Zhang breaks own WAC record on Day Two of conference championships

PHARR, Texas- The Falcons set out on the second day of competition at the WAC Championships on Thursday, as Wen Zhang reset his own conference and program records following a stellar day in the pool.

Zhang swam to a championship win in the 500 Free, while his time of 4:15.96 becomes the latest in a series of conference records set by the Air Force senior. The Alabaman's time on Thursday trumped his previous conference record time of 4:16.15, while also setting the benchmark in the Falcons record book.

Yesterday, Zhang finished his 200-yard split as the lead in the 800 Free Relay with a time of 1:31.62, breaking his own school and conference record set earlier this season. Zhang's previous-best time of 1:31.99 was set in November at the Art Adamson Invitational.

Zhang wasn't the lone Falcon to set new personal standards on Thursday. Camden Swigart and James Winterfield each qualified for championship swims in the 200 IM, with both entrenching their names among the best Air Force lore.

Swigart's preliminary time of 1:47.06 not only qualified him for the final round, but also becomes the fifth-best time in the event in Air Force history. Swigart eventually placed sixth in the championship finale. Winterfield placed fifth in the final round, as his time of 1:47.11 now places him just behind Swigart with the sixth-fastest time in the event in program history.

Joseph Moore's preliminary swim in the 200 IM timed out at 1:47.98, the eighth-best finish in program history. Moore finished 15th-overall in the event.

After a third-place title in the one-meter dive on Wednesday, Kenyon again placed third following Thursday's events. Kenyon collected a score of 338.10 in the three-meter dive.

Erik Pfaffenbichler (255.70) and Tristan Trax (253.85) placed seventh and eighth, respectively.

Matthew Lattin did just enough to secure a position in the final round of the 50 Free, where the senior placed eighth with a time of 20.06.

The Falcons slid from the second to fourth overall among the six teams after the second day, as Air Force was hit with a disqualification in the 200 Free Relay, resulting in no team points.

Tomorrow, Air Force will continue its time at the WAC Championships, with the championship rounds starting at 5:00 pm MT.

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