Six Top-Eight Finishes Highlight the Final Day at MW Championships

Saturday, February 22

Minneapolis, Minn.

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MWC Day 4

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Six Top-Eight Finishes Highlight the Final Day at MW Championships

2/22/2020 9:27:00 PM | Women's Swimming & Diving

By: Courtesy: Boise State Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS (2/22/2020) - Boise State swimming and diving saw six top-eight finishes on Saturday to highlight the final day of the 2020 Mountain West Conference Swimming and Diving Championships at Minneapolis.

Top performers on the day were Lucia Davis and Hayley Hill in the 1,650-yard freestyle where they placed fourth and fifth, respectively. The Broncos had three place in the top-eight of the 200-yard backstroke led by Molly Hogg in fourth, followed by Madesyn Ronquillio in fifth and Katie McCoy in eighth. Meanwhile, Senior Emmie Jennings closed her career with a sixth-place (tie) finish in the 100-yard freestyle.

Molly Hogg takes fourth in the 200 backstroke at the MW Championships with a 1:57.43!

Go Broncos! #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/ypNf3zRDB9
— Boise State S&D (@BroncoSportsSD) February 23, 2020

"I thought we finished really well today and the seniors had a great day," said head coach Christine Mabile. "They really stepped up here at the end of the meet and I'm proud of how they finished their careers. I also thought the 200 backstroke was a great event for us, we had some of our underclassmen really shine in that event and that's exciting for the future."

Boise State finished the Mountain West Championships in a pack of teams clustered together. The Broncos placed seventh overall with 807 points, 96 points out of third. San Diego State defended its conference title from 2019 with a MW record total of 1,463.5 points followed by Nevada with 1,015.5, Wyoming was at 903, UNLV 875.5, Colorado State 830.5, Fresno State 810, then the Broncos. Meanwhile, New Mexico, San Jose State and Air Force finished a distant eighth through 10th.

On the day the Broncos advanced 13 into Saturday night's final session. They also saw nine career-bests set, as well as, 18 season bests.

The brutal 1,650-yard freestyle race was the first event ran on Saturday. Four Broncos placed in the top-20 overall led by Lucia Davis in fourth with a season-best 16:52.28, not far behind was Hayley Hill with a 16:52.88 to finish fifth. Alyssa Schultz clocked a 17:16.99 for 16th, while Jamie Nats had a 17:22.64 for 20th.

Lucia Davis recorded a 16:52.28 in the 1,650 freestyle to place fourth overall at the MW Championships!

GO BRONCOS! #BleedBlue pic.twitter.com/d4sxiXdaTw
— Boise State S&D (@BroncoSportsSD) February 23, 2020

The 200-yard backstroke was dominated by the Broncos who placed five in the finals Saturday night. Hogg led the pack with a season-best 1:57.43 to take fourth. Ronquillio was just behind in fifth with a career-best time of 1:57.55. Rounding out the top-eight finishers was McCoy in eighth clocking a season-best 1:58.53.

Swimming in the 200 back B final were Lauren Sale who placed 11th with a 1:58.93, while Madison Frederick turned in a 2:01.80 to place 15th.

Jennings led two Broncos in the finals of the 100-yard freestyle placing sixth overall with a season-best 50.32. Emma Brady swam in the C final clocking a 51.47.

Boise State divers Taylor Clark and Tatum Thompkins had career days on the platform as both set their career-highs twice. Clark scored a 237.10 in the prelims to advance her into the B final where she topped her first score with a 243.65 to placed 12th overall, both are NCAA Zone qualifying scores. Thompkins tallied a 214.65 in the prelims, then added to that with a 219.15 in the B final to place 14th overall.

Brittany Wen was one of two Broncos in the B final of the 200-yard butterfly where she placed 14th overall with a season-best 2:03.63. Beatriz Zoppei clocked a career-best time of 2:03.70 during the morning prelims, then followed with a 2:05.14 to place 15th in the finals.

The meet wrapped up with the swimming of the 400-yard freestyle relay. Boise State's team of Robin Pinger, Lauren Vitort, Emma Brady and Jennings won their heat and placed fifth overall.