MAC Championships: Akron Zips Lead, Pool Records Fall

Thursday, February 24

Bowling Green, Ohio

10:30 am, 6:30 pm

University of Akron

Mid-American Conference

MAC Championships: Akron Zips Lead, Pool Records Fall

February 24 | Women's Swimming & Diving

MAC Championships: Akron Zips Lead, Pool Records Fall
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Day 2 Results PDF | MAC CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL | DAY 3 | Live Scoring | Watch Live

BOWLING GREEN, Ohio – The Akron Zips won 3-of-5 events with three pool records, two runner-up performances and a bronze medal on the second day of the Mid-American Conference Swimming and Diving Championships as the Zips garnered 312.5 points to lead the field on Thursday evening at the at BGSU's Cooper Pool.

Akron's Sarah Watson and Paulina Nogaj earned two first place finishes and set two pool records each. Watson recorded the Zips first win in the 200-yard individual medley with a 1:56.86 time. Watson's performance set a new pool standard and just 0:0.44 seconds of the MAC meet record she set in 2021. In addition, the Zips had 5-of-8 swimmers qualify for the 200 IM final as Abigail Daniel earned runner-up (1:58.12), while Olivia Gardner (2:00.30) Weronika Gorecka (2:00.61) placed fourth and fifth, respectively. Andrea Fischer rounded out the final heat (2:02.95). Watson and Daniel's times were NCAA B-Cuts.

Nogaj followed with a pool record and gold medal performance in the 50-yard freestyle. Nogaj flew to a 22.37 time which reset the previous pool record of 22.48 set by Ohio's Chelsey Bower. Rachel Schiffli claimed the bronze medal with a 22.67 as both times were NCAA B-Cut efforts.

Nogaj and Watson joined Schiffli and Sofia Henell for the 200-yard freestyle relay and broke the pool standard. Nogaj led-off the race with a 22.44 and Watson followed with a 22.01 while Schiffli clocked a 22.20 time and Henell stopped the timer with a 22.33 showing en route to a 1:28.98 pool standard. The time was a NCAA B-Cut and replaced the previous Akron squad's 1:30.06 time. Again the Zips just missed the MAC and meet standard by 0:0.44 set by Akron in 2019 (Fazekas,Engel,Hanell,Waggoner).

Gail Workman earned silver in the 500-yard freestyle (4:50.56) and Paige Kalik claimed fourth in 1-meter diving with 288.30 points.

Buffalo is currently runner-up with 228.5 points followed by Eastern Michigan (168), Miami (153.5), Bowling Green (134), Ohio (132), Toledo (107) and Ball State (92.5).

The MAC season finale continues on Friday, Feb. 24 with prelims at 10:30 a.m. and finals at 6:30 p.m. Fans can follow the action on ESPN3 or via live results on GoZips.com

Admission for the MAC Championships is $40 for adults all-session passes, $20 seniors and youth (3-17) all-session passes. A single session passes are $12 for adults and $7 for seniors and youth. Follow the link to purchase tickets online: The 2021-22 MAC Championships. You can also purchase passes at the door. Regardless of vaccination status, all guests, staff, and vendors will be required to wear a face covering while in the Cooper Pool.

2022 MAC Women's Swimming & Diving Championships Schedule
February 23-26 | Bowling Green, Ohio | Hosted by Bowling Green State University

Friday, February 25: Preliminaries Session
9:30 a.m. Doors Open to the General Public
10:20 a.m. Competition Pool Cleared
10:30 a.m. 100 yard Butterfly
10 minute break
400 yard Individual Medley
10 minute break
200 yard Freestyle
10 minute break
100 yard Breaststroke
10 minute break
100 yard Backstroke
10 minute break
*Time Trials*

3:00 p.m. 3m Diving Prelims
4:30 p.m. Competition Pool Opens for Warm-Ups

Friday, February 25: Finals (*Approximate starting times)
5:30 p.m. Doors Open to the General Public
6:30 p.m. Consolation Final Heat – 100 yard Butterfly
6:38 p.m. Championship Heat – 100 yard Butterfly
6:45 p.m. Consolation Final Heat – 400 yard Individual Medley
6:56 p.m.* Championship Heat – 400 yard Individual Medley
7:06 p.m.* Consolation Final Heat – 200 yard Freestyle
7:15 p.m.* Championship Heat – 200 yard Freestyle
7:23 p.m.* Consolation Final Heat – 100 Breaststroke
7:31 p.m.* Championship Heat – 100 Breaststroke
7:38 p.m.* Consolation Final Heat – 100 yard Backstroke
7:46 p.m.* Championship Heat–100 yard Backstroke
8:15 p.m.* 3m Consolation Finals Begin
8:47 p.m.* Championship Heat – 400 Medley Relay
**Time Trials***