of 1:19.98, and the first ever team under 1:20.
The men's 400 medley relay team also had a record breaking day when Blake Hanna, Dominic Polling, Michael Balcerak, and Alberto Garcia touched with wall with a time of 3:10.61, enough for second place and a new school record.
Hanna also posted the 15th fastest swim in the country with a relay split of 22.13, breaking his own school record.
FINALS SWIM
Women's 200 Free Relay
3. Maddie Exton, Jessica Davis, Abby Johnston, Molly Chelovitz (1:31.92)
Men's 200 Free Relay
2. Alberto Garcia, Dominic Polling, Hunter Gubeno, Murat Sagdullaev (1:19.98)
Women's 500 Free
1. Matea Sumajstorcic (4:47.77)
3. Sydney St. Rose-Finear (4:48.38)
8. Katie Qualls (4:53.86)
Men's 500 Free
1. Michael Balcerak (4:22.64)
2. Calvin Coetzee (4:23.19)
3. Noah Smith (4:23.36)
4. Kevin Leibold (4:24.24)
6. Mohamed Abdelbaky (4:29.14)
9. Riley Dafoe (4:31.91)
11. Bennett Vail (4:44.46)
Women's 200 IM
7. Camryn Streid (2:02.25)
8. Erin Shema (2:02.99) PR
11. Lindsey Sanders (2:03.01)
13. Victoria Hunt (2:06.46)
Men's 200 IM
2. Blake Hanna (1:45.76)
5. Spencer Sehlhorst (1:47.53)
6. Dalton Lillibridge (1:48.49)
Women's 50 Free
4. Maddie Exton (23.01) PR
6. Jessica Davis (23.31)
9. Abby Johnston (23.27)
11. Molly Chelovitz (23.61)
Men's 50 Free
7. Dominic Polling (20.58)
8. Murat Sagdullaev (20.73)
9. Kyle White (20.76)
10. Thomas Matthew (21.03)
Women's 400 Medley Relay
4. Jaclyn Klimczak, Victoria Hunt, Katherine Connolly, Maddie Exton (3:41.77)
Men's 400 Medley Relay
2. Blake Hanna, Dominic Polling, Michael Balcerak, Alberto Garcia (3:10.61)
DIVING RESULTS
Women's 1-Meter Finals
14. Audrey Capannari (223.55)
16. Genevieve Petti (195.20)
Men's 3-Meter Finals
4. Gus Staubitz (283.10)
5. Luke Cheetham (278.70)
7. Zane Freeman (260.85)
8. Tai Sims (236.90)
TEAM STANDINGS
WOMEN
1. Houston (307)
2. SMU (240)
3. Cincinnati (189)
4. Tulane (156)
MEN
1. SMU (374)
2. Cincinnati (299)
UP NEXT
The Bearcats claimed gold in both the men's and women's 500 free Thursday evening.
Matea Sumajstorcic paced the competition in the women's event, touching the wall in 4:47.77, claiming her first conference championship victory.
The men's team swept the same event with Michael Balcerak leading the charge with a clocking of 4:22.64 for UC's second gold of the championship. Following Balcerak in second and third was Calvin Coetzee (4:23.19) and Noah Smith (4:23.36), respectively.
The men' 200 free relay team of Alberto Garcia, Dominic Polling, Hunter Gubeno, and Murat Sagdullaev broke the school record with a time of 1:19.98, and the first ever team under 1:20.
The men's 400 medley relay team also had a record breaking day when Blake Hanna, Dominic Polling, Michael Balcerak, and Alberto Garcia touched with wall with a time of 3:10.61, enough for second place and a new school record.
Hanna also posted the 15th fastest swim in the country with a relay split of 22.13, breaking his own school record.
FINALS SWIM
Women's 200 Free Relay
3. Maddie Exton, Jessica Davis, Abby Johnston, Molly Chelovitz (1:31.92)
Men's 200 Free Relay
2. Alberto Garcia, Dominic Polling, Hunter Gubeno, Murat Sagdullaev (1:19.98)
Women's 500 Free
1. Matea Sumajstorcic (4:47.77)
3. Sydney St. Rose-Finear (4:48.38)
8. Katie Qualls (4:53.86)
Men's 500 Free
1. Michael Balcerak (4:22.64)
2. Calvin Coetzee (4:23.19)
3. Noah Smith (4:23.36)
4. Kevin Leibold (4:24.24)
6. Mohamed Abdelbaky (4:29.14)
9. Riley Dafoe (4:31.91)
11. Bennett Vail (4:44.46)
Women's 200 IM
7. Camryn Streid (2:02.25)
8. Erin Shema (2:02.99) PR
11. Lindsey Sanders (2:03.01)
13. Victoria Hunt (2:06.46)
Men's 200 IM
2. Blake Hanna (1:45.76)
5. Spencer Sehlhorst (1:47.53)
6. Dalton Lillibridge (1:48.49)
Women's 50 Free
4. Maddie Exton (23.01) PR
6. Jessica Davis (23.31)
9. Abby Johnston (23.27)
11. Molly Chelovitz (23.61)
Men's 50 Free
7. Dominic Polling (20.58)
8. Murat Sagdullaev (20.73)
9. Kyle White (20.76)
10. Thomas Matthew (21.03)
Women's 400 Medley Relay
4. Jaclyn Klimczak, Victoria Hunt, Katherine Connolly, Maddie Exton (3:41.77)
Men's 400 Medley Relay
2. Blake Hanna, Dominic Polling, Michael Balcerak, Alberto Garcia (3:10.61)
DIVING RESULTS
Women's 1-Meter Finals
14. Audrey Capannari (223.55)
16. Genevieve Petti (195.20)
Men's 3-Meter Finals
4. Gus Staubitz (283.10)
5. Luke Cheetham (278.70)
7. Zane Freeman (260.85)
8. Tai Sims (236.90)
TEAM STANDINGS
WOMEN
1. Houston (307)
2. SMU (240)
3. Cincinnati (189)
4. Tulane (156)
MEN
1. SMU (374)
2. Cincinnati (299)
UP NEXT