Indianapolis – The Gustavus Adolphus women’s swimming and diving team got the start it was looking for at Thursday’s preliminaries of the NCAA Championships taking place this week at the IUPUI Natatorium. With a day under their collective belt, the Gusties earned a spot in Thursday night’s finals in both relay races this morning.
The 200-free relay team was all business heading into the day and it wasted not time when it was time to perform. In just the second swimming event of prelims, the group consisting of Katie Olson (Jr., North Oaks, Minn.), Tarin Anding (So., Sartell, Minn.), Danielle Klunk (Jr., Appleton, Wis.), and Alissa Tinklenberg (Sr., Willmar, Minn.) finished fifth overall with a time of 1:34.10. The Gusties came into the meet ranked fourth in the 200-free relay with a qualifying time of 1:33.83. By virtue of a top eight finish this morning, Gustavus has guaranteed itself a place on the All-America Team barring a disqualification tonight.
The 400-medley relay comprised of Tinklenberg, Jennifer Strom (Jr., Rochester, Minn.), Klunk, and Olson followed suit in the afternoon’s final swim. Thanks in large part to a strong finish by Olson on the anchor freestyle leg, the Gusties touched the wall in 3:48.18 to place second in their heat and sixth overall. The club’s qualifying time in the event was a 3:46.87. Just like the 200-free relay, the 400-medley has earned a spot on the All-America Team with a chance to earn big points at the finals later this evening.
Competing in individual races this morning was Jennifer Strom and Danielle Klunk. Strom swam a 4:36.20 to place 27th in the 400 individual medley, and Klunk went 58.31 to take 44th in the 100 butterfly.
The finals for the 200-free relay, 400 IM, 100 butterfly, 200 free, and 400-medley relay will begin tonight at 6:00 p.m. (EST). For complete results and to view tonight’s heat sheets, please follow the links below.