BYU Dominates at MWC Championships

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (February 21, 2003) -- The No. 18 BYU men's swimming and diving team continued their dominance at the Mountain West Conference Championships in the second day of competition by bringing their two-day total to 342 points. The three time defending champion Cougars are 147 points ahead of second place UNLV and are in the driver's seat to win their fourth consecutive MWC title. The Cougars recorded their second sweep of the championships, by going 1-2-3 in the 200 IM. Junior Randy Belliston won the 200 IM and set a new MWC record and school record in the process, with a time of 1:47.44. Juniors Diogo Yabe and John Malfatt came in second and third respectively. In the 400 medley relay, BYU finished in second place with a time of 3:16.12, just behind a tough UNLV team. On the women's side, the Cougars totaled 215.5 points but fell from first to third place in the second day of competition behind first place UNLV (251) and second place Colorado State (241). Seniors Cortnee Adams and Kelli Einfeldt each had strong performances for the Cougars. Adams won the 50-yard freestyle for the Cougars turning in a top time of 23.05. Einfeldt, the top female diver on the team, turned in her top score of the season on the three-meter springboard with a 478.60 finish, good enough for second place. The Cougars will continue competition for the MWC title today beginning with preliminary swims at 10:00 am (CST) and the finals at 6:00 pm (CST).