Swimming Reaches First Final at Short Course Nationals - WICU12/WSEE Erie, PA News, Sports, Weather and Events

Swimming Reaches First Final at Short Course Nationals

 AUSTIN, TX. - The Bowling Green State University swim team enjoyed another successful day at the USA Swimming AT&T Winter National Championships, highlighted by a victory in the 200 medley relay "B" final and a ninth-place overall finish in the event. 

The 200 medley team of Alexa Harris, Alexis Kain, Brittany Szekely and Emily Bennet advanced BGSU to its first final of the competition, qualifying to the B final in tenth place after prelims.  The Falcons improved their standing in the final, finishing first with a season-best time of 1:42.56. 

"We had another great day," said head coach Petra Martin.  "The relay was definitely the highlight - and the fact that we swam even faster in the final.  We were really excited to win the B final and to get our name up there."

Overall, five Falcons turned in season- or career-best times Friday, with seniors Harris and Bennet swimming to career-bests in the 100 backstroke.  Harris came in at 56.04 - the third-fastest mark in school history - to finish 38th in the prelims.  Bennet swam for her personal best of 56.90 in the time trials.  That time puts Bennet as the fifth-fastest in BGSU history.

Individually, Kain was the top finisher for the Falcons, placing 29th in the prelims of the 100 breaststroke in a field of over 60 of the nation's best swimmers.  Freshman Daniela Carrillo finished 42nd in the same event, swimming a season-best 1:03.43.

Freshman Jordan Bullock swam for a season-best 55.92 in the prelims for the 100 butterfly, placing 45th, just ahead of teammate Szekely, who also touched in a season-best 56.45.  Joëlle Scheps represented the Falcons in the 200 freestyle, finishing 40th in a time of 1:50.47.

The Falcons are back in the pool Saturday for the final day of competition at the championships.  Bowling Green swimmers are scheduled to race in the 200 backstroke (Scheps, Harris), the 100 freestyle (Scheps, Bennet) and the 200 breaststroke (Kain, Carrillo).  Prelims begin at 9 a.m. CT, with finals taking place at 5 p.m. CT.