One swimmer did something this weekend that no Buffalo female swimmer has ever done before - compete for a national championship.
Sophomore Brittney Kuras finished 32nd in the 100-yard freestyle, 24th in the 200-yard freestyle and 35th in the 200-yard medley. She broke her own records in both the individual medley and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Kuras has already had a record-setting season for the Bulls, winning three individual Mid-American Conference Championships. She was also a part of relay teams that set school records in the 400-yard Medley Relay, 200-yard Freestyle Relay, 400-yard Freestyle Relay and the 800-yard Freestyle Relay.
Her performance at the meet puts another exclamation point on her already stellar season.
"Just to be at the meet was a huge success," said head coach Andy Bashor. "She now knows that it is going to take more work in the pool and the weight room and she is willing to do it."
Kuras is only a sophomore and has two more years to compete at Buffalo. Bashor is excited to see how the rest of the team reacts after watching Kuras compete at such a high level.
The Zone 'A' Qualifying meet for divers also took place in Alumni Arena over the break. At the end of the meet the top four divers on both the men and women's side earned an invitation to the NCAA championship meet.
Buffalo had four divers competing at the meet. Two men, sophomore Chris Iafrati and senior Colin Patrican, and two women, sophomore Ava Giachino and freshman Rachel Eckert.
Giachino finished the highest of any Buffalo diver at the meet, finishing seventh in the platform event. Both Iafrati and Patrican advanced to the finals of the men's 3-meter dive, but were unable to advance in the 1-meter event.
"I thought that they dove very well in a high pressure situation," Bashor said. "They handled it well and I think they definitely finished the year off on a high note."
The swim season is now over for the Bulls. Buffalo's swim programs continue to be among the most successful mid-major programs and they are primed to continue that success next season.
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Photo: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
