OCALA, Fla. – University of Iowa freshmen Jenna Kerr and Olivia Swalley earned top three finishes on day two of the National Invitational Championship at the FAST center.
“It was another great day of racing for us today,” said head coach Nathan Mundt. “Multiple qualifiers in the finals and we are moving up in the team rankings. Our team displayed a lot of grit and perseverance tonight, with many of them racing three, four or five times today. We have another big day ahead tomorrow and we are excited to finish strong.”
Kerr doubled up on personal bests, swimming Iowa’s fifth fastest time of 1:47.56 in the preliminary round of the 200 freestyle. She returned in the finals and placed second overall in 1:47.02. Sabina Kupcova qualified for the B final and placed 18th in 1:49.68.
Swalley, yesterday’s 200 individual medley champion, finished third in the championship of the 400 individual medley. Swalley’s 4:15.35 was nearly a four second improvement from her prelim time.
Kennedy Gilbertson clinched a spot in the finals of the 100 backstroke following her 54.32 in the morning session. Gilbertson would shave five-hundredths from her time in the night session to finish eighth at 54.27.
The Hawkeyes placed in the top ten in two relays on Friday night. Gilbertson, Swalley, Kupcova and Kerr placed fifth in the 200 medley relay, clocking a 1:39.95. In the 800 freestyle relay, Kerr, Kupcova, Swalley and Alix O’Brien secured an eighth place finish in 7:20.87.
Iowa concludes competition at the NIC tomorrow beginning at 8:30 a.m. (CT). Coverage can be found via the official FAST YouTube channel and through the MeetMobile app.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
100 Backstroke Prelim
7. Kennedy Gilbertson – 54.32
100 Backstroke Final
8. Kennedy Gilbertson – 54.27
200 Freestyle Prelim
1. Jenna Kerr – 1:47.56, PR + 5th at Iowa
11. Sabina Kupcova – 1:49.32
200 Freestyle Final
2. Jenna Kerr – 1:47.02, PR + 5th at Iowa
18. Sabina Kupcova – 1:49.68
400 Individual Medley Prelim
8. Olivia Swalley – 4:19.06
34. Alix O’Brien – 4:26.37
400 Individual Medley Final
3. Olivia Swalley – 4:15.35
100 Breaststroke Prelim
36. Olivia Swalley – 1:03.56
200 Medley Relay
5. Gilbertson, Swalley, Kupcova, Kerr – 1:39.95
800 Freestyle Relay
7. Kerr, Kupcova, Swalley, O’Brien – 7:20.87