Shenandoah, Texas – What was arguably the Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team’s most important morning session of the 2015 NCAA Championships is in the books. The Gusties will be swimming in three events in tonight’s finals session thanks to the individual efforts of Katie Olson (Sr., North Oaks, Minn.) and Jenny Strom (Sr., Rochester, Minn.), and performance of the 400-free relay comprised of Michelle Campeau (Fy., Rochester, Minn.), Leah Anderson (Jr., Apple Valley, Minn.), Kate Reilly (Fy., Hastings, Minn.), and Olson.
“I’m very pleased with our performance this morning,” said Head Coach Jon Carlson. “We had one of our best sessions, but that is what makes this sport so heartbreaking. You can swim so well yet sometimes you end up on the outside looking in. There is so much that is beyond your control and so often things just don’t turn out in your favor. With that said, we have one more session to go and I’m confident in our ability to achieve our goal of a top ten finish.
Katie Olson kicked off the morning in the 100 freestyle where she touched the wall in 51.33 to finish 14th overall, earning a spot in tonight’s consolation finals. Olson improved on her seed time of 51.43 and missed out on a spot in the top eight by just .19 of a second. Kate Reilly also competed in the 100 free, finishing 31st with a time of 51.97.
“Katie went all out like I knew she would,” said Carlson about his senior. “She was aware that she had to go after it right away just to make it into the top 16. Knowing that, Katie swam a smart, gutsy race and ended up narrowly missing out on the top eight by the slimmest of margins. She’s swimming at night on the final day, and as a senior, that’s all you can ask for.”
Hayley Booher (So., Warren, Vt.) followed Olson with her last event of the NCAA Championships, taking part in the 200 backstroke and finishing 22nd with a time of 2:04.26.
“That was Hayley’s best swim of the meet,” Carlson stated. “She swam smart and with poise from start to finish. I wish she had a few more days here because she really hit her stride this morning. From where she was as a freshman to where she is now as a sophomore is a credit to her work ethic and positive attitude. I look forward to bringing her to this meet two more seasons.”
Gustavus’s individual swims were rounded out by Jenny Strom’s 200 breaststroke. Strom placed 11th overall after touching the wall in 2:19.19. She – like her senior teammate – narrowly missed a top eight standing by the slimmest of margins (.30 of a second).
“Jenny swam a solid race but has the potential to go a lot faster tonight,” commented Carlson. “There are a few aspects of her swim that can be cleaned up and I look forward to seeing how she responds in what will be the final swim of her collegiate career.”
The last morning session of the NCAA Championships was capped off by the 10th place finish of the 400-free relay. Campeau, Anderson, Reilly, and Olson turned in a time of 3:27.32 to place outside the finals by .16 of a second.
Carlson said the 400-free relay turned in roughly the same performance it did at the MIAC Championships. “Usually holding time at this meet will hold your spot, but that just wasn’t the case today,” he said. “They too have the potential to go much faster tonight with a few tweaks across the board.”
The NCAA Championships will come to a close tonight at the Conroe Natatorium beginning with the 100 free at 6:00 p.m.