Engel, Roberts Make 'B' Standards at Big Challenge

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Engel, Roberts Make 'B' Standards at Big Challenge

11.22.2015 | Swimming and Diving

By: cyclones.com

TOPEKA, Kansas – The Iowa State swimming and diving team wrapped up three days of competition with the swimmers breaking nine more personal records at the Big Challenge and the divers claiming the top-two spots at the KU Dive Invite for the third straight day.

In the team standings at the Big Challenge, Iowa State took fourth place, earning 517.50 points throughout the weekend.

Iowa State's divers finished competed on platforms for the first time this season and made the most of their first opportunity, finishing 1-2-5 on the day. As it did with three-meter boards on Nov. 21, the top spot belonged to senior Elyse Brouillette, who finished with a mark of 422.70. Junior Julie Dickinson, who claimed the one-meter title on Nov. 20, took second place overall, totaling 410.93 points. Freshman Maggie James, competing in her first collegiate championship-style event, earned a score of 225.45.

22 Times Qualify For Finals, McNeel Makes ISU 1,650 Debut
The Cyclones didn't take long to continue their trend of breaking personal bests, as senior Shahar Silberman clocked in at 2:16.18 in the 200 backstroke to set a new career best in the first heat of the day.

In the 100 freestyle, all 10 Iowa State competitors qualified for finals, led by senior Alex Flatness with a time of 51.34. Junior Silqi Luo set her fifth personal record of the Big Challenge, touching in 51.61 to best her old mark from the 2015 Big 12 Championships.

Two more personal records fell in the 200 butterfly, where senior Kaylee Kucera earned a time of 2:10.10 and junior Savanna Townsend finished in 2:06.38. The pair combined to cut 2.4 seconds off of their old records.

Prelims finished with Iowa State's first 1650 freestyle of the season, in which junior Karyl Clarete and senior Mollie McNeel competed. McNeel, whose personal record set before transferring to Iowa State is just three seconds off the Cyclone record, completed the mile in 17:23.45 to crack the Cyclones' All-Time Top Performers list at No. 17. Clarete, who tapered the final 650 yards of the event, finished in 18:26.44.

Overall, 22 of Iowa State's 23 prelim times qualified for finals, with the 23rd earning an alternate spot. The Cyclones set eight total personal records and 24 season-best times in the prelim heats.

Engel, Roberts Make NCAA 'B' Standards In Finals
During finals, senior Marissa Engel and sophomore Kasey Roberts became the first Cyclones of the season to finish under the NCAA 'B' Standard time in their events. As the top-two point scorers for Iowa State throughout the entire weekend, they were also named to the 2015 Big Challenge All-Star Team.

Engel swam the 200 backstroke in 1:58.68 in finals to reach the qualifying time, while Roberts completed the 200 breaststroke in 2:14.61 to achieve the qualification. Roberts' time earned a first-place finish on the event, while Engel finished tied for second.

The 100 freestyle was loaded with Cyclones, who comprised 10-of-32 swimmers in the field. The Cyclones took five spots in the top-16, led by senior Alex Flatness' season-best time of 51.32.

On the day, Iowa State set personal records in individual events nine times and posted season-best results 35 times. Over the course of the Big Challenge, Cyclones set personal records in individual events 35 times and season-best times 110 times.

The Cyclones have two weeks off before the divers return to competition for the divers-only Iowa Invitational Dec. 4-6. A week later, Iowa State will host the 2015-16 installment of the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series at on Dec. 11.

Big Challenge All Star Team (top-two scorers from each school)
Iowa State: Kasey Roberts, Marissa Engel
Kansas: Chelsie Miller, Haley Bishop
Nebraska: Taryn Collar, Erin Oeltjen
Illinois: Gabbie Stecker, Lori Lynn
UNI: Molly Lembezeder, Veronica Hermann
Omaha: Natalie Renshaw, TJ Jensen