COLLEGE STATION, Texas (2/17/22) – University of Wyoming senior Katelyn Blattner entered Thursday with quite the target positioned squarely on her back. She was attempting to become a three-time Mountain West Conference champion in the 500-yard freestyle in a race held at Paup Pavilion.

Blattner didn't just claim her spot in the history books. But she did so resoundingly.

Blattner captured the conference crown in the 500, swimming a school record time of 4:44.74. Her performance helped the Cowgirls position themselves in fourth with 387 points after two days of competition.

"KB absolutely dominated the 500 free en route to a new school record and a three-peat," head coach Dave Denniston said. "It was a special day for swimmers and divers, and we have some great energy going into tomorrow."

Freshman Maisyn Klimczak joined Blattner on the podium in the 500. Klimczak clocked in at a career-best 4:51.02 to place fourth.

Junior Melissa Mirafuentes had a podium finish of her own. She placed runner-up in the 3-meter competition, compiling a final tally of 373.20.

"After a disappointing 1-meter event for Melissa, she came back with vengeance," diving head coach Tedd Everett said. "She dove beautifully, and what's most impressive is that this was the first time she had done her dives in 10 days after hurting her back."

Freshman Gabriella Hagler advanced to 3-meter final, as well. She took eighth with a final score of 307.05.

"Our highlight of the day was diving," Denniston said. "Melissa earned second and Gabriella made the top eight in a conference that produced Olympians last summer."

A number of Cowgirls competed in B and C final races Thursday. Senior Kira Crane finished seventh in the B final of the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.37, while freshman Rachel Horne and sophomore Kali Franckowiak took fifth and eighth, respectively, in the C final with times of 23.62 and 23.88.

Junior Emily Giles placed fifth in the B final in the 200-yard individual medley, clocking in at 2:04.10. Sophomore Carly Palmer wasn't far behind in sixth at 2:04.17.

Freshman Sage Morton took runner-up in the C final of the 500-yard freestyle, logging a time of 4:55.31. Sophomore Britt Nichols also placed runner-up, this one in the B final, with a time of 4:53.87.

"(The 500) was a really special swim," Denniston said. "It's a swim that saw four Cowgirls go best times and race well."

Wyoming's 400-yard medley relay capped the night with a fourth-place finish. The collection of Giles, Horne, Palmer and senior Lainee Jones registered a time of 3:42.75.

Friday's action begins with preliminary races for the 400-yard IM at 10 a.m. Finals that will take place include the 200-yard freestyle relay, the 400-yard IM, the 100-yard fly, the 200-yard free, the 100-yard breaststroke and the 100-yard backstroke.