EVANSTON, Ill. - With just two sessions remaining in the TYR Invite, the University of North Dakota women's swimming and diving team is in fourth place with 307 points. Host Northwestern continues to lead with 890.5 points, followed by Iowa State (472.5) and Cleveland (397.5). Rounding out the teams are Kenyon College (238) and Illinois-Chicago (159.5).
"We had a very strong night of swimming," said head coach Steve Parsons. "We had several personal-best and season-best times. It is nice to see all of their hard work paying off."
UND opened the swim events with a seventh-place finish in the 200 medley relay. The 'A' team of Veronica Medon (So., Hunstville, Ontario), Camille Merwin (Fr., Aliso Viejo, Calif.), Caitlin Conci (Jr., Craig, Colo.), and Devonne Dalin (So., Sioux Falls, S.D.) clocked in with a time of 147.35. With sophomore Kara Fisher (Fergus Falls, Minn.) on the lead leg, the UND 'B' team of Fisher, Kathryn Fristad (Sr., Grand Forks, N.D.), Madison Porter (Fr., Dickinson, N.D.), and Alyssa Bailey (Fr., Spearfish, S.D.) finished 10th (148.98).
Medon placed fourth in the 100 back with a time of 57.40. Fisher followed in fifth place with a time of 57.75 to better her prelim time of 58.61.
"Kara had one heck of a night," said Parsons. "She was under 58 in the 100 back for the first time and came up with a great swim in the relay.
Conci went on to take seventh in the 100 fly (57.44) and Dalin placed eighth in the 200 free (1:53.82). Freshman Kelsey Richels (Wahpeton, N.D.) earned UND's top time in the 200 free clocking in at 1:53.43 for sixth place.
In the 100 breast, Merwin landed in fifth-place with a time of 1:05.17
"Camille was another one who is getting better with each swim," said Parsons. "She did very well in the 100 breast."
Senior Rachel Lee (Corvallis, Ore.) notched UND's top time in the 400 IM (4:35.22).
North Dakota closed out the day with a fifth-place finish in the 800 free relay. The team of Richels, Devonne Dalin, Dalonda Dalin (Jr., Sioux Falls, S.D.) and freshman Kaitlin Bolinske (Williston, N.D.) clocked in at 7:41.57.
On the boards, senior Stephenie Varichak (Fridley, Minn.) opened up the day with a fourth-place finish on the three-meter with a score of 242.20. Junior Megan Keidel (Bismarck, N.D.) finished ninth with a score of 232.35.
"Stephenie had an awesome night on the boards," said Parsons. "She had a very strong showing tonight.
"We have two more sessions to go," said Parsons. "We just need to finish strong in both of them."
North Dakota will wrap up competition at the TYR Invite on Sunday. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. and finals will start at 3 p.m.
- Go Sioux -
