WAC Championship - Day 3
| Championship Central
The University of Wyoming Cowboy swimming and diving team used an event win from senior Adam Kalms to remain in contention after the third day of the Western Athletic Conference Championship in the Palo Alto College Aquatic Center in San Antonio, Texas. The Pokes are in third place with 447.5 points. UNLV claimed the top spot with a score of 476.5 with Air Force in second with 470.5 points.
"I thought we had a good day and had a good morning, we had a tough call on a DQ this morning but we recovered," UW head coach Tom Johnson said. "Tomorrow is probably our best day so we have to come back with a lot of fire and overcome the deficit."
Kalms won his third-straight 200 freestyle conference title. He has won two WAC Championships and one Mountain Pacific Sports Federation title. He clocked in with a time of 1:34.39. His time was an NCAA "B" cut time.
"It was awesome to see Adam win his third conference title in the 200 freestyle and that time should put him in the NCAA Championship," Johnson said. "He is ready to get better and improve on his time."
The 400 individual medley saw UW score 75 team points. Junior Ryan Nelson finished second with a time of 3:47.63. Freshman Ryan Ball finished third at 3:50.33. His mark in the prelims of 3:49.54 was a personal best and ranks as the second-fastest time in school history. Senior Jordan Turner finished fourth at 3:52.45. Freshman Wade Nelson finished fifth with a career-best 3:52.82, as it was fourth-fastest time in school history. Sophomore Patrick Jones finished 10th at 3:56.76 with Freshman Eric Oleson finishing 11th with a mark of 4:00.37.
"Ryan (Ball) and Wade (Nelson) stepped up and those freshman helped us out today," Johnson said.
Junior Kyle Scalise finished second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 54.41. Freshman Kyle White finished seventh with a career-best time of 55.28, which ranks 10th at Wyoming. Senior Michael McCormick finished 10th with the ninth fastest time in school history of 55.24. All three times were NCAA "B" cut times.
In the 100 butterfly, junior George Eglesfield finished sixth with a time of 48.08. Junior Austin Layman finished 16th at 49.78. Eglesfield also finished seventh in the 100 backstroke with a time of 50.18. His mark was the ninth fastest in Wyoming history. Layman finished 14th in the event with a mark of 3:14.13.The 400 medley relay team of Ball, Scalise, Eglesfield and Kalms finished fourth with a time of 3:14.13.
UW returns to the pool Saturday with seven events. On tap for the final day is the 100 and 1,650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly and 400 freestyle relay. The divers will also be in action on the platform.
Fans can follow all the action by visiting the WAC Championship Central with live results and video links.
