CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa -- The first day of Liberal Arts, our swimming and diving championship meet, has been already an exciting meet. With nine Principians qualified for finals, it is predicted we will do well at our last meet before Nationals.
Makaela Thompson (SO) did well in the 500 free with a lifetime best of 6:14.55.
Jenna Mehlenbacher (SO) also swam well but in the 50 free. She got a lifetime best time 26.08 and will be back tonight swimming finals to better her current placement of 12th. More women did well in the 50 free with
Meghan Vivian getting a lifetime best 27.92,
Kendall McMurray (JR) getting a lifetime best of 29.94, and
Catherine Joyner (SO) getting a lifetime best time of 34.65.
Laura Perry also did well in the 50 free with her seasonal best time of 33.44. Senior captain
Kelsey Meidell ended the prelims well with her 100 backstroke lead off for the 400 medley relay. She got a lifetime best time of 1:16.12. Her time as well as the swims by
Joanna Patzwald (FR),
Jenna Mehlenbacher (SO), and
Makaela Thompson (SO) helped the woman's 400 medley relay get to come to this evening's finals.
Everyone is doing really well. Stay tuned for this evenings results.
Day 1 – Finals
The women ended the first day of the Championships at Coe College with 30 points and 9th place. They had some amazing swims and even got on the top ten in two of their events.
The event they got top ten for was the 200 freestyle relay which was swam by Joanna Patzwald (FR), Meghan Vivian (FR), Makaela Thompson (SO), and Jenna Mehlenbacher (SO). They got on the top ten with their great time of 1:46.15. Mehlenbacher got back in the water for the 50 free and got a life time best time of 25.89 and 11th place. This time is also now on the top ten.
Tomorrow the women swimmers will be trying to break more personal bests.
Day 2 – Prelims
After morning inspiration, there were excited conversations about the future races in the morning. Some expressed their love for a particular race and others explaining how well they were going to do in a race. These statements turned out to be true with another batch of amazing swims and dives.
It was an energized start of the day with the women's first event, the 200 medley relay. It was swum by Kelsey Meidell (SR), Joanna Patzwald (FR), Jenna Mehlenbacher (SO), and Makaela Thompson (SO). They are currently seated 8th place because of their time of 2:07.64. As a result of being 8th, they will get another chance at improving their time tonight at finals. Mehlenbacher and Thompson will be back tonight for finals after getting 13th (Mehlenbacher) and 15th (Thompson) in the 200 free this morning. Thompson also got a lifetime best with 2:11.70 in the 200 free and hopefully will get another lifetime best tonight at finals. Patzwald will be back tonight as an alternate in the 100 breast.
We have had some quite amazing swims and this morning. Tonight should be an excellent evening of even more great swims.
Day 2 – Finals
With more top ten times and lifetime bests, Principia College finished their 2nd day at Liberal Arts exceptionally.
Kelsey Meidell (SR), Joanna Patzwald (FR), Jenna Mehlenbacher (SO), and Makaela Thompson (SO) finished 8th in the 200 medley relay event with the time of 2:06.18. Thompson and Mehlenbacher swam well in the 200 free, getting 10th (Mehlenbacher) and 15th (Thompson). The women's 800 free relay of Meidell, Catherine Joyner (SO), Laura Perry (SO), and Meghan Vivian (FR) ended the night well by getting 8th in finals.
Tonight was another day of superb swims. We look forward to see what Principia will do tomorrow.
Final Day – Prelims
Another great start to a day at Coe College. This is the last day and all the swimmers are excited to finish strong and get more personal bests.
Catherine Joyner (SO) finished strong and as a result will be back tonight in the 200 back. All the women that swam the 100 free improved their personal and/or seasonal best times. Jenna Mehlenbacher (SO) got a season best, 57.16, and will be back tonight. She is currently seated 8th. Makaela Thompson (SO) will be back tonight also for the 100 free because she got 14th with her new lifetime best time of 57.83. Also during the 100 free, Meghan Vivian (FR) and Kendal McMurray (JR) got lifetime bests, 1:02.30 (Vivian) and 1:12.84 (McMurray). Laura Perry (SO) got a seasonal best of 1:16.67. Joanna Patzwald (FR) will be back tonight as an alternate for the 200 breast. Also in the 200 breast, senior captain Kelsey Meidell got a lifetime best of 2:55.72. Meidell will be joining Patzwald, Thompson, and Mehlenbacher tonight for the 400 free relay after getting 8th in the Prelims. Joyner got a lifetime best time, 1:17.68, for her lead off in her 400 free relay.
After getting some rest, we all will be back tonight to swim fast and finish the Liberal Arts Championship meet at Coe College.
Final Day – Finals
The anticipation and excitement was high as we waited for the finals at the beginning of the Saturday evening. Their excitement led to swims that were impressive to watch.
Catherine Joyner (SO) came back tonight for the 200 back and placed 15th. She had a wonderful attitude and was joyous before her race, which lead to her placing well and getting a lifetime best of 3:02.18. Jenna Mehlenbacher (SO) got a season best of 56.51 in the 100 free. She also placed 7th! Makaela Thompson (SO), who also swam the 100 free, placed 16th. Joanna Patzwald (FR) finished the meet off well with a lifetime best of 59.92 during her 100 free lead off in the beginning of the 400 free relay.
The women ended with multiple lifetimes, new school records, top ten times, and seasonal bests. They got 122 points from these swims which landed them 8th place overall. Over the past season, we have learned a lot about each other, became a closer family, and have had amazing swims and dives. As the students left to go to their dorms, the coaching staff noticed that they all wore peaceful smiles. They must have been thinking about this season.
