HOUSTON — The University of Hawai'i men's and women's swimming and diving teams swept the Big West Championships on Saturday night at the CRWC Natatorium in Houston, Texas. It is the fourth time the two programs won conference championships in the same year (2019, '20, '24, and '26).
The Rainbow Warriors entered the day with a slim 25-point lead after re-taking first place on Friday. The 'Bows continued to hold their tenuous lead throughout the day, but the championship hinged on the final event of the meet – the 400 freestyle relay where UH held off Grand Canyon by less than 3/100th of a second to clinch the title. Overall, the men amassed 780 points and held off Grand Canyon by 62 points for the championship crown.
On the women's side, the Rainbow Wahine entered the final day with a 110-point lead and maintained their advantage throughout the day and would not be challenged. The 'Bows finished with 798 points, over 100 clear of their closest opponent. UC Davis came in second with 692 points and defending champion UC Santa Barbara capturing third with 660 points.
The UH men started the day with the 1650 freestyle in which they had two swimmers earn a total of 27 points with Evan Pickles coming in fourth with a time of 15:32.31 and Eric Kupsky coming in seventh with a time of 15:44.43.
The Rainbow Warriors placed first, second, and eighth in the 100 free with Karol Ostrowski winning his third individual event of the meet. He finished with a 42.41 mark which set a new Big West record and was his third NCAA qualifying time set during the meet. Finn Brophy captured silver with a time of 42.67 while Regan Richardson finished eighth and picked up 11 points with a time of 44.55.
Tom Thalau continued his outstanding meet, taking bronze in the 200 breast, finishing at 1:56.18. Pickles finished in eighth with a time of 2:01.07.
In the 200 fly, Victor Dagenais finished strong to clinch the bronze to add 16 points with a time of 1:45.32.
Hawai'i's men's divers Juan Esteban Ramirez Tamayo and Oliver Wignall claimed silver and bronze in the platform dive to help the men hold their lead.
The 400 free relay was the lynch pin event for the men's championship. Hawai'i's team of Brophy, Thalau, Dagenais, and Ostrowski captured the gold and the Big West title by touching the wall at 2:52.18 which was a Big West record.
For the women, Holly Nelson continued her dominance in the pool, winning the 100 freestyle in a blazing time of 48.67. Teammate Mia Blazhevska Eminova seized a bronze medal to add 16 points in the 200 fly.
For the third-straight day, the women's diving team came out on top. UH's Lovisa Gustavsson won the platform with a score of 269.70, while Keira Chandler won silver with a score of 244.05. Macie Wheeler finished in fifth place with a 216.50 while Avery Coates came in sixth (200.00).
Hawai'i finished the meet with a silver medal in the 400 free relay, as they were just edged out at the wall by UC Santa Barbara. On the relay team was Nelson,
Quincy Key, Blazhevska Eminova and
Zofia Tyminska.
These are the first conference crowns under second-year head coach Steve Allnutt, who is a UH alum was a member of the 2011 Conference USA title team. For the women, this marks their 11th conference crown overall (1 Big West; 8 MPSF, 1 WAC, 1 PCAA), while the men have won eight conference titles (1 Big West, 3 MPSF, 1 Conference USA, 3 WAC).
EVENT WINNERS - Saturday
Men's Champions
100 Freestyle - Karol Ostrowski - 42.41*^
400 Freestyle Relay - Finn Brophy, Tom Thalau, Victor Dagenais, Karol Ostrowski
Women's Champions
100 Freestyle - Holly Nelson - 48.67
Platform Diving - Lovisa Gustavsson - 269.70 points*
UH Top Times (rank)
200 Butterfly (Men's) - Victor Dagenais - 1:45.20 (2nd)
200 Butterfly (Women's) - Mia Blazhevska Eminova - 1:59.68 (5th)
100 Freestyle (Women's) - Holly Nelson - 48.67 (5th)
200 Breaststroke (Men's) - Tom Thalau - 1:56.67 (5th)
1650 Freestyle (Women's) - Gabriela Kelly - 16:55.79 (7th)
1650 Freestyle (Men's) - Evan Pickles - 15:32.31 (8th)
200 Backstroke (Men's) - Korey Tiell - 1:45.17 (8th)
200 Backstroke (Women's) - Carlotta Ingenerf - 1:59.01 (9th)
*- Big West Record
^ - NCAA Automatic Qualifier
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