Duarte concludes season for WSU swimming at NCAA Championships
BENJAMIN MICHAELIS | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE
Sophomore Mackenzie Duarte races in the 200-yard breaststroke against University of Wyoming on Nov. 9 at Gibb Pool.
March 24, 2019
Sophomore swimmer Mackenzie Duarte competed at the NCAA Championships on Friday and Saturday in Austin, Texas.
Duarte took part in the preliminary round of the 100-yard breaststroke Friday and clocked a lifetime best of 1:01.63. She qualified for NCAA’s in the event after securing a time of 1:01.66 at the Phill Hansel Invitational on Nov. 17.
“Not only did she [get] a lifetime best,” Head Coach Matt Leach said in a WSU news release, “but she was in the small percentage of swimmers at the NCAAs that got faster.”
Duarte finishes the season with three wins in the event.
Duarte competed in her strongest event, the 200-yard breaststroke, Saturday to finish off the season for WSU swimming. She is the current school record holder in the event clocking a 2:09.47 to place seventh at the Pac-12 Championships.
In the preliminary round of the 200-yard breaststroke Saturday, Duarte swam a 2:11.33, her second fastest time ever.
“Washington State swimming made big steps forward this season … we are excited for [Duarte’s] future and the future of the Cougs.”
Looking forward to next season, the Cougars will only lose senior Linnea Lindberg and return 14 swimmers and add five new swimmers who signed National Letters of Intent.
