Feb. 25, 2012

Results

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. – The Oregon State swim team finished the final day of competition today at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Wash. for the Pac-12 Championships. The Beavers finished in eighth place overall.

The Beavers competed in the 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 1,650-yard freestyle, 200-yard breaststroke, 200-yard butterfly and the 400-yard freestyle relay. Oregon State had three athletes qualify for the finals in their respective events.

“We are all done and I think that tonight we had two really great swims and both were really good NCAA consideration times,” head coach Larry Liebowitz.

After qualifying for the 200-yard and 400-yard individual medley finals on Thursday and Friday, Crystal Kibby continued her success today by qualifying for the 200-yard breaststroke final. During the preliminary round, Kibby finished with an NCAA consideration time and season best time of 2:14.14.

In the finals, Kibby topped her season best time in that she set in the preliminaries with a time of 2:13.30, placing ninth overall. The time that she swam in the finals gives her the second best time in Oregon State history at the 200-yard breaststroke.

“Her time of 2:13.30 was a really good provisional time and it looks like she is headed in the direction of getting invited to the NCAAs,” Liebowitz said.

Rachel O’Brien and Ivette Dailey-Deaton qualified for the finals in the 200-yard butterfly. O’Brien finished in sixth place in the preliminaries with a time season best time of 1:56.85. Dailey-Deaton finished with a time of 2:03.33 to send her into the finals.

In the finals, O’Brien finished with a time of 1:57.49. She placed seventh overall, which was the highest individual finish by a Beaver at this year’s Pac-12 Championships. Dailey-Deaton finished in 24th place overall with a time of 2:03.41.

“Rachel’s time is sitting at around 20th place right now so I think that is a good time and it looks like she will be invited to the NCAAs,” Liebowitz said.

The Beavers had 10 athletes compete in the 100-yard freestyle, with Shelby Webber narrowly missing the finals with a time of 50.74. Allison Gillespie, Carrie Kelsey, Amanda Rose, Lauren Allen, Erica Nelson and Amy Herbst all achieved season best times during the preliminary race for the 100-yard freestyle.

Jenni Dole competed in the 200-yard backstroke, but unfortunately was just shy of making the finals. She finished the preliminary round with a time of 2:01.55. Delise Batiza and Margo Clinton were able to notch season best times during the preliminary round.

Dakota Bloch finished in 20th place overall in the 1,650-yard freestyle swimming a time of 17:16.02. Melissa Myers finished in 22th place with a time of 17:26.39 and Herbst completed the race with a time of 17:46.56.

The Beavers wrapped up the day of competition with the 400-yard freestyle relay finishing in ninth place. The team of Dole, Webber, O’Brien and Gillespie finished with a 3:24.35, which was fast enough to grab an NCAA consideration time.

“Overall it was a good performance by the Beavers,” Liebowitz said. “We finished with best times basically across the board.”

Oregon State will return to action when select student-athletes will travel to Auburn, Ala. to compete at the NCAA Championships on March 15.