LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Lobos hold second place after bumping up an overall score of 441 in the second day of competition at the UNLV Winter Invitational.
The podium remains the same from day one in the Buchanan Natatorium with only a difference of team scores. Mountain West affiliates stand with current rankings of: UNLV at the top with 642.50 points for first place and NAU for third place after accumulating 420.50 points.
New Mexico proved an ongoing effort to come out with high performances as they added the 200-yard medley relay, 100-yard fly, 100-yard breaststroke, and 800-yard freestyle relay to their list of A-final finishes.
The team of Amber Amr, Lindsey Englestead, Samantha Moss, and April Chee kicked off the second day in the pool with a third place finish in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:43.93.
Next up was the 100-yard fly event where Moss was seen yet again in the first division of finishes as she took fifth place for the Lobos at 55.55.
The 100-yard breaststroke stands as the first tie of the season for New Mexico as second year swimmer, Lindsey Englestead, came in for a sharing time of 1:04.96 with Natalie Sanchez (UNLV) for fourth place. Emily McGill clocked in not long after for sixth place after touching the wall at 1:05.16.
Lobos’ team of sophomores, Anna Lengyel and Fanni Pataki, and seniors, Taylor McGregor and Caitlin Gardiner, brought day to a close with a second place finish in the 800-yard freestyle relay after racing a final time of 7:31.55.
Aundrea Scott was the only athlete to represent New Mexico in the diving events and scored 237.40 to put her in fifth place for the 1-meter.
Head Coach Kunio Kono reflects on the days spent at UNLV, “I feel today went much better than yesterday. The girls adjusted more the competition and environment and had great performances.”
He includes, “Tomorrow will be the hardest day for our girls, especially the non-resting swimmers. But I do believe that they are tough enough to make it to the end of the meet.”
The Lobo coaching staff is impressed with the team’s performance as the past weeks of hard training have come to light in this weekend’s races.
Although the weekend has reached its end the UNLV Winter Invitational has not. The Lobos will have the opportunity to give one last push to further gather points and climb higher in rankings during the last day of the all day invite. Swimming and diving events will proceed until Monday in the third and final day of competition.