Women’s Swimming & Diving Wins 2011 MIAC Championship

The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team scored 287 points in day three of competition at the 2011 MIAC Swimming and Diving Championships, winning the 2011 MIAC crown with a three-day total of 792 points.  It is the Gustavus’ fourth MIAC Championship in five years.  The Gusties were able to hold off St. Olaf, who finished second with 668 points, and Carleton, who placed third with 484 points.  The three-day conference meet was held at the Aquatics Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Alissa Tinklenberg recorded Gustavus’ only individual event win of the day, becoming MIAC Champion in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 17:42.73, her fastest mark of the season.  Brogan Barr finished third in the 1650 free with a time of 17:56.06, while Melissa Aune took fourth with a time of 17:57.22.

Carley Mosher placed runner-up in the 200 backstroke, touching the wall in 2:04.40 and making the NCAA B cut.

The Gusties filled three of the top-eight spots in the 100 free.  Kelsey Lucia finished second with an NCAA B cut time of 51.84, missing the automatic qualifying time by just .31 seconds.  Also finishing in the top-three in the 100 free was Dajana Vidovic in third place with an NCAA B cut time of 52.31.   Rounding out the top-eight in the event was Serena Elthon (8th, 54.31).

Laura Drake was the top Gustie swimmer in the 200 breaststroke, placing fourth with a mark of 2:24.31 (NCAA B).  Anika Erickson, two-time champion in the 200 breaststroke, placed fifth in 2:24.44 (NCAA B).

The 200 butterfly was another event littered with Gusties.  Steph Korba turned in the top Gustavus performance in the race, finishing runner-up in 2:09.971 and surpassing the previous meet record.  Marnie Luke and Anna Eames placed sixth and eighth place, respectively.  Luke went 2:11.83 and Eames swam a 2:19.46.

Alicia Alvarado recorded the top Gustie diving performance of the meet by taking eighth with a score of 287.10.

The 400 freestyle relay team made up of Hund, Tinklenberg, Vidovic, and Lucia put the finishing touches on the meet, winning the race with an NCAA B cut time of 3:29.21.

MIAC Championships Website

Complete Results

Team Champion: Gustavus
2010-11 MIAC Swimmer-of-the-Year: Kale Zicafoose, Carleton
2010-11 MIAC Diver-of-the-Year: Sarah Moody, St. Catherine
2010-11 MIAC Swimming Coaches-of-the-Year: Shana Erickson and Nicole Hempler
2010-11 MIAC Diving Coach-of-the-Year: Gabe Korteum, Carleton/St. Olaf

Final Team Standings
1. Gustavus – 792
2. St. Olaf – 668
3. Carleton – 484
4. St. Thomas – 454.5
5. St. Catherine – 344
6. Saint Benedict – 336.5
7. Concordia – 237
8. Macalester – 172
9. Saint Mary’s – 116
10. Augsburg – 56
11. Hamline – 18