Linnea Mack - FreeLinnea Mack - Free
Richard Quinton

Mack sets new UCLA record in 50 Free [Photo: Richard Quinton].

Mack, Liu Shine at Texas Invite

Swimming & Diving

Mack breaks own school record in 50 Free, while Liu sets new freshman record in 200 IM.


AUSTIN, TexasLinnea Mack and Kenisha Liu led the charge for the Bruins on day two of the Texas Invitational, both setting records between the lane lines on Thursday evening.  Mack broke her own school record in the 50 Free, while Liu set a new freshman record in the 200 IM.

On Wednesday evening, the Invite kicked off with the 800 Freestyle Relay.  The Bruin quartet of Mack, Liu, Madison White, and Katy Campbell placed seventh out of 20 relay teams.

Action continued on Thursday with two relays and three individual events.  UCLA's A squad—Liu, Mack, Katie Grover, and White—finished eighth in the 200 Free Relay with a time of 1:31.25.  The Bruin B team—Amy Okada, Isabella Goldsmith, Sarah Kaunitz, and Cali Raukar—finished just outside the top 10 in 12th (1:33.03).

In the first individual event of the evening, Sandra Soe finished third in the B final of the 500 Free (11th overall).  The sophomore swam an NCAA B qualifying time of 4:44.69.  In the D final, Margaux Verger Gourson and Lisa Kaunitz went 1-2.  Verger Gourson posted the top time of 4:48.74, while Kaunitz swam a 4:50.61.

Four Bruins made the evening session of the 200 IM.  In the championship final, Liu swam a 1:58.09 to place sixth.  With the time, Liu set a new UCLA freshman record in the event and also hit the NCAA B qualifying mark.  Emma Schanz and Goldsmith finished seventh and eighth, respectively, in the consolation final.  Schanz edged Goldsmith by .09 seconds to post a 2:01.89.  Rounding out the Bruins competing in the event, Marie-Pierre Delisle swam the second-best time in the D final (2:02.90).

In the final individual event of the evening, five Bruins hit the pool for the splash and dash.  Mack swam an NCAA B qualifying time of 21.93 to place second in the championship final of the 50 Free.  The Bruin senior also broke her own school record in the event—she posted her previous record of 21.98 at the NCAA Championships last season.  In the C final of the 50 Free, Grover finished seventh (23rd overall) with a time of 23.43.  Sarah Kaunitz and Goldsmith swam in the D final—Kaunitz checked in at fourth, while Goldsmith placed seventh.  Wrapping up the individual events, White posted a 23.78 to finish seventh in the E final.

Closing out Thursday's competition with a top-10 finish, the Bruin foursome of Mack, Sarah Kaunitz, Grover, and Liu checked in at eighth in the 400 Medley Relay (3:37.23).

The Texas Invite continues on Friday.  For meet information and a complete schedule, click here. For updates, follow the Bruins on Twitter.