GENEVA, OHIO -- For the fourth straight year, Cal State East Bay is represented at NCAA Division II Swimming and Diving Championships. After qualifying individually, seniors Allie Klinger and Victoria Zukeran and junior Peyton Wayment will swim against the best in the nation over the next four days at SPIRE Institute – Aquatics Center.
 
The 2019-20 meet, hosted by the SPIRE Institute and the NCAA, begins Wednesday, Mar. 11 and runs through Saturday, Mar. 14. The morning prelim sessions between at 7 a.m. (PT) each day, with the evening championship sessions scheduled for 3 p.m. (PT).
 
"It's exciting any time we get athletes to the National Championship," expressed head coach Shane Pelton. "Every year this meet is incredibly fast and it's a true testament to these three women's hard work and dedication to get here."
 
The trio helped lead East Bay to their first ever back-to-back PCSC Championship.
 
Klinger was PCSC champion in the 100 Freestyle while taking second place in the 50 Freestyle and 100 Butterfly, with her 100 Free time of 51.24 earning her an NCAA qualification.
 
Zukeran claimed the conference title in the 200 Butterfly, breaking her own school record with a time of 2:04.14 and it earned her a spot in the national championship meet.
 
Wayment was crowned league champion in the 1650 Freestyle lowering her program record time to 17:04.65 and she also finished second in the 1000 Freestyle setting a personal best time of 10:20.34.
 
"For Allie, this will be her 3rd consecutive year and Peyton her second year and I see a more confident and comfortable approach heading into the meet this year for both of them," explained Pelton. "In turn, it's making Tori's first national championship experience fun and enjoyable with little pressure. These women are having fun and enjoying the moment, but trust me, they are ready to rock."
 
Both Klinger and Wayment will swim Wednesday in the opening session of the meet. Klinger is seeded 22nd in the 50 Free and will likely have to swim the fastest time in school history to have a chance to score points. Wayment will compete in the 1000 Freestyle, where she is seeded 31st and will attempt to lower her own program record.
 
Klinger will be back in the pool on Thursday as the No. 31 seed in the 100 Butterfly. The following day, Zukeran will compete in the 200 Butterfly as the 25th seed and Wayment will race in the 500 Freestyle as the 45th seed.
 
Both Wayment and Klinger ill swim their best events on the final day of NCAA Championships, and it will likely be the best opportunity for both to earn All-American status. The 1650 Freestyle is the last event of prelims and the first event of the evening session, and Wayment enters as the No. 21 seed. Klinger is seeded 15th in the very next race, the 100 Freestyle.