After strong performances across the board at the Speedo Midseason Invitational, Centre has garnered three SAA Athlete of the Week awards, as announced by conference officials on Monday.
Ava Gates was named the Women's Swim Athlete of the Week after a big weekend. She broke and then re-broke Centre's longest standing record in the 200-yard breaststroke. A record time of 2:25.10 had stood since 1992. Gates broke that mark in prelims with a time of 2:24.11. In the final, Gates was even better as she broke her own record with a time of 2:22.69 to also set a new meet record. She swam 3rd in the 100-yard breaststroke final in a time of 1:05.78, which was better than the meet record entering the race. Gates also swam a fast split for Centre in the 200 medley relay as her time of 25.69 kept the Colonels in the hunt and led to a 3rd place finish. She also notched a lifetime best in the 200 IM with a time of 2:12.55 to finish 2nd in the B final.
Erin Dannemiller grabbed Women's Dive Athlete of the Week honors once again. She finished 2nd on the 3-meter board with a total score of 344.05 points. When the competition switched to the 1-meter board, Dannemiller also finished 2nd with 375.20 points, just over 10 points off the meet record.
Garrett George came away with Men's Dive Athlete of the Week honors. In the Speedo Invitational,
Garrett George won the 3-meter competition with a total score of 534.55 points, just 11.95 points off a school record. He also finished 2nd in the 1-meter competition with 496.80 points, less than 3 points away from victory.