Northfield, Minn. – The Gustavus Adophlus women’s swimming and diving team dove back into collegiate competition with a 194-85 victory over Carleton College on Friday night at the Thorpe Pool.
“The women swam a great meet and it felt good to be back in a competitive atmosphere to kick off 2015,” said Head Coach Jon Carlson. “I was pleased with how they competed and was especially impressed with the second half of their races. They swam smart, supported each other, and brought a lot of energy to a visiting pool.”
Senior Jennifer Strom (Rochester, Minn.) stole the spotlight with three individual event victories – two of which broke records. Strom won the 100 breaststroke in 1:08.19, 200 breastroke in 2:25.60, and 200 indivudual medley in 2:11.92.
“Jenny Strom had another phenomenal meet,” Carlson said about his standout senior. “She broke two pool records in the 200 breaststroke and the 200 IM and continues to lead by example with consistently impressive performances. She has certainly set the tone for what will be an exciting January.”
The Gusties had three individuals reach the top of the podium in more than one event including Leah Anderson (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.), Kate Reilly (Fy., Hastings, Minn.), and Heather Funai (Sr., Lincolnwood, Ill.). Anderson won both the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:59.01 and 500 freestyle with at time of 5:28.53, while Reilly swam a 24.77 to take the 50 free and a 1:00:64 to win the 100 butterfly. Funai dominated the two diving events with wins in the one-meter (247.30) and three-meter (245.50).
Hayley Booher (So., Warren, Vt.) posted three finishes inside the top two with a win in the 100 backstroke in 1:00.01, and second place marks in the 200 back (2:08.90) and 200 IM (2:11.98). Sammy Jagler (Fy., Eagan, Minn.) touched the wall first in the 200 butterfly in 2:17.7 and also added a second place finish in the 100 butterfly in 1:02.26. Katie Olson (Sr., North Oaks, Minn.) took gold in the 100 free with a time of 53.99 and finished second in the 50 free with a time of 24.83, and Elizabeth Larson (Sr., Detroit Lakes, Minn.) rounded out the group with a victory in the 1,000 free with a time of 11:17.86.
Gustavus also claimed victory in both of the evening’s relay races. Booher, Strom, Reilly, and Olson teamed up to win the 200-medley relay in 1:50.33, and Nicole Lohman (So., North Mankato, Minn.), Reilly, Tarin Anding (Jr., Sartell, Minn.), and Olson combined to win the 200-free relay in 1:40.13.
The Gustavus swimming and diving team will be back in the pool next weekend when it travels to Grinnell, Iowa to take part Grinnell College Invitational on Jan. 16-17.