WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – University of Iowa Swimming and Diving secured four top-20 finishes on day three of the Big Ten Championships inside the Morgan J. Burke Aquatic Center on Friday.
Freshman Jenna Kerr was a ‘B’ finalist in the 200 freestyle event, qualifying with a personal best of 1:47.30 in the preliminaries. Kerr, a native of Barrington, Illinois, would finish 16th overall following her 1:49.07 in the finals.
Freshman Olivia Swalley reached her second final of the week, earning a spot in the ‘C’ final of the 400 individual medley. Swalley, a four-time conference freshman of the week honoree, improved Iowa’s second all-time mark with a 4:14.42 and 19th-place finish in the finals.
Sophomore Scarlet Martin was a ‘C’ finalist qualifier in the 100 butterfly, clocking a 54.25 in the first round. Martin would improve her time in the finals, placing 20th overall with a 54.11.
The Hawkeyes earned their fourth top-20 finish with Kennedy Gilbertson’s performance in the 100 backstroke finals. Gilbertson entered the ‘C’ final after a 54.24 qualifying time. The fifth-year from Plover, Wisconsin, bettered her time in the evening session, placing 20th with a 54.16.
In the three-meter diving competition, junior Makayla Hughbanks scored points for the Hawkeyes. Hughbanks, also named Iowa’s Big Ten Sportsmanship award honoree, amassed 249.30 points to add to Iowa’s team total.
“We had great performances throughout the day,” head coach Nathan Mundt said. “Having finalists in the 100 Fly, 100 Back, 200 Free, 400 IM and 3M Diving all in the same session is tremendous progress for our program. We’re excited for a new day tomorrow and look to capitalize on the opportunity to finish strong.”
After day three of competition, the Hawkeyes are in 11th place with 217 points.
The Hawkeyes conclude competition at the Big Ten Championships on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. (CT).
HAWKEYE RESULTS
100 Backstroke prelims
21. Kennedy Gilbertson – 54.24, C Finalist qualifier
26. Annie Galvin – 54.87, SB
29. Hope Schimming – 55.40, SB
35. Addie Crain – 57.11
Exh. Anna Pfeiffer – 58.84
100 Backstroke finals
20. Kennedy Gilbertson – 54.16
100 Butterfly prelims
19. Scarlet Martin – 54.25, C Finalist qualifier
34. Annie Galvin – 55.42, PR
45. Leslie Wendel – 58.20, SB
46. Olivia Asay – 58.42, SB
47. Megan Hartlieb – 58.70
100 Butterfly finals
20. Scarlet Martin – 54.11
200 Freestyle prelims
14. Jenna Kerr – 1:47.30, B Finalist qualifier, PR
30. Sabina Kupcova – 1:49.31
34. Josie Hood – 1:51.11
35. Molly Pedersen – 1:51.33
Exh. Madison Stone – 1:53.33, PR
200 Freestyle finals
16. Jenna Kerr – 1:49.07
400 Individual Medley prelims
18. Olivia Swalley – 4:16.09, C Finalist qualifier
34. Mallory Kell – 4:26.82, PR
38. Olivia Frantum – 4:30.30, PR
39. Alix O’Brien – 4:32.57
400 Individual Medley finals
19. Olivia Swalley 4:14.42, PR + 2nd at Iowa
200 Freestyle Relay finals
10. Gilbertson, Kupcova, Pedersen, Galvin – 1:32.84
Three-Meter Dive prelims
21. Makayla Hughbanks – 249.30 points
26. Geneva Pauly – 241.35 points
30. Sarah Ballard – 233.95 points