Feb. 24, 2010
The Lobos smashed a five-year-old school record today in the 200-yard medley relay at the Mountain West Conference Championships. The relay team consisting of Jennifer Patterson, Nicole Peirce, Ashley Grisdale and Marissa Campbell shaved more than a full second off the previous school record, set in 2005, by recording a time of 1:45.21 to finish in eighth place.
New Mexico is currently in fifth place with 63 points at the end of the first day of competition. BYU leads the rankings with 133 points. For the 11th consecutive year, the Oklahoma City Community College Aquatic Center in Oklahoma City, Okla., is serving as the host site for the MWC Championships.
In the 800-yard freestyle relay, Patterson, Jennifer Burgess, Tonya Gramstad and Bridget O’Hara finished seventh, touching the wall in 7:37.17. The time ranks fifth on the all-time record list for the Lobos.
On the board Ashlee Erickson led the way for New Mexico with a ninth-place finish in 1-meter competition. After a preliminary score of 264.44, her final score score of 300.70 was one of four final marks to break the previous championship record of 294.85. She was followed by Alexandra Evangulova in 12th (268.15) and Aubrey Bush in 14th (258.30).
Day two events begin with the men’s 1-meter springboard and men’s and women’s 500-yard freestyle preliminaries at 10 a.m. CT. The finals competition starts at 6 p.m. CT. The 2010 MWC Swimming and Diving Championships conclude Saturday, February 27.