MONTEREY PARK, Calif. – Azusa Pacific swim & dive wrapped up three days of competition at the 2019 Collegiate Winter Invite this past weekend, as multiple Cougars posted solid performances.

On the diving board, Melia Stout finished first in the one meter dive, while teammate Amy Crayne was the first place finisher in the three-meter competition.  Stout finished with a one-meter finals score of 251.55, and Crayne scored a 260.40 in the three-meter final. "Our divers were strong and competed well this weekend," said diving coach Cindy Adams, "Melia put together a solid list of dives to finish first in the one meter, and Amy was powerful on three-meter to also take the top spot. It was another weekend that we can build on in preparation for the NCAA meet in March."

In the pool, a group of Cougars turned in good results. Hannah Frey continued to build upon a strong start to the season as she has earned consideration for the NCAA Championships with "B cut" times in both the 500 yard freestyle and the 1650 yard freestyle. Frey was the first-place finisher among non-Division I athletes in the 1650 free, as she touched the wall at 17:23.03, which was about seven seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. In the 500 free, Frey finished in second place with a time of 5:02.10. Frey's times gives her the potential to be invited to the NCAA Championships at the end of the season in either event, depending on the number of automatic qualifying times that occur this season.

Along with Frey's performance, the weekend was highlighted by three Azusa Pacific swimmers posting personal best times. Naomi Vaughn had personal bests in the 100 yard fly with a time of 59.43, and the 200 yard fly, as she swam a time of 2:11.65. Sarah Eichhorn also turned in her fastest times in the 500 free and the 1650 free. Eichhorn swam the 500 free in a time of 5:30.75, and the 1650 free in 18:51.03. Delanie Gearing was the third Cougar with a personal best time during the weekend's competition, as she finished the 200 yard breaststroke in a time of 2:24.89.

Among non-Division I athletes, Azusa Pacific had first place finishers in three races, as Amanda Anderson finished first in the 400 yard IM and 200 yard breaststroke, while Frey won the 1650 yard freestyle. In six races, a Cougar finished second. Frey was in the second spot in the 500 yard freestyle and 200 yard freestyle, Anderson in the 200 yard IM, Holly Williams in the 100 yard breaststroke, Gearing in the 200 yard breaststroke, and Emily Rigsby in the 200 yard butterfly.

"We had a solid mid-season meet with good swims that will drive us towards the PCSC Conference Championship Meet," said head coach Tim Kyle, "I am excited to see what we can accomplish this season for God's glory."

The Cougars now have a long lay-off between competitions, as Azusa Pacific will swim again competitively until Saturday, January 18 at the Biola Invitational.