HOUSTON – The University of Idaho swim and dive team is holding strong in second place going into the last day of the Western Athletic Conference Championships. The Vandals are in second place after Friday night's finals and only 34.5 points behind Northern Arizona – 462.5-428.

Janelle Lucas won the platform diving competition tonight as a sophomore for the second year in a row. This was the Vandals' first WAC champion of the meet so far. Lucas scored a 260.70 tonight in final. Nikki Imanaka scored a 202.40 placing in fifth, Hailey Kessler (185.80) in 12^th, and Maren Seljevold (178.15) finished in 14^th.

"This was one heck of a night," Coach Mark Sowa said. "Our girls are showing resilience of what being a Vandal is all about."

Friday night's racing started with the 400 individual medley where the Vandals had two freshmen and a sophomore score in the event. Cassie Dallas placed ninth in the event with a 4:26.98 and Lauren Votava came in 12^th with a 4:29.58 with teammate Ana Walters close behind with a 4:29.90.

Two Vandals advanced into the final in the 100 butterfly with Emily Kliewer making the top eight final finishing in fifth overall with a time of 55.42. Vivian Crow placed 15^th overall with a time of 56.81.

The 200 free had a strong showing of four Vandals advancing into the final. Leah Fisk placed second in the event with a time of 1:49.56 and teammate Aileen Pannecoucke finished eighth with a time 1:51.16. Sarah Hall and Erica King made consolations with Hall (1:52.63) placed 15^th, and King (1:52.63) finished in 16^th.

Four Vandals competed in final of the 100 breaststroke with Clothilde Peseux placing fourth with a 1:02.30 – an Idaho record and a NCAA B cut. Cara Jernigan (1:03.47) in 10^th, Cassie Dallas (1:03.90) in 11^th, and freshman Aimee Iwamoto (1:04.80) in 14^th rounded out the Idaho scoring in the event.

Allie Magrino advanced into top eight in the 100 backstroke. Magrino finished in seventh tonight with a time of 56.11. Ana Walters swam in consolations and swam a 56.56 to finish 11^th.
The 400 medley relay capped off the night of competition where the relay team of Magrino, Peseux, Kliewer, and Pannecoucke swam a 3:47.66 finishing in fourth-place overall.  

 "The 400 medley relay closed out a really inspiring evening of competition," Sowa said. "This is where we wanted to be going into the last day tomorrow. It will be a fun Saturday."

The last day of the Conference Championships will wrap up Saturday. To follow live results click here.