Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch – 2017-18 | Hawk Talk Monthly — February 2018 – http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/935355-february-2018 | Results (PDF)
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Senior Meghan Lavelle swam to a school record in the 100-yard backstroke to highlight the University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team’s day Friday at the Big Ten Championships.
Lavelle posted a school-record time of 53.36 seconds during Friday morning’s preliminaries, besting her previous record of 53.63 that she shared with Daniela Cubelic. Lavelle went on to finish 16th with a time of 53.82 seconds.
The Hawkeyes’ best finish of the day came in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The quartet of sophomore Hannah Burvill, senior Mekenna Scheitlin, Lavelle, and freshman Sarah Schemmel finished with a time of 1:31.18 — the second-best time in school history.
Burvill posted Iowa’s best individual finish Friday, placing 10th in the 200-yard freestyle. Burvill was the runner-up in the “B” final, touching in 1:45.82. Sophomore Allyssa Fluit also earned a second swim, and she was the runner-up of the “C” final — finishing 18th overall — with a career-best time of 1:47.48 seconds.
Senior Shea Hoyt tallied a 13th place finish in the 100 breast with a time of 1:01.39. Hoyt swam a career-best time of 1:01.37 — the third-fastest time in school history — during the morning prelims.
Freshman Kelsey Drake tallied a 16th place finish in the 100 fly, touching in 54.13 seconds. The Marion, Iowa, native swam a career-best time of 53.66 seconds — the second-best time in program history — in the prelims.
Junior Kelly McNamara also advanced to the finals of the 100 fly; she finished 21st with a career-best time of 53.75 seconds.
The Hawkeyes got 14 team points from the divers off the 3-meter. Freshman Jayah Mathews narrowly missed qualifying for the consolation finals, as she finished 17th with a score of 290.40 points. Sophomore Thelma Strandberg placed 20th with 281.25 points.
Meghan Hackett also was recognized as Iowa’s recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award on Friday.
Iowa sits ninth in the team standings with 284 points. Michigan is leading the team race with 926 points. Saturday’s final day will include the 200 back, 100 free, 200 breast, 200 fly, platform, 1,650 free, and the 400-free relay. Action begins at 10 a.m. (CT).
