Anonymous | Posted: 26 Feb 2002 | Updated: 28 Apr 2011

Cougars Look to Defend Two-Time MWC Championships

PROVO, Utah - The BYU men's and women's swimming and diving teams will travel to the MWC Championships held in Oklahoma City, OK. for the third straight year Feb. 27-Mar. 2.

The Cougars are the two-time defending conference champion in the short history of the Mountain West Conference. The Cougars' men's and women's teams captured the 2000 and 2001 MWC Championships and enter this year's event in search of the school's third straight and 12th overall league crown.

Sydney Olympic participant (2000) Gary Tan, the MWC meet record holder in the 200 individual medley, leads the Cougar men's swimmers, while two-time All-American and conference record holder Aaron Russell is the frontrunner in the men's 1- and 3-meter diving events. Russell and Justin Wilcock, an All-American, Second Team Academic All-American and MWC Diver of the Year, should score big points in the diving events this year.

"I expect everyone to be ready to swim," said men's head swim coach Tim Powers. "We're excited to race and our conference is well-coached, top to bottom."

Two MWC record holders return to lead the Cougar women's team. Tamber Covington will look to defend her record time in the 200 breaststroke, while Ashlee Rumfallow leads the field in the 200 individual medley after posting a league record in last year's championships. Junior Heidi Leitz should also make a run to win the 50 and 100 free sprinter events.

"We expect our opponents to be competitive and swim their best times," said women's head coach Stan Crump. "Our goal is to defend our title and doing our best."

Results will be send each day at the end of the events. If you would like color photos via email, please request that from Joe Evans at (801) 378-8999 or via email at amr-3@byu.edu so that I may let the conference know of your request so they may be sent directly to your email as attachments.

2002 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE

SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIPS

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2002

7:00-10:00 a.m. Warm up

10:00 a.m. Women's One-meter Springboard

Prelims

2:00 p.m. Men's One-meter Springboard

Prelims

6:00 p.m. 200-yard Medley Relay

FINALS

One-meter Springboard

FINALS

5-minute warm up period

800-yard Freestyle Relay

FINALS

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2002

7:00-11:00 a.m. Warm up

11:00 a.m. 500-yard Freestyle

Prelims

200-yard Individual Medley

Prelims

50-yard Freestyle

Prelims

2:00 p.m. Men's Three-meter Springboard

Prelims

6:00 p.m. 500-yard Freestyle

FINALS

200-yard Individual Medley

FINALS

50-yard Freestyle

FINALS

Men's Three-meter Springboard

FINALS

5-minute warm up period

200-yard Freestyle Relay

FINALS

DIVING FINALS WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE FINAL

INDIVIDUAL EVENT OF THE EVENING.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 2002

7:00-11:00 a.m. Warm up

11:00 a.m. 400-yard Individual Medley

Prelims

100-yard Butterfly

Prelims

200-yard Freestyle

Prelims

100-yard Breaststroke

Prelims

100-yard Backstroke

Prelims

2:00 p.m. Women's Three-meter Springboard Prelims

6:00 p.m. 400-yard Individual Medley

FINALS

100-yard Butterfly

FINALS

200-yard Freestyle

FINALS

100-yard Breaststroke

FINALS

100-yard Backstroke

FINALS

Women's Three-meter Springboard FINALS

5-minute warm up period

400-yard Medley Relay

FINALS

SATURDAY, MARCH 2, 2002

7:00-11:00 a.m. Warm up

11:00 a.m. 200-yard Backstroke

Prelims

100-yard Freestyle

Prelims

200-yard Breaststroke

Prelims

200-yard Butterfly

Prelims

15-minute warm up period

1650-yard Freestyle

Prelims

1:00 p.m. Men's Platform

Prelims

3:00 p.m. Women's Platform

Prelims

6:00 p.m. 1650-yard Freestyle

FINALS

200-yard Backstroke

FINALS

100-yard Freestyle

FINALS

200-yard Breaststroke

FINALS

200-yard Butterfly

FINALS

Platform Diving

FINALS

5-minute warm up period

400-yard Freestyle Relay

FINALS

DIVING FINALS WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THE FINAL

INDIVIDUAL EVENT OF THE EVENING