More School Records Fall on Day 3 of Women's Championships

On a day that brought about more opportunities for great things, the Bulls took advantage of the five individual swimming events. Friday evening started with the 400 IM and a school record performance by sophomore Alie Schirmers. Alie placed 3rd overall with a lifetime best of 4:18.98, breaking the previous record of 4:19.68 set by Jennefer Brankovsky in 2004. Junior Alisa Koopman placed 15th overall in the event and posted a lifetime best in prelims (4:32.01).

The 100 fly followed as sophomore Jessie Koltz and seniors Sam Palma and Emily Day competed in the consolation final. Sam finished in 11th place with a time of 55.97, just off of her prelim time of 55.65. Jessie was just behind with a 13th place finish (56.39), while Emily Day followed up her lifetime best swim (56.60) in prelims with a 16th place finish at night (57.25).

Caroline Simmons broke the school record in the prelims of the 200 free with a time of 1:49.72, and followed up her performance with an 8th place finish in finals. The previous record of 1:50.90 was set by Andrea Lehner in 2007. Junior Jordan Deren placed 14th place with a time of 1:50.98. She posted a personal best in prelims with a time of 1:50.63, under Lehner's previous school record.

The final individual events of the evening were the 100 breast and 100 back. Sophomore Brynn Marecki placed 6th overall (1:03.48) in the 100 breast, just off of her swim from prelims (1:02.75). Freshman Katelyn Pratt-Collins and seniors Caitlin Reilly and Jessica Ballard led the way as all three competed in the consolation final of the 100 back. Jessica won the heat with a lifetime best of 55.76. Katelyn placed 12th with a time of 56.83, followed closely by Caitlin who was 14th (57.25).

The 400 medley relay was the evening's final event. The Bulls placed 4th overall with a time of 3:44.67. The team of Jessica Ballard, Brynn Marecki, Sam Palma, and Caroline Simmons posted a season best time, and missed the school record by less than 4-tenths!