PROVO, Utah — In an exciting showdown at the Richards Building Pool, BYU women’s swim and dive encountered a challenging opponent in UNLV, ultimately falling short with a score of 162-138 during Saturday afternoon’s dual meet.
“I am so proud of our athletes today and the aggressive way that they raced,” remarked BYU’s head swim and dive coach Tamber McAllister. “This was our last chance to fine-tune race strategies before our mid-season competition, and I couldn’t be more impressed with how many of our incoming freshmen stepped up and contributed significantly to our efforts.”
The Cougars showcased their talent, racking up seven event victories throughout the competition. Leading the charge was Mackenzie Miller Lung, who emerged as the team’s top scorer with an impressive total of 18 points. Halli Williams added 13 points to the scoreboard, while both Sarah Eliason and Lucy Warnick followed closely behind, each contributing 11 points.
Miller Lung demonstrated her exceptional skills by sweeping the women’s breaststroke events, clocking an impressive 1:00.99 in the 100 and 2:13.09 in the 200. The exceptional performance by the junior from Clovis, California, marks her fifth event victory throughout the first three meets of the current season.
With Miller Lung at the helm, BYU dominated the 100 breaststroke event, with Warnick and Abi Furqueron claiming second and third places, respectively. Warnick’s time of 1:02.65 not only secured her a strong finish but also positioned her at No. 10 in the all-time rankings for the program in the 100 breaststroke.
Eliason excelled in the 100 butterfly event, finishing with a remarkable time of 54.10, nearly two seconds faster than UNLV’s Lauren Palacios. This outstanding performance propelled her to No. 5 in the all-time records at BYU, solidifying her place in the program’s history. The freshman from Rockville, Maryland has now achieved three individual event victories in her first three collegiate competitions.
Williams showcased her speed by earning 13 points, highlighted by a decisive victory in the 50 freestyle and a strong second-place finish in the 100 freestyle. The senior from Houston, Texas clocked an impressive 23.08 seconds in the 50-free event and 50.60 seconds in the 100-free race, demonstrating her prowess in the water.
The relay teams from BYU also made their mark, securing a win in the 200 medley relay event and finishing in second place in the 400 freestyle relay. The medley relay team, consisting of Katya Hulse, Miller Lung, Eliason, and Williams, recorded a time of 1:40.25, while the 400 freestyle team, featuring Haylee Tiffany, Victoria Schreiber, Eliason, and Williams, completed their event in 3:24.31.
In diving, Alexia Jackson Hansen and Brooklyn Larson Clouse delivered impressive performances, leading the BYU women’s diving team. Jackson Hansen clinched first place in the 3-meter competition with a score of 297.30, closely followed by Larson Clouse in second at 295.88. Furthermore, the Cougar duo secured the second and third positions on the 1-meter board, scoring 262.43 and 259.58, respectively.
“I saw a lot of improvement from the whole team today,” said BYU head diving coach Tyce Routson. “Some of our athletes are healthy again, and that gave us added enthusiasm and energy as a team.” Their positive momentum leads them into their next competitive events.
After a two-week hiatus, BYU women’s swimming will make a competitive return at the Texas Invite in Austin, Texas, from November 20-22. Simultaneously, the BYU women’s divers will travel to Dallas, Texas, for the SMU Invite, taking place from November 21-23.
**Interview with BYU Head Swim and Dive Coach Tamber McAllister**
**Interviewer:** Coach McAllister, thank you for joining us today. It was a tough matchup against UNLV. Can you share your thoughts on the team’s performance overall?
**Tamber McAllister:** Thank you for having me. I am incredibly proud of our athletes today. They raced aggressively and showed a lot of heart. Although we fell short in the final score, it was a great opportunity for us to fine-tune our race strategies before our mid-season competition.
**Interviewer:** It sounds like there were some standout performances. Can you highlight a few swimmers who particularly impressed you?
**Tamber McAllister:** Absolutely! Mackenzie Miller Lung was our top scorer with 18 points, and she really shined in the breaststroke events, claiming victories in both the 100 and 200. Halli Williams, Sarah Eliason, and Lucy Warnick also made significant contributions, showcasing their talent throughout the competition.
**Interviewer:** Mackenzie’s times were remarkable, especially her performances in the breaststroke events. How do you think her success will impact the team moving forward?
**Tamber McAllister:** Mackenzie’s victories not only boost her confidence but also uplift the entire team. She has consistently performed well this season, and her leadership will be essential as we head into the more competitive part of our schedule. Seeing our younger athletes step up, like Lucy Warnick achieving a top 10 all-time finish in the 100 breaststroke, is also encouraging for our future.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of younger athletes, can you discuss Eliason’s performance in the 100 butterfly?
**Tamber McAllister:** Sarah’s performance was outstanding! Her time of 54.10 was impressive and now places her fifth in our all-time records. It’s been extraordinary to see freshman like her excel at such a high level this early in the season. It says a lot about her potential and what she can contribute as we progress.
**Interviewer:** With the mid-season competition approaching, what are your key focuses for the team in training?
**Tamber McAllister:** We’re going to concentrate on refining our techniques and improving our race strategies. We’ll analyze performances from this dual meet and make adjustments where necessary. We want to build on this momentum and ensure that our athletes are feeling strong both mentally and physically as we head into more rigorous competitions.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for your insights, Coach. Best of luck to the Cougars in your upcoming competitions!
**Tamber McAllister:** Thank you! I appreciate it and look forward to seeing how our team progresses. Go Cougars!
