GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (Feb. 17, 2021) – Oklahoma Christian's 200-yard freestyle relay set a school record and sophomore Brandon Heredia posted a NCAA Division II B-cut time in the 50-yard freestyle as the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships started Wednesday at El Pomar Natatorium.

The relay team of Heredia, Nathan Braun, Jacob Nixon and Nathan Bruner posted a time of 1:22.02 to finish second among five teams in the 200 freestyle relay. Nixon swam a leg on last year's OC squad that set the former mark of 1:22.51 in the same pool at the RMAC meet.

Unfortunately, OC's other relay team, in the 200 medley relay, was disqualified for having a swimmer leave early for his leg.

Heredia, from Maryville, Mo., finished fourth in an ultra-competitive 50 freestyle in 20.57 seconds. The time met the B-cut standard to provisionally qualify for next month's NCAA Division II Championships, although Heredia swam an even faster time (20.35 seconds) earlier this season.

Braun, a sophomore from Sycamore, Ill., made the B final and placed 11th overall in 21.14 seconds, with Nixon, a sophomore from Livermore, Calif., placing 15th in 21.36 seconds.

The Eagles proved strong in the 200 individual medley, placing four swimmers in the top 16. Bruner, a senior from Cibolo, Texas, and senior Zac Hawes of Houston each made the A final, placing sixth (1:55.48) and eighth (1:57.01), respectively. Ryan Jennings, a senior from Keller, Texas, won the B final in 1:54.55 and Garrett White, a sophomore from Centreville, Va., was 14th overall in 1:57.95.

In the day's other individual event, the 1,000 freestyle, OC sophomore Ethan Hansbury of Greeley, Colo., placed seventh in 10:06.90

Meet host Colorado Mesa took a sizable early lead in the five-team race with 257 points, followed by Colorado School of Mines with 197, Oklahoma Baptist with 132, OC with 105 and Adams State (Colo.) with 64.

Events scheduled for Thursday include the 100 butterfly, 400 individual medley, 200 freestyle and 400 medley relay.