Photo by: Cody Linn
Herd finished event in fifth place
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Marshall University Swimming and Diving team closed the Purdue Invitational on Saturday with two more top-10 program records. MU finished the event in fifth place.
“The team did a really nice job navigating this meet,” Herd swimming and diving head coach Ian Walsh after the event. “We walked away learning a lot and were able to celebrate several individual accomplishments. I thought our biggest strength was putting ourselves out there in the preliminary sessions. Championships are won in the morning and our women did a good job of getting up and racing in those sessions.”
On the final day of the competition, Madeline Hart set the fifth-best time in program history with a time of 2:01.52 in the 200 Butterfly prelims. Hart then placed fourth in the event (2:02.02) with Eszter Laban also placing eighth (2:03.28).
Laban also placed fourth in the 1650 Freestyle with a time of 16:51.79.
“Walking away with several lifetime best performances and program bests is a great indication of our fall training,” Walsh added. “Our staff is really pleased with where we are, but even more excited to build upon this as we head into our championship segment.”
In the 400 Freestyle Relay, the team Klava Katayama, Madeline Hart, Gabrielle Ivey, Audrey West finished seventh with a time of 3:24.59, the sixth fastest time in program history.
With a time of 2:16.76 in the 200 Breaststroke finals, Paige Banton placed seventh in the event.
“Grace Kelsheimer on the diving end had a great showing across all three disciplines, making finals in 1m and 3m. Eszter competing in four A finals with top 6 finishes was really impressive. Madeline and Paige sneaking into the A Final in both the 100 and 200 Fly and Breast, respectively, was excellent. So many other individuals stood up and competed really well. That is what this team needs in meets like this. We talk about competing for one another and we saw a lot of that this weekend.”
RESULTS
Final Session
1650 Freestyle
4th – Eszter Laban (16:51.79)
14th – Federica Savoia (17:15.16)
200 Backstroke
9th – Gabrielle Ivey (2:00.16) – B Final
23rd – Mia McBride (2:04.47) – C Final
24th – Lauren Ramsey (2:05.22) – C Final
100 Freestyle
16th – Klava Katayama (51.51) – B Final
200 Breaststroke
7th – Paige Banton (2:16.76) – A Final
14th – Jenna Bopp (2:18.15) – B Final
19th – Audrey West (2:19.36) – C Final
26th – Katie Fisher (2:23.61) – D Final
30th – Jessica Humby (2:24.47) – D Final
200 Butterfly
4th – Madeline Hart (2:02.02) – A Final
8th – Eszter Laban (2:03.28) – A Final
11th – Molly Warner (2:03.35) – B Final
24th – Tatum Robinson (2:10.92) – C Final
37th – Katie Fisher (1:06.84) – E Final
38th – Nina Nugent (1:07.61) – E Final
Platform Dive
13th – Alaina Laster (144.70)
14th – Grace Kelsheimer (137.00)
15th – Gabrielle Grace (127.30)
400 Freestyle Relay
7th – Klava Katayama, Madeline Hart, Gabrielle Ivey, Audrey West (3:24.59)
18th – Nina Nugent, Mia McBride, Parker Lynch, Molly Warner (3:30.31)
20th – Claire Kenney, Grace Cox, Allison Dodd, Katie Fisher (3:34.96)
UP NEXT
Marshall’s next meet will be held on December 15 when it competes against FIU in Miami, Florida.
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**Press release from Marshall University – HERDZONE – 11/18/2023 10:55:00 PM | Women’s Swimming and Diving