University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa swimmers Catherine Belyakov and Karol Ostrowski earned Big West Athlete of the Week honors after performances at the Southern Methodist University Invitational in Dallas, Texas. Belyakov now has three Big West weekly awards of the year, while this is Ostrowski’s first career Big West weekly honor.
Catherine Belyakov
Belyakov won the 200 individual medley, recording the second-fastest mark in UH history at 1:57.82. In the 400 individual medley prelims, Belyakov continued to climb the record books posting a time of 4:17.74, which ranks fourth in Rainbow Wahine history. In her first season at UH, Belyakov now holds top-10 times in four different events (100 breaststroke, 100 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 400 individual medley).
Belyakov swam the anchor leg for the Rainbow Wahine 200 freestyle A team that placed second. Belyakov was also a part of the 400 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay A teams that both placed third in their respective events.
Karol Ostrowski
Ostrowski set a school record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:34.36, breaking the previous record. The speedy senior secured a victory in the 50 freestyle, and in the process, broke the pool record at the Roberson and Lindley Aquatics Center recording a mark of 18.99. Ostrowski closed out the weekend in individual competition with a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle with a time of 42.58.
Ostrowski was also the lead-off swimmer for both the 400 freestyle relay and 200 medley relay A teams that finished in third and fourth place respectively.
