MACOMB, Ill. – The Omaha swimming & diving team returned to conference action Friday night at Western Illinois, defeating the Leathernecks 186.5-76.5 giving the Mavericks their first Summit League victory of the season.
Omaha took home victories in 12 of the 15 total events on the evening. Nine different Mavericks earned individual event wins.
The junior trio of Hannah Johnson, Natalie Renshaw and Miranda Knipfer led the Mavericks on the evening. Johnson won the 100 free with a time of 56.72. Renshaw swam well ahead of the pack in her marquee event of the 50 free touching the pad at 24.18. Diver Miranda Knipfer had a solid outing on the board taking the victory and penciling in a season-best score of 248.63.
Seniors Morgan Cullison, Jenna Foiles and Lexi Bergeron also helped key UNO to victory by winning their lone individual events. Cullison crushed the competition in the 1000 free, finishing nearly seven seconds ahead of the rest of the event with a time of 11:15.83. Foiles dominated in the 200 fly finishing the event over seven seconds ahead of the rest of the pack with a time of 2:11.12. Bergeron had a solid outing in the 500 free taking the victory and posting a time of 5:23.16.
Freshman Cassie Jahn, Sam Starke and Olivia McLain each registered individual event victories on the evening. Jahn took the top spot in the 200 free (1:57.95). Starke finished the 200 IM in front of the competition finishing at 2:18.27. McLain edged out a narrow victory in the 100 fly coming in just four tenths of a second ahead of the second place finisher at 1:02.05.
Sophomore Morgan Stepp took the top spot in the 200 breast finishing the event at 2:23.62.
The 200 free relay quartet of Foiles, Jahn, Renshaw and Johnson dominated the event taking the victory with a time of 1:40.14.
Omaha now has a quick turnaround, as the Mavericks return to action Saturday afternoon in Normal, Ill. when they take on Illinois State. The meet is scheduled to begin at noon from Horton Pool. Saturday's meet will be broadcast via web stream. A link to the live feed will be available on OMavs.com.
