IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s swimming and diving team continued competition at the Hawkeye Invitational on Friday at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. The day’s events were highlighted by sophomore Olivia Swalley’s new school record in the 400 IM.
Through 14 events, the Hawkeyes are in fifth in team scoring with 632 points. Iowa tallied 21 personal bests, seven season bests and four top-ten records on the day.
“Incredible team energy from start to finish throughout the entire day,” Iowa head coach Nathan Mundt said. “We had two event winners tonight. Makayla Hughbanks on the 3-meter against some really great competition from around the country, and then highlighted, of course, by a school record tonight that has been held a long time by Big Ten champion, Becky Stoughton. For Olivia Swalley to continue to get better really proves how much she’s worked to get to a point where she put herself on the record board. But as for the rest of the team, our backstrokers and relays, all got better tonight. This was fueled by continued team effort, and belief that we’re going to come in and do better tonight. That’s huge momentum for our team.”
Swalley took the 400 IM all-time title at Iowa with her time of 4:10.54, topping the previous record by almost two seconds. Swalley won the event.
The Hawkeyes sent 16 individuals and five relays through to the finals. Freshman Nora Kemp broke her way onto Iowa’s all-time list in the 200 freestyle. Kemp swam a finals session time of 1:48.46 to finish fourth overall and place herself ninth in Iowa history.
Iowa had three swimmers place in the top eight for the 100 backstroke. Sophomore Addie Crain led the pack with a personal record time of 54.67 to land her in fourth place. Another sophomore, Hope Schimming, collected a lifetime best of 54.73, placing sixth. Senior Annie Galvin closed out for Iowa in seventh place with a time of 55.35.
The Hawkeye divers brought another day of success. Junior Geneva Pauly collected a personal best in the preliminary three-meter dives with a score of 205.55. Senior Makayla Hughbanks brought home the gold, clinching first in the three-meter finals with a career best score of 358.10. This score also bettered Hughbank’s fifth all-time record at Iowa.
“I was proud of all three of our competitors,” diving coach Todd Waikel said. “Our freshman, Stephanie, missed that B final by a quarter of a point. That was kind of heartbreaking, but she dove great. Then Makayla and Geneva making the finals was awesome. I was just really proud of Makayla, because this is what she’s been working towards. It was really tough competition, and she didn’t let any of the environment get to her. She just went out, did her thing, and came out with a personal best. Really proud of all the Hawkeyes.”
The Hawkeyes return for the final day of the Hawkeye Invitational at the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Preliminary rounds resume at 10 a.m. (CT) with the finals session to follow at 5 p.m. Admission is free.
