Thursday results

LONG BEACH, Calif. – Murphy Wimer established a new school record in the 500-yard freestyle to highlight the Pioneers' performance in the first full day of competition at the PCSC Championships on February 17.

In the 500-yard freestyle, Wimer brought home East Bay's first hardware in many years. Wimer was in a tooth-and-nail fight for a place in the top three, and ultimately her time of 5:05.07 was good for the 3rd-place medal. Not to be overlooked, the performance broke the school record that Wimer had set earlier that morning in the prelims. The old school record was held by Tricia Price, with a time of 5:08.99, set in 1981. Also swimming for points in the event was teammate Sara Bonino, who earned 12th place with a stellar time of 5:12.85.

Rachel Knowles was the lone Pioneer competitor in the 200-yd. Individual Medley, but she was able to hold her own. Knowles time of 2:14.79 garnered her a place in the “B” final, and earned her first individual points of the meet by nabbing 16th place.

In the 50-yd. Freestyle, sprinters Lindsay Miller and Tristan Kennedy-Donohue were 24th and 29th, respectively. Miller and Kennedy-Donohue joined forces a short while later with Wimer and Bonino for one of East Bay's best races of the meet thus far, the 200-yd. Freestyle Relay. East Bay dominated the Consolation Final, sending a strong message that they belong in the “big” final for the future. The team's time of 1:41.46 earned 7th place points for the Pioneers.

“Our team is swimming just awesome right now, with everyone rising to the occasion,” Pioneers head coach Ben Loorz said. It's really exciting to be a part of. I was really pleased with our relay tonight – the 200 Free Relay is not one of our better relays on paper, but our women swam with great heart to pull off another top-8 finish. It was indicative of how the whole team is rising to a new level.”

The Pioneers moved up a spot in the overall standings, sitting 9th at the end of the first full day of competition. The second full day of competition continues on February 18. More information on the 2011 PCSC Championships is available here.