Release courtesy of Matt Higgins – MIAC Assistant Executive Director
It didn’t take Gustavus first-year swimmer Kate Reilly (Hastings, Minn./Minnesota Virtual Academy) long to acclimate to the college level, as the Gustie rookie led her team to a road win over MIAC rival St. Olaf Friday by winning three individual events and helping a relay team break a pool record that was formerly held by Division I Iowa State. For her performance, the MIAC sports information directors honored Reilly Tuesday with the MIAC Women’s Swimming and Diving Athlete-of-the-Week award.
The Gustavus rookie was superb in the 184.5-114.5 dual win over the Oles Friday, as she won the 50-yard freestyle (24.21 seconds), the 100-yard freestyle (53.56 seconds) and the 100-yard butterfly (59.86). However, her biggest performance may have come as part of the 200-yard freestyle relay team that finished in 1:38.77 to break the pool record that was previously held by the Big 12’s Cyclones. Reilly holds the MIAC’s top times in those three individual events, as well as in the 200-yard individual medley, and she has helped Gustavus record the top time in the 200-free relay and two other relay events (400-free, 200-medley).
Reilly and the Gusties will hope to build on their recent success Saturday in front of their home fans as they host the Grace Goblirsch Invitational in their home pool Saturday in St. Peter, Minn., at 1 p.m. Gustavus will take the following weekend off before competing in the U of M Jean Freeman Invitational in Minneapolis on Dec. 5-6.