PROVO -- The BYU men's and women's swimming and diving teams will take on the Utes at home Thursday for their final conference meet before the MWC Championships Feb. 22-25. Last year the neighboring rival edged the Cougars, skin suits and all, at the end of the season to take the women's regular season conference title and split the men's with the Cougars. BYU men's swimming coach Tim Powers said the loss is still fresh on their minds.
"We gave up the final meet of the year last year," Powers said. "And our guys remember that."
Junior sprinter Brett Allen, who has won every 50 and 100 free he has competed in so far this season, will have a close match-up in Utah's 100 free sprinter Jonathan Larsen who leads the conference in the 100 free and is second to Allen in the 50 free. Larsen has won the 100 free at conference the past two seasons.
Coming off of a weekend of dual wins on the road for both the men and women's teams, BYU women's swimming coach Stan Crump said the Cougars are ready to meet the Utes at home.
"We're exactly where we want to be," Crump said. "And our kids are looking forward to it. We'll see what they do."
BYU will host Utah Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Richards Building Pool.