HOUSTON – Rice swim and dive closed out the dual-meet portion of its season with a 81-152 loss to Houston on Friday.
Ella Dyson led the Owls with a pair of first-place finishes, winning the 1,000 free in 9:49.28 and the 500 free in 4:50.55. Reese Cole added a victory in the 400 individual medley with a time of 4:18.06, while Lily Archibald claimed first place in the 100 butterfly in 54.05.
Avery Karacz turned in two runner-up finishes, placing second in the 200 free (1:52.67) and the 100 free (50.01). Siiri Einio earned third place in both breaststroke events, finishing the 100 breast in 1:03.11 and the 200 breast in 2:15.25.
Rice finished second in both relay events, in the 400 medley relay (3:39.28) and the 200 free relay (1:32.25).
On the boards, Antonina Harned placed in both diving events, taking second on the 3-meter with a score of 284.03 and third on the 1-meter with a 274.95.
Head coach Seth Huston said he was encouraged by the Owls’ progress as they continue to prepare for the postseason.
“I really like what I have seen in training over the past couple of weeks,” Huston said. “Our racing needs to catch up to our training.”
Huston also emphasized the importance of returning to competition after a three-week break.
“We needed to get up here and race, as we have not competed in three weeks,” Huston said. “I was really happy with Siiri, Jessica Lawton and Ella Dyson. I see a lot of good things happening, and I feel like we are moving in the right direction.”
Rice returns to action next week at the CRWC Natatorium, hosting the First Chance Meet on Feb. 6–7.