The Gustavus swimming and diving team advanced the 200 free relay team and Beth DeLaRosby in the 50 yard freestyle to the finals on the first day of the NCAA Division III Championships. The event is being held in Holland, Michigan.
The 200 free relay team consisting of Beth DeLaRosby, Katie Garvey, Laurie Decknatel and Laura Watkins, which entered the prelims seeded first, posted the fastest time in the preliminary race at 1:35.23. This group will attempt to become the first Gustavus swimmers (either men or women) to claim a national title tonight in the finals which begin at 5:30 pm (Central Standard Time).
Beth DeLaRosby also qualified for the finals in the 50 yard freestyle. DeLaRosby, who was seeded third, tied for eighth in the prelims with a time of :24.11. In order to break the tie, the two swimmers had a swim-off for the last position in the finals. DeLaRosby posted a time of :23.88 compared to her competitors time of :24.07, which allowed DeLaRosby to advance. DeLaRosby finished third in the 50 yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships last year.
The 400 yard medley relay team also competed this morning and the team placed 11th with the time of 3:59.72. The group, which consists of Sara Pfau, Eva Miller, Katie Garvey, and Beth DeLaRosby, will now swim in the consolation finals tonight at around 8:00 pm (Central Standard Time).