Burgess, Pakhalina Earn Diving Awards

Saturday, February 22

Louisville, Ky.

TBA

University of Houston

Day 4

2/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Swimming & Diving

Feb. 23, 2014

RESULTS

Highlights
Senior Ceremony
Team Awards
Individual Awards

HOUSTON - Houston's junior Natasha Burgess and interim diving coach Yulia Pakhalina were named the Most Outstanding Diver and Diving Coach of the Year to highlight Houston's efforts at the inaugural American Athletic conference Swimming and Diving Championships. Louisville won the league title with 977 points and the Cougars finished sixth at the meet.

Burgess won the 1M, finished as runner up in the 3M and claimed the platform consolation crown on Saturday.

Pakhalina led the UH divers to two titles and became the second straight UH coach, for the 13th consecutive year, to be named a conference Diving Coach of the Year, following former coach Jane Figueiredo's streak.

First year head coach Rich Murphy guided the Cougars through their first season in the competitive American Conference and saw 22 racers reach personal bests during the four-day meet.

"Congratulations to the divers for another productive event today on platform. Congratulations to Taylor Olanski and Dani Shedd for their efforts tonight. I appreciate the leadership of Yulia Pakhalina through the meet. She did a fine job."

"We are excited for the week that Lindsay Schultz had, achieving a night swim in each of her three events, all life-time best times. Heather Winn continued her productive week scoring again in the ,1650. Laykin Lowry, Maya Owens, Holly Criscuolo, and Krystan Morrell scored in their second events tonight and raced hard. I thank the team for their effort throughout the week and thank our first-class staff."

Freshman Taylor Olanski earned her first conference title placing first in the platform with a score of 281.70. Sophomore Danielle Shedd took sixth at 219.05 with Burgess winning the consolations with her total of 190.40.

Houston's 400 free relay team of Schultz, Winn, Morrell, and Doroteja Bednjanec left their mark in the UH record boards with their time of 3:26.11 to go down as the fourth-fastest in school history.

Schultz and Morrell both swam in the 100 free consolation finals during the evening session with Schultz's time of 50.95 setting a new personal best to place fifth. The senior Morrell took seventh.

Senior Laykin Lowry qualified for the 200 fly championship finals and swam a seventh-place showing during her last time wearing the Red and White. Maya Owens won the consolation finals in a time of 2:01.98* for the fifth-fastest time in program history.

RESULTS
1. Louisville 977
2. SMU 624.5
3. Rutgers 572
4. Connecticut 459.5
5. Cincinnati 431
6. Houston 337

Platform
1. Taylor Olanski 281.70
6. Danielle Shedd 219.05
9. Natasha Burgess 190.40

200 Back
17. Taylor Derevyanik 2:05.02
19. Jasmine Williams 2:06.56

100 Free
13. Lindsay Schultz 50.95*
15. Krystan Morrell 51.06
18. Taylor Gregory 52.45
18. Doroteja Bednjanec 52.45
22. Colleen Donovan 53.01*
23. Michaela Hamrick 53.04