Rumiancteva wins RMAC title, stays set on finals
California Baptist University women’s swimmer Alena Rumiancteva, junior international studies major, has finished a superior regular season as she prepares for the NCAA Division II Championships.
An international student from Russia, she had previous experience in swimming for National Arctic University in Arkhangelsk, Russia, and earned third place in the Russian National Cup.
“I’m just trying to do my best,” Rumiancteva said. “I’m just trying to have fun and live my life.”
Rumiancteva said she had fun winning every event at her last meet against University of California, San Diego.
“UCSD was a really strong team,” Rumiancteva said. “I really wanted to help my team.”
Rumiancteva said she is going to try her best in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships.
“I already qualified for Nationals,” Rumiancteva said. “I will still swim in all of my events and try my best.”
Rick Rowland, head coach of the men’s and women’s swim teams, said she has been a strong asset to the team all season.
“Alena has been successful the past two years,” Rowland said. “She surprised herself in December because she’s nationally ranked in the breaststroke and the individual medley.”
Rowland said her success qualified her for the NCAA Championships.
“She gives depth in her breaststroke, relays and individual medleys.” Rowland said. “She is a big part of why we defeated a No. 2-ranked UC San Diego team.”
Rumiancteva continued to prepare for the RMAC Championships that were held Feb. 10-13 in Grand Junction, Colo., where she and the rest of the team won their third consecutive RMAC title.
In the conference meet, Rumiancteva won her fifth RMAC individual title in the 200 breastroke with a time of two minutes, 15.82 seconds. With her contributions, the women’s team was able to earn 985 points, winning the RMAC championship crown.
Rumiancteva and other swimmers will be participating in the NCAA Division II Championships March 8-12 in Indianapolis.
Rumiancteva said she will compete to the best of her ability and swim