Clark and Patton power Rice to dominating performance at Phill Hansel Invite

The Rice University Owls won the Phill Hansel Invite in Houston in dominating fashion, setting multiple school records and NCAA “B” cuts along the way.

Leading the Owls were sophomore Shelly Patton and junior Casey Clark, who each set a pair of school records.

Patton, who transferred to Rice from Northwestern University this season, won the 200 IM in 2:00.12, a new Rice record. She also broke a school record leading off Rice’s winning 400 medley relay – her 100 back split was 54.98. Clark won three events on the weekend, setting school records in two of them. Her 100 fly (52.85) and 200 fly (1:57.28) were Rice marks, and her 100 free (49.62) was an NCAA “B” cut.

Rice swept all five relays, including the 400 free relay, which was also a school record in 3:19.80.

Mona Groteguth of North Texas had a big weekend of her own, sweeping the backstroke events and breaking a Mean Green school record. Her times of 54.30 (100 back) and 1:56.62 (200 back) won the backstroke events, and her leadoff leg on the 400 medley relay was even faster, breaking the North Texas school record in 54.02.

Idaho got multiple wins from Rachel Millet – she went 23.13 to break a school record in the 50 free, and also won the 200 in 1:48.11, while finishing 2nd in the 200 IM.

Houston’s Taylor Olanski won two of the three diving events, scoring 274.70 on 1-meter and 279.80 on platform. Paige Hunt of Idaho won the 3-meter event with a score of 312.90.

Other event winners were Jana Burkard of North Texas in the mile, Erin Flanigan of Rice in the 500, Rice’s Quincy Christian in the 400 IM, Tulane’s Mia Schachter in the 100 breast and Jessica Legge of New Mexico State in the 200 breast.

Full meet results available here.

Final Team Scores

1. Rice University 994

2. Idaho, University of 653

3. Houston University 640.5

4. New Mexico State University 587

5. Tulane Swimming and Diving 539.5

6. North Texas, University of 399

7. California State Fresno 86