Gustavus Women’s Swimming Dominates Day Three of MIAC Championships
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Gustavus women’s swimming team continued to assert its dominance at the MIAC Championships held on Friday, Feb. 21, remaining at the top of the conference standings. With an impressive display, the team secured a 32-point lead over second-placed Macalester.
Geneva Fackler (Fy., Plymouth, Minn.) achieved her second event title of the weekend, showcasing her remarkable talent. Additionally, the Gusties triumphed in the 200 freestyle relay, solidifying their position at the championships.
Individual and Team Performances
Marit Isaacson (Sr., St. Paul) provided an outstanding start in the individual finals, earning All-MIAC honors with a second-place finish in the 400 Individual Medley (IM). She clocked in at 4:34.22, finishing just behind St. Olaf’s Paige Steenbloc, who secured the title with an NCAA B cut time of 4:27.67. Sommer Krause (Fy., Farmington, Minn.) and Felicia Symreng (So., Stockholm, Sweden) also contributed with finishes of 8th and 14th, respectively.
In the 100 butterfly finals, first-year Linnea Reinsmoen (Doha, Qatar) led the Gusties with a commendable fifth place finish, while Madison Witte (So., Glencoe, Minn.) came in 13th.
Star Performers in Freestyle Events
The 200 freestyle final featured three Gusties, led by Fackler, who secured her second individual victory with a time of 1:53.85, significantly ahead of her preliminary round time. Stella Anderson Moye (So., Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) finished fourth, while Caitlyn Otto (Fy., Saint Peter, Minn.) placed fifth.
Strong Breaststroke Showings
In the 100 breaststroke final, both Lindsay Sundby (Jr., Randolph, Minn.) and Hadley Wartner (So., Minneapolis, Minn.) represented the Gusties well, finishing fourth and eighth, respectively. Sydney Prowse (Sr., Beloit, Wis.) also contributed with a 12th place finish.
Backstroke Achievements
In the 100 backstroke, first-years Katelyn Siers (St. Cloud, Minn.) and Eloise Cooper (Stevens Point, Wis.) led the way, finishing third and sixth. Mikayla Witte (Sr., Glencoe, Minn.) also made a notable contribution with an eighth place result.
Relay Triumph
The 200 freestyle relay featured a stellar performance from the team of Siers, Fackler, Anderson Moye, and Isaacson, who clinched the title with a time of 1:35.48, edging out Macalester by a mere 0.33 seconds.
Looking Ahead
As the championship event approaches its conclusion, the Gusties hold a 32-point lead with a total of 460 points compared to Macalester’s 428. St. Olaf is currently in third place with 370.5 points.
The final day of competition is set to begin with prelims at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, featuring a range of events including 1-meter diving, the 200 backstroke, 100 freestyle, 200 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, and the 1650 freestyle. The finals will commence at 6:30 p.m., culminating with the 400 freestyle relay.
