SAN ANTONIO -- With the 2019-20 school year in full swing, the University of the Incarnate Word men's and women's swimming and diving team prepares for their competitive season ahead. Five athletes represented their home countries and UIW this summer to compete in six different international meets around the world.



TYR Pro Series | Fresno, Calif. | June
The TYR Pro Series is a meet open to athletes with qualifying times, with all races in the meet conducted in long course meters. Athletes at this event included national team members from various countries including past and current Olympians, with over 1,100 total athletes entered.
 
UIW student-athlete who competed:
Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz

• 400m Individual Medley -- 4:28.63 (4th; A Final)
• 200m Butterfly -- 2:00.64 (4th; A Final)
• 200m Individual Medley -- 2:06.17 (5th; A Final)

World University Games | Naples, Italy | July 4-10
The World University Games, also known at the "Universiade", is an international meet held every two years that features, 10 compulsory sports with 13 compulsory disciplines (Basketball, Diving, Fencing, Artistic Gymnastics, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Judo, Soccer, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Track & Field, Volleyball and Water Polo) and up to three optional sports chosen by the host country. This summer's World University Games was held in Naples, Italy, and featured many Olympic veterans as well as Olympic hopefuls.



UIW student-athlete who competed:
Mariana Ruvalcaba Cruz

• 50m Freestyle -- 27.79
• 50m Breaststroke -- 33.21
• 100m Breaststroke -- 1:12.70
• 200m Breaststroke -- 2:40.36

Junior World Pentathlon | Poland | July 28
The modern pentathlon is a sport including five disciplines: fencing, swimming, equestrian, pistol shooting and cross country running. The governing body for the modern pentathlon is the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne (UIPM).



UIW student-athlete who competed:
Kyle Bodemer

• "C" qualification; 819 points (personal best)

Speedo Champions Series | Austin | July 11-14
Held under the sanction of USA Swimming, the Speedo Champions Series is a long-course meter meet that featured 50 teams and 433 athletes in Austin, Texas. This meet is open to all qualifying USA Swimming athletes in Texas or Louisiana.



UIW student-athlete who competed:
Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz

• 200 Breaststroke -- 2:28.58 (Personal best)
• 200 Butterfly -- 2:02.58 (5th; Finals)

Pan American Games | Lima, Peru | August 6-10
The Pan American Games, often called the Pan Am Games, features competitors representing North and South American countries. The meet itself is held every four years, the summer before the scheduled Summer Olympic Games. With 41 countries represented there were 6,680 athletes competing in 39 sports for the Games.



UIW student-athletes who competed:
Marie Ximena Conde

• 400m Individual Medley -- 5:57.84
• 4 x 200m Freestyle relay -- 8:19.97

Hector Ruvalcaba Cruz

• 200 Butterfly 2:00.69 (6th; A Final)
• 400 Individual Medley 4:24.18 (6th; A Final)
• 200 Individual Medley 2:04.06 (Prelims)
  • Broke season-best time that was reset in June

World Junior Swimming Championships | Budapest, Hungary | August 20-25
The World Junior Swimming Championships, governed by the International Swimming Federation (FINA), is a championship meet open to female athletes aged 14-17 and male athletes aged 15-18. The meet is held every two years, with the last one hosted in Indianapolis, Indiana. This summer's final international meet was located in Budapest, Hungary to feature over 700 athletes in 42 swimming events.



UIW student-athlete who competed:
Fernando Ruvalcaba Cruz
World Junior Swimming Championships

• 200 Backstroke -- 2:03.68

UP NEXT
The Cardinals are set for their annual Red vs. Black Intrasquad meet, where Cardinals compete against their teammates to gear up for the competition season, on Sept. 21. The Intrasquad meet is set at the Ann Barshop Natatorium to begin at 1 p.m. CT.



UIW's first meet of the season will also be at home, slated for Sept. 27 as the Cardinals host the University of Houston and University of Texas-Permian Basin beginning at 12 p.m. CT.



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