ECU To Compete In AAC Championships

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The East Carolina women's swimming and diving team returns to action this week when it participates in the 2023 American Athletic Conference Championships in Dallas, Texas. The six-day event, which will run from Feb. 13 through Feb. 19, will be hosted by SMU at the Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr McMillion Natatorium.

The Pirates, who sport an 8-3 overall record on the year, swept the last two Tri-Meets they participated in defeating Old Dominion (163-99) and William & Mary (151-111) during senior weekend in Greenville on January 14 before closing the season with a pair of road wins against Georgia Southern (196-105) and North Florida (219-75) in the Georgia Southern Tri-Meet.

Inside Minges Natatorium, seniors Caitlin Reynera and Polina Rukosuev continued their remarkable campaigns winning seven combined events. Reynera earned wins in the 200 medley (1:45.63), 100 (1:04.92) and 200 breaststrokes (2:19.41) and the 400 free relay (3:32.75), while Rukosuev took first in the 1000 free (10:19.88), 500 free (5:03.13) and 400 free relay (3:32.75) and finished third in the 200 free (1:53.32).

Fellow classmate Brynna Wolfe claimed medalist honors in the 200-medley relay (1:45.63), 100 back stroke (55.73), 200 backstroke (2:03.37) and was part of the 400 free relay (3:32.75) winning team.

Freshman Heidi Bruining took second in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.03), 200 free (1:52.40), 200 IM (2:09.22) and third in the 200 breaststroke (2:22.09), while freshman Emilee Hamblin took second in the 200 fly (2:06.67) and sophomore Laura Kellburg finished third in the 50 free (24.60) and third in the 100 free (54.31) to pick up top three finishes.

The Pirates closed out the regular season in Statesboro setting four pool records and claiming 14 of 16 events. Rukosuev set the 500 (5:02.54) and 1000 (10:17.96) freestyle marks, while Wolfe posted the top time in the 200 backstroke (2:03.37). The 400-medley relay team of Wolfe, Reynera, freshman Sara Kalawska and Hamblin glided to a pool record time of 3:51.61.

The 200-yard freestyle team of sophomore Laura Kellberg, graduate student Randi Palandro, Wolfe and Bruining took home first place with a time of 1:38.12. Bruining won the 200 free (1:53.70) and 200 breaststroke (2:19.96), Wolfe took home first in the 100 backstroke (56.39), Reynera won the 100 breaststroke (1:04.47) and 200 IM (2:10.04), Hamblin won the 200 fly (2:05.55), while Kalwaska won the 100 fly (57:56).

Senior Anna Otto won the 3-meter dive with a score of 280.20 and qualified for the NCAA Zones, which will be held March 3-5 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Live coverage of the American Swimming and Diving Championships will be available on ESPN+ for all nine sessions. Prelims for diving on Monday and Tuesday will begin at noon Eastern with finals starting at 7 p.m. ET. Wednesday will have diving prelims at 1 p.m. ET followed by finals for platform diving and two swimming relays at 6 p.m. ET. Swimming prelims will begin at 11 a.m. ET Thursday through Saturday, and finals will start at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday and 6 p.m. on Saturday. Chris Mycoskie, Brendan Gulick, Smacker Miles and The American's Morgan Uber will be providing coverage on ESPN+ for each finals session.

Players Mentioned

Heidi Bruining

Emilee Hamblin

Sara Kalawska

Laura Kellberg

Anna Otto

Randi Palandro

Caitlin Reynera

Polina Rukosuev

Brynna Wolfe

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