MAC Announces Women's Swimmer of the Week
Madison Myers, University of Akron
Sophomore, Akron, Ohio/Copley High School
Event & Time: 200 IM (53.10); 100 Back (52.93); 100 Free (49.33); 200 Free Relay (1:30.37); 400 Free Relay (3:19.59); 200 Medley Relay (1:38.44); 400 Medley Relay (3:38.97)
Myers turned in a phenomenal weekend at the 2016 Zippy Invitational that was capitalized by breaking the Mid-American Conference record in the 100 back, twice. The sophomore sensations first record-breaking performance came in the initial leg of the 400 medley relay as she clocked in her 100 back stretch in 53.04, beating the previous MAC record of 53.10 set back in 2014. Myers out did herself in the 100 back event the following day to break her own record in swift time of 52.94. On the weekend, Myers came in first place in the 200 IM (1:58.51), 200 free relay (1:30.37), 400 free relay (3:19.59), 200 medley relay (1:38.44), and 400 medley relay (3:38.97). Myers also garnered a pair of top-three finishes. At the Invitational, Myers broke two MAC records, six Zippy Invitational records, and five Ocasek Natatorium records.
Other Nominees
Jessica Extine, Ball State
Senior, Muncie, Ind./Yorktown High School
Event & Time: part of the sixth place finish in the 200 freestyle relay, 1:35.26; part of the ninth place finish in the 400 medley relay, 3:49.08; part of the sixth place finish in the 200 medley relay, 1:43.45; part of the eighth place finish in the 400 freestyle relay; 50 freestyle, 23.74; 100 freestyle, 52.25
As an anchor of all four relays, Jessica helped the Cardinals earn a total of 110 points in relays at the Miami Invitational. In the 400 medley relay, Jessica’s individual time was 52.27. In the 200 medley relay, she finished up the race with her individual time of 23.16. Jessica’s split time of 52.42 wrapped up the 400 freestyle relay for the Cardinals. Jessica also finished in the top 16 in both the 50 free and the 100 free.
Julia Box, University at Buffalo
Sophomore, Boulder, CO/Fairview
Event & Time: 200 Fly (1:59.90), 100 Back (54.31), 100 Fly (54.23), 400 Medley Relay (3:45.92), 200 Medley Relay (1:41.97)
Julia Box broke three school records at the Zippy Invitational: 100 Fly, 100 Back, and 200 Fly. Box placed first in the 200 Fly with a time of 1:59.90. She also took second in the 100 Fly and third in the 100 Back with times of 54.23 and 54.31, respectively. Her times in the 100 Fly and 100 Back are under the NCAA “B” Cut. Box also swam the backstroke leg on the 200 and 400 Medley Relay with times of 1:41.97 (third place) and 3:45.92 (fifth place).
Mary Grace Van Allen, Eastern Michigan
Senior, Indianapolis, Ind./North Central
Event & Time: 100 Free – 51.68; 200 Free – 1:50.77; 200 IM – 2:06.05; 200 Free Relay – 1:35.18; 400 Free Relay – 3:23.46; 800 Free Relay – 7:31.41; 400 Medley Relay – 3:43.20;
Senior Mary Grace Van Allen (Indianapolis, Ind.-North Central) was dominant for the Eagles over the weekend, Dec. 2-3, at the EMU Invitational, scoring a meet-high 57 points to lead the Green and White to its highest point total at the event in more than a decade. Van Allen picked up a pair of individual victories, while helping the Eagles to three relay wins, including two meet records. After picking up a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle with a season-best time of 51.68, the Indianapolis, Ind. product notched wins in the 200 free and 200 IM. In the 200 free, Van Allen touched in with the fastest time by an Eagle this year, 1:50.77, before adding another top finish in the 200 IM where she bested the field by more than three seconds. The senior swimmer also played a pivotal role in EMU’s relay success. After helping the Eagles to a win in the 200 Free Relay with the fastest time for Eastern this season, Van Allen and the Eagles posted a pair of meet records. In the 400 Free Relay, the Green and White broke a 10-year old record en route to winning the event with a time of 3:23.46. Then, in the 400 Medley Relay, EMU touched in with its fastest time of the season to break the meet record that was previously set in 2011. With the EMU Invitational victory, the Eagles close out 2016 with a perfect 4-0 dual record and have been victorious in their lone invitational so far this year.
Name: Ella Moynihan, Miami University
Sophomore, Denver, Co./Arapahoe
Event & Time: 1st- 1650-yard freestyle (16:35.45); 1000-yard freestyle time broke school record (9:59.40); 1st- 500-yard freestyle (4:49.11)- Meet record; 1st- 200-yard freestyle (1:47.98); 2nd- 800-yard freestyle relay (7:25.79); 3rd- 400-yard freestyle relay (3:24.67); 4th- 200-yard freestyle relay (1:32.85); 8th- 100-yard freestyle (51.48); 14th- 50-yard freestyle (23.91)
On day one, Ella Moynihan set a meet record twice. She took first in the 500-yard freestyle prelims, clocking in at 4:49.85. This broke the old meet record, set in 2010 by Vanessa Balogh from Oakland (4:50.30). Later in the day, Moynihan broke the record again, and won the event in 4:49.11. She also helped Miami’s 200-yard freestyle relay place fourth (1:32.85) and finished 14th in the 50-yard freestyle (23.91). Moynihan used day two to win the 200-yard freestyle. She clocked in at 1:47.98. She also was a part of the second-place 800-yard freestyle relay team (7:25.79) on Friday. The final day of the Miami Invite etched Moynihan’s name in RedHawk history. She won the 1650-yard freestyle, touching the wall in 16:35.45, but her 1000-yard freestyle time was 9:59.40, breaking the school record. It was previously set by Amy Miranda in 2003 (10:01.23). Ella also used Saturday to take 8th place in the 100-yard freestyle (51.48) and 3rd in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:24.67).
Name: Mikayla Herich, Ohio University
Freshman, Hebron, Ky.
Event & Time: 1000-yard freestyle, 10:11.50; 500-yard freestyle, 5:01.91; 400-yard IM, 4:28.98
Ohio swimming and diving faced Marshall University where Mikayla Herich helped the Bobcats fight against the Thundering Herd despite their 173-127 loss. The freshman earned two first-place finishes and one second-place finish in the ‘Cat’s last event of the calendar year. She kicked off the meet with a win in the 1000-yard freestyle clocking in at 10:11.50. She would then compete in the 500-yard freestyle and finish with a time of 5:01.91 to take first place. In her last event of the day, the 400-yard IM, Herich placed second with a 4:28.98 time, just 1.46 seconds behind Marshall’s first place time.
Izzy Jones, Toledo
Freshman, Ivinghoe, England / The Cottesloe School
Time & Event: 1st 500 free, 4:50.10 (meet record); 2nd 200 free, 1:48.05; 3rd 200 back 1:57.50 D1 B; 6th 100 back 56.02; 8th 800 free relay 1:53.60; 8th 400 medley relay, 50.88 (free); 9th 200 free relay, 24.11; 9th 400 free relay 51.27
Freshman Izzy Jones swam in a team-high eight events at last weekend’s Zippy Invitational and finished in the top-10 in each one. She was individually responsible for 111 points of Toledo’s total 823.5 and helped garner 168 more points in relay events. Jones recorded a meet record and career-best time of 4:50.10 in the 500 free, shaving off 14 seconds from her previous best, and then followed up with a second-place performance in the 200 free with an all-time best time of 1:48.05. Jones’ 200 free finish ranks third all-time in school history and 78th in the nation this season. Her 500 free time puts her in sixth place all-time at Toledo. Jones registered an NCAA B-cut time of 1:57.32 in the 200 back, which ranks third all-time at UT and is a career-best. She then finished her 100 back race in sixth place at a new personal-best time of 56.02, which ranks her fifth all-time at Toledo. She also helped Toledo to an eighth-place finish in the 400 medley, eighth place in the 800 free relay, ninth place in the 200 free relay and ninth place in the 400 free relay.
