2019 NCAA Championships
Wednesday, Mar. 20 - Saturday, Mar. 23
Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center | Austin, Texas


THIS WEEK
Mackenzie Duarte will represent the Washington State swim team in the 100 and 200 breasts at the 2019 NCAA Championships March 20 - 23 in Austin, Texas.

ABOUT THE CHAMPIONSHIP
In just his first season with the Cougars, head coach Matt Leach will send sophomore Mackenzie Duarte to the NCAA National Championship. Duarte has proven to be a force in the pool in the 200 breast – breaking the school record in just her second season. The Walnut Creek, Calif. native has garnered 11 wins this season, including two wins over then-No. 14 Arizona and then-No. 25 Arizona State. Duarte is also a member of the 400 medley relay team that took home first against Arizona. The sophomore breaststroker's performance at the Pac-12 Championship not only earned her a spot as the second-seeded swimmer in the 200 breast A-final, but she also was the highest-placing Cougar in Pac-12 history. Duarte's time of 2:09.47 in the 200 breast is currently ranked 32nd in the country and is the ninth-fastest time by a sophomore this year.

COUGARS AT 2019 NIC CHAMPIONSHIP
The Cougars placed eighth at the NIC Championship after impressive performances across the board. Senior Linnea Lindberg touched the wall in 28.01 in the 50 breast, claiming the National Invitational title. Sophomore Taylor McCoy and freshman Lauren Burckel had impressive performances at the invitational, claiming top-10 finishes in their events. McCoy took fourth in the 200 back and eighth in the 400 IM. Burckel finished fourth in the 200 breast. Each of the relay teams for the Cougars finished in the top - most impressively fourth in the 400 free relay.

COUGARS AT 2019 PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Cougars had a stellar performance for the program at the Pac-12 Championship, garnering 10 WSU Top-10 times including a school record in the 200 breast. Sophomore Mackenzie Duarte dominated in the preliminary round of the 200 breast with a 2:09.47 – a new school record and earning her a spot as the second seed in the finals. Also performing well for the Cougars was junior Ryan Falk who etched her name in the WSU Top-10 in the 500 (fourth), 1000 (fourth), and 1650 free (third). Sophomores Chloe Larson and Samantha Howell each etched their names in the Top-10 in two individual events. Larson clocked a 23.01 in the 50 free for fifth-fastest in program history and a 49.95 in the 100 free for sixth-fastest. Howell, an Austin, Texas native, earned the seventh and tenth-fastest times in the 1000 and 1650 free, respectively. Freshman Lauren Burckel had an outstanding performance at the Pac-12 Championships, grabbing third all-time in the 200 breast and eighth all-time in the 100 breast.

COUGARS INK FOUR TO NATIONAL LETTERS OF INTENT
Four incoming student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to the Washington State swim team. The 2019 signing class is comprised of Erin Harnum (Denver, Colo.), Kate Laderoute (West Linn, Ore.), Michee van Rooyen (South Africa), and Mia Zahab (Ottawa, Canada).

WHERE TO WATCH
Prelims can be found here.
Finals can be found here.