Flames place 5th after ‘incredible’ meet
HOBART, Ind. – Liz Germonprez couldn't have asked for more.
The College of Saint Mary swim coach gushed over her team after it wrapped up a fifth-place finish on Saturday in the KCAC Swimming & Diving Championships at the Hobart Aquatic Center.
"Every session of this meet, seven sessions over four days, this team brought everything they have to their swims and each other,'' Germonprez said. "Each session I would tell them, 'That might be the best session of swimming we've ever had!' I said it every session! It was an incredible experience to be a part of. Coach Maddy Craig and I are so proud of this team.''
Bethel University won the team title with 767.5 points, and was followed by Aquinas College (635), Olivet Nazarene University (609), University of Saint Mary (498), College of Saint Mary (296), Dordt University (182.5), Midland University (182), Morningside University (146) and Sterling College (135).
The Flames finished a full two spots higher than last season at the conference meet, and it matched their best-ever finish in their four-year participation in the KCAC meet.
In Saturday night's finals, Kylee Brown turned in the Flames' top finish, taking fourth in the 1,650 freestyle in a personal-best 18:17.32, which was only .34 off the school record. Also in that event, Addison Miller swam a personal-best 19:33.93 for 11th and Hannah Steinmetz was 16th (20:36.66).
In the 200 backstroke, Chloe Hale finished seventh in the championship finals heat in 2:16.09. In the 'B' final of that event, the Flames had two personal-bests, by Grace Biddle, who won her heat for ninth in 2:14.36, and Steinmetz, who was 10th in 2:19.39.
In the 100 freestyle 'B' final, Isabella Promes was 15th (55.99) and Jaidyn Vanschoiack was 16th in a personal-best 56.06.
In the 200 butterfly, Hannah Ferguson was second in the 'B' final and 10th overall in a personal-best 2:19.22.
Finally, the Flames' quartet of Vanschoiack, Promes, Ferguson and Brown broke the school record in the 400 free relay, clocking 3:40.34 for fifth.
Here are Saturday's full CSM results:
Unscored Event
400 free relay: CSM 'B' (Hannah Steinmetz, Chloe Hale, Kylee Jo Farson, Grace Biddle) 3:54.50.
Prelims
200 backstroke: 6, Chloe Hale 2:14.26; 10, Grace Biddle 2:19.85; 11, Hannah Steinmetz 2:21.98.
100 freestyle: 15, Isabella Promes 55.93; 16, Jaidyn Vanschoiack 56.09; 29, Juliet Balman 59.79; 34, Olivia Poole 1:01.41; 39, Autumn Neale 1:12.57.
200 breaststroke: 17, Naomi Huttenga 2:44.00.
200 butterfly: 9, Hannah Ferguson 2:20.92
Finals
1,650 free: 4, Kylee Brown 18:17.32; 11, Addison Miller 19:33.93; 16, Hannah Steinmetz 20:36.66; 19, Skylar Ned 22:09.85.
200 backstroke: 7, Chloe Hale 2:16.09; 9, Grace Biddle 2:14.36; 10, Hannah Steinmetz 2:19.39.
100 freestyle: 15, Isabella Promes 55.99; 16, Jaidyn Vanschoiack 56.06.
200 butterfly: 10, Hannah Ferguson 2:19.22.
400 free relay: 5, CSM 'A' (Jaidyn Vanschoiack, Isabella Promes, Hannah Ferguson, Kylee Brown) 3:40.34.