Jacksonville, ILL. -- The Principia College women's swimming team headed to Illinois College to participate in their first swim meet of the season. The team swam against the host Illinois College and Knox College in a tri meet. The women ended up taking one win against Knox (111-75), but fell short to Illinois College (69-139). Throughout the meet they swam 22 "best" times, which was a great start the the beginning of the season.

The women began the meet with the 200 Medley relay. Freshman Cami Abadie, junior Lydia Pierce, senior Glynnis Harley, and sophomore Sanaya Baldauf swam into 2nd with a time of 2:09.94. During this swim, Abadie and Baldauf started off the bests with Abadie's 50-Back making the Top 10 List-now 7th overall and Baldauf's 50 Free being a season best. 

After the 1650, three women were up for the 200 Freestyle. Baldauf swam to 2nd with a time of 2:20.38, which ended up being a lifetime best for her. Freshman Heather Savoye and sophomore Emma Hanser swam strong, hard races as well, which gained the team two more bests. Abadie then took 1st in the 100 Back with a time of 1:05.39, which gained some strong points and a season best for the women! Hull also came out of the 100 Back with a season, unshaved lifetime, and lifetime best from her strong swim. Pierce and Savoye followed that with a 2-4 place in the 100 Breaststroke. Pierce came into the wall with a 1:19.11, capturing a season best, and Savoye with a 1:32.07. Pierce came back two events later in the 50 Free to capture 2nd place with a time of 28.17. Harley came into the wall right after her with a time of 29.99. During the 50 Free Hanser swam a strong race capturing another season best for the team!

After a short break the women were back at it in the 100 Freestyle. Pierce took 3rd (1:02.46), Baldauf sixth (1:05.76), and Savoye ninth (1:09.28). All of these women gained bests for each of their swims in the 100 Freestyle. Abadie followed that event with a win in the 200 Backstroke gaining a time of 2:20.85. This time put her on the Top 10 List-at 7th place! Two events later, in the 500 Freestyle, we saw Abadie swim to 1st again and achieve another season best, and Baldauf come in 3rd. Hanser helped gain a point for the team in the 100 Fly with a time of 1:52.74 and snagged another best for the team. Harley finished up the individual swims, swimming the 400 IM with a 3rd place, season best, and a time of 6:17.38.

The final event- the 200 Free Relay- saw the team of Savoye, Hull, Hanser, and Harley swim a time of 2:17.78, which claimed 3rd place. During this swim, Hull wrapped up the bests with another season best from her relay split. Overall, the women performed well and pushed hard to take their first win of the season. Also, everyone got at least one best swim!

The women will be back in action on November 15th and 16th when they host their first home meet of the season. They will be competing against Sterling College, Williams Baptist University, Lincoln College. The meet on the Friday the 15th will begin at 6pm and the meet on Saturday the 16th will begin at 1pm.