Flyers Break Records at Tennessee Invite

Friday, December 1

Knoxville, TN

All Day

University of Tennessee

Tennessee Invitational: Day 2

December 01, 2017 | Swimming & Diving

Friday Results Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee's butterfly pair broke through with NCAA-leading times as the Vols continued to pull away from the pack Friday at the Tennessee Invitational.

A day after breaking the school record in the 50-yard freestyle, sophomore Erika Brown recorded a program-record 50.33 in the 100 butterfly in the morning preliminaries, besting Olympian Christine Magnuson's 2008 mark (50.70). It stands as the fastest time in the NCAA this year.

Minutes later, senior Ryan Coetzee pulled off an identical feat on the men's side, swimming 45.46 to beat Samuel Rairden's 2014 time.

Both took first in the evening finals, two of 13 events won by Tennessee. Through two days of the meet, the Lady Vols lead the seven-team competition with 749 points, followed by Duke with 559 points. Tennessee leads the seven-team men's competition with 830.5 points; Denver is second with 533.5.

Additional victories in the women's meet included: Tess Cieplucha in the 400 individual medley (4:05.43), Stanzi Mosely in the 200 freestyle (1:44.63), Tennessee grad Molly Hannis in the 100 breaststroke (57.36) and Rachel Rubadue on the 3-meter springboard (322.80). Cieplucha now has two wins in the meet, having taken first in the 500 freestyle on opening night.

The Lady Vols won both the 200 medley relay (1:36.67) and the 800 freestyle relay (7:07.11).

Colin Zeng led off scoring for men, winning the 1-meter springboard in a season-best 422.55. Joey Reilman won the 200 freestyle (1:34.27), and Peter John Stevens earned a victory in the 100 breaststroke (52.89).

The Vol team of Braga Verhage, Stevens, Coetzee and Kyle DeCoursey won the 200 medley relay in 1:24.00, the second-fastest time in the NCAA this season. Tennessee also won the men's 800 free relay (6:21.96).

In addition to his victory in the 200 freestyle, Reilman also won the consolation final of the 100 backstroke (47.70). Across all finals, Tennessee swimmers tended to post faster times in the evening finals.

INSIDE DIVING: Tennessee again went 1-4-5 in the men's springboard with Zeng winning (422.55), followed by Will Hallam and Liam Stone. Zeng has crossed the 400-point marker twice this season and Friday's score was the third-best in program history. Rubadue recorded her first victory on 3-meter springboard this season, her fourth win overall.

UP NEXT: The Tennessee Invitational concludes on Saturday with preliminaries starting at 10 a.m. and finals at 6 p.m. Events include the 1650 freestyle, 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 400 freestyle relay and platform diving.

QUOTES
Tennessee Head Coach Matt Kredich:
"I thought our teams did a great job of building from yesterday. Erika Brown put together an incredible session this morning by swimming a school record and the fifth-fastest time ever in the 100 fly and then a time in the 200 free that would have qualified for NCAAs last year. ... Across the board, people are dropping a lot of time and getting second swims in every event. We had a lot of people swam faster tonight. The goal is to get experience and learn from it. I thought we did a great job of that tonight. Fast swims building on fast swims. That was a team mission tonight. ... [Coetzee setting the record was] a huge moment for our team. He's had the record in his sights for a while. He's diligent in how he trains and lives his lives. He's really crafted that swim. He's done it with great training habits. He's become a student of the sport. The swim is a result of a lot of time and effort in learning that event. It's remarkable improvement by a swimmer."

Tennessee Diving Coach Dave Parrington:
"I was curious to see how all the divers came in and performed today because this is our first championship-style meet. I knew we had another long day coming up and another one tomorrow. I didn't know how Colin would respond to another long day. I expected him to keep up the intensity, but I didn't know if he would keep up his level of performance he provided yesterday. He stepped it up. If he was feeling tired this evening, it sure didn't show. He moved past some darn good divers. I'm excited to see what he brings on platform event. ... I'm excited with what Rachel is doing right now. After a fantastic freshman year and down by her standards in her sophomore year, she's really upped many aspects of her game from what day to day training and what she's doing in the weightroom. We're seeing payback from that. She's stronger than she's ever been. I know she likes to dive at night. I don't think it's a coincidence that when all eyes were on her, she stepped up on her last three dives."