Session 1: Huskers Win 400 Freestyle Relay

Lincoln ? Nebraska’s 400-yard freestyle relay team guided the Huskers to a solid start in Session 1 of the Husker Invitational by winning the event in a season-best time of 3:28.57 Thursday night at the Devaney Natatorium.

 

The victorious team was comprised of juniors Jenna Stroud and Jenny Toler, senior Lynn Siemert and freshman Kelsey Grushecky. The team defeated the rest of the field by more than four seconds and broke their previous season-best time of 3:29.86 from the Nevada/Iowa double-dual in Lincoln on Nov. 3.

 

Nebraska’s B relay team of sophomore Mariah Hutchinson and freshmen Jess Andrews, Julie Giehl and Meredith Matthies came in fourth in 3:32.96.

 

The relay was one of two finals events on the night that kicked off the four-day meet. In the first event, freshman Brandie Kavalec finished runner-up in the 1,650-yard freestyle in a season-best time of 17:23.09, more than five seconds faster than her previous best of 17:28.31 against Nevada/Nebraska-Omaha on Nov. 2. Freshman Blaine Hoppenrath gave the Huskers two finishers in the top five as she finished fifth in a season-best time of 17:42.06.

 

Nebraska sits in third place with 120 points after two events, while ColoradoState (150) and IowaState (147) lead the six-team field.

 

Friday’s preliminary events start at 10 a.m., with finals beginning at 5 p.m.

 

Friday’s Events

200-yard Freestyle Relay

500-yard Freestyle

200-yard Individual Medley

50-yard Freestyle

One-meter Diving

400-yard Medley Relay

 

Team Rankings - Through Event 2

1. ColoradoState - 150

2. IowaState - 147

3. Nebraska - 120

4. Northern Iowa - 83

5. Nebraska-Omaha - 76

6. South DakotaState ? 5