Pitt
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Panthers Hit Marks on Day Two of Pitt Invite
11/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving
PITTSBURGH - The University of Pittsburgh men's and women's swimming and diving teams collected an Olympic Trials cut and a school record to remain well in front of the field following the second day of the Pitt Invitational on Saturday at Trees Pool.
"To have someone like Emily Murphy, with her first Olympic Trials cut, being able to get that done is worth the whole thing," said head coach Chuck Knoles. "I was also really impressed with Meme Sharp's diving. She was ripping it all night."
Sophomore Emily Murphy notched the first Olympic Trials cut of the meet in morning prelims. She raced out to a 26.18 on the opening 50-meter leg of the 200 LCM freestyle to record a qualifying time in the 50 free. It marks the fastest LCM 50 free time of her career, eclipsing her previous best of 26.37 set last March at the 2015 Speedo Champions Series.
Emily Murphy reacts to posting an Olympic Trial cut in the 50 free. #H2oP pic.twitter.com/cp17s1Kgog
— Pitt Swim & Dive (@PittSwimAndDive) November 21, 2015
Sophomore Meme Sharp set a new school record in 3M diving, eclipsing her performance at last year's Pitt Invite with a new program best in that event. Her score of 359.50 on Saturday knocked off her previously-held record of 342.45. Pitt swept the top four spots of the event.
Hear from Meme Sharp on her 3M record setting performance! pic.twitter.com/MRzx1gmboK
— Pitt Swim & Dive (@PittSwimAndDive) November 22, 2015
Junior Tony Galante opened the evening finals session with a win in the men's 1M diving competition. His score of 344.15 propelled him to his second victory in as many events on the weekend.
The quartet of Blair Wegescheide, Kinga Cichowska, Leticia Lelli, and Danyel Johnson raced to a first place finish in the 200 medley relay (1:41.72). Their men's team counterparts of Mack Rice, Nick Stachel, Mike Pichette, and David Sweeney finished runner-up (1:31.47).
Cichowska claimed the 100 breast for the Panthers as well, winning the event with a time of 1:01.21. Katie Fernander joined her at third (1:03.05). Blair Wegescheide took the 100 back after clocking in at 54.68.
Zach Lierley won the 400 IM in 3:52.13 - his second win of the weekend including yesterday's 200 IM.
Other strong individual performers for the men included Sweeney (1:37.75) placing second in the 200 free and Matt Tankle (50.10) taking second in the 100 back. Mack Rice (49.49) was runner-up in the 100 fly.
"We're really a last day team," said Knoles. "Our 200's are strong usually and our 1,650 is always strong. Our sprinters have been swimming well, so I expect them to be strong as well. Day three always plays into our scenario of success, and I see us being very successful tomorrow morning and continuing with more of the same we've seen so far."
The final day of the Pitt Invitational will begin Sunday morning at 9 a.m. with prelims back at Trees Pool. Finals are set to begin at 3 p.m.
Players Mentioned
