The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team is in third place after the first day of the MIAC Championships which are being held at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis. Saint Olaf is in first place with 244 points, followed by Carleton with 189.5 points and Gustavus with 187.5 points.
The Gusties got off to a fast start as the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Beth DeLaRosby, Katie Garvey, Laurie Decknatel, and Laura Watkins finished first in a MIAC record time of 1:34.00. That time also automatically qualified the relay for the NCAA Championships.
The team also scored big points in the 50-yard freestyle as four Gusties placed in the top eight. Defending champion Beth DeLaRosby finished second and automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships with a time of 23.51. Katie Garvey finished fourth in 24.24, while Laura Watkins placed fifth in 24.42. Both met the NCAA Provisional Qualifying time of 24.49. Laurie Decknatel placed eighth in a time of 24.73.
Gustavus scored well in the 200-yard individual medley as Sara Pfau placed third with a time of 2:12.23 and Eva Miller finished sixth with a time of 2:14.33.
The Gusties wrapped up the first day with a second place finish in the 400-yard Medley Relay with a NCAA Provisional Qualifying time of 3:58.83.