SAN ANTONIO, Texas - The Trinity University women opened defense of their league title by jumping out to a 298-225 lead over rival Southwestern University after day one of the 2021 SCAC Women's Swimming & Diving Championship. Official Website | Thursday's Complete Results | Photo Gallery
As has been the case with most collegiate competition this academic year, the 2021 championships have been modified due to COVID-19 protocol. The meet itself has been condensed from its normal four-day schedule to a three-day event. Additionally, the meet is being conducted as two separate events with the women's teams swimming in the morning and men's teams competing in the afternoon. All heats are being swam as timed finals with no preliminaries.
In Thursday's opening session, the TU Tigers took top honors in both relays, winning the 200 free relay and the 400 medley relay. The team of senior Mabel Fowler, junior Morgan Reyna, freshman Caroline Myers and freshman Emma Hagan gave Trinity its second consecutive victory in the event, stopping the clock at 1:36.46. Southwestern was second in a time of 1:37.22 and Colorado College finished third with a finish of 1:41.06.
In the final event of the day, Fowler, junior Jadyn Trahan, Myers and Reyna helped Trinity defend its title in the 400 medley relay and set a new Walker Pool record in the process, touching first in a winnint time of 3:54.96. Southwestern was second in a time of 4:01.53 and Colorado College finished third in 4:05.96.
In individual events, Trinity's Fowler won her fourth straight 500 free, coming home in this year's event in a time of 5:02.71 (the fifth fastest time in SCAC championship history). Junior teammate Meghan Magill was second in a time of 5:14.19 and sophomore Kate Brush of Colorado College was third in 5:16.25. With the victory, Fowler becomes just the second swimmer in league history to win the 500 four straight years. Elizabeth Land of Sewanee accomplished the feat from 2002 to 2005.
Trinity's Reyna (pictured) defended her title in the 200 IM, touching first in a time of 2:10.57. First-year swimmer Samantha Thiele of Austin College was second in a time of 2:11.20 - becoming the first 'Roo in program history to earn All-SCAC honors in the event. Junior Kaylin Swoboda of Centenary placed third in a time of 2:13.01.
In the last individual event of the session, Southwestern junior Jesse Stovall won her third consecutive 50 free, touching the wall in a time of 23.92. Stovall is just the second swimmer in league history to win three 50 frees in her career - joining Centre College's Meredith Angel who dominated the event from 2007 to 2009. Two Trinity freshmen swimmers touched 2-3 to join Stovall on the All-SCAC team as Hagan placed second in a time of 24.27 and Myers was third in 24.82.
The team standings after the first five events are as follows:
1) Trinity University - 298
2) Southwestern University - 225
3) Colorado College - 160
4) Centenary College - 120
5) Austin College - 102
6) University of the Ozarks - 68
7) McMurry University - 64
The women's competition continues on Friday with timed finals beginning at Noon CT. Click here for the complete schedule of events.
