COLLEGE STATION, Texas (2/16/22) – The University of Wyoming women's swimming & diving team completed Day 1 of the Mountain West Conference championships on Wednesday in emphatic fashion. The 800-yard freestyle relay team capped the night at Paup Pavilion with an applaud-worthy runner-up finish.

"Awesome first night," head coach Dave Denniston said. "The team had great energy and performed very well."

The 800-free relay comprised of senior Katelyn Blattner, sophomore Kali Franckowiak, senior Sani Carsrud and senior Lainee Jones touched second with a time of 7:16.54. That performance positions the Cowgirls in third with 153 points, as Nevada leads after accumulating 236 points.

"KB took charge in her last 100 to touch first on her leadoff leg," Denniston said. "Kali and Sani both fought hard to stay in the top three. Lainee Jones did what Lainee Jones does and anchored with all her heart."

That strong performance occurred following another noteworthy relay finish for Wyoming. The 200-yard medley relay team of junior Emily Giles, freshman Rachel Horne, sophomore Carly Palmer and senior Kira Crane took fourth, boasting a time of 1:40.25.

"Getting fourth was much better than expected," Denniston said. "Emily is dolphin kicking better than I've ever seen. Horne got up and raced breaststroke like a veteran. Carly crushed the butterfly, and Crane brought it home with her fastest split ever."

The 1-meter diving event was the third final that took place Wednesday. Junior Melissa Mirafuentes won the consolation final, while senior McKenna Houlihan and Gabriella Hagler placed sixth and seventh, respectively, in the same final.

Thursday's action begins at 10 a.m. with the 500-yard freestyle preliminary races. The evening entails finals for the 500 freestyle, the 200-yard individual medley, the 50-yard freestyle, 3-meter diving and the 400-yard medley relay.