Rainbows fourth in MPSF, and Wahine swimmers up next in WAC title meet

This week, the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine jump into their final Western Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships. Last week, Vlad Anastasescu provided the most memorable moment for the UH men at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships in Los Angeles.

The senior from Romania set a meet record in the 50 freestyle, finishing in 20.11 seconds. Teammate Sean Reilly was just behind, taking second in a time of 20.14 — a B-cut time for the NCAA championships.

Anastasescu also placed third in the 100 back and the Rainbows took third in the 200 freestyle relay. Senior Doug Cohen earned two runner-up finishes in diving, on the 1- and 3-meter boards. Teammate Luke Hayes was fourth on the 3 meter and fifth on the 1 meter.

The Rainbows finished fourth at their first MPSF championships with 493.5 points. Brigham Young won with 625, followed by UNLV (603.5) and Wyoming (556). Last year, UH won Conference USA.

The WAC championships’ individual events begin today and run through Saturday at Palo Alto College Natatorium in San Antonio, Texas.

Last month, Wahine seniors Daniella Nero and Christa Prior earned Diver and Swimmer of the Week for their performances in a dual meet against Wisconsin. Prior captured the 100 and 200 backstroke titles, and Nero won the 1- and 3-meter diving events.

Prior (54.92) and junior teammate Rachel Cote (54.83) are ranked in the top three in the WAC in the 100 back. Prior is ranked second in the 200 (1:58.82).

Nero’s score of 339.5 in the 3 meters against Wisconsin was the second best in the WAC this season. She holds the third-best score in the 1 meter (303.25). Hawaii divers have been nine of the last 10 WAC Divers of the Year.

The Wahine were second in the WAC last year behind Boise State.

Hawaii’s only WAC championship came in 2006 in San Antonio, with Nicole Mackey earning the second of her three WAC Swimmer of the Year awards. UH has six runner-up finishes since 2000.