Swimmers, Divers Shine At Road Invites

Topeka, Kan.- Nebraska’s swimmers had a strong day one at the Big Challenge. The Huskers were led by record setting performances by the 200-yard freestyle relay team, 400-yard medley relay team and Taryn Collura. After day one of competition the Huskers sit in first-place with a score of 298.5. Kansas trails the Huskers with 236 points, followed by Illinois with 214 points.

Nebraska started Friday evening’s finals session off with a bang, setting a meet record and earning a first-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Alexandra Bilunas, Bria Deveaux, Erin Oeltjen and Taryn Collura finished in a time of 1:30.92 breaking the previous meet record by 3.2 seconds.

Nebraska was dominant in the 50-yard freestyle with Collura and Bilunas sweeping the top-two spots. Collura set a new meet record with her season-best time of 22.75. Bilunas finished right behind Collura with a time of 22.98. Deveaux was also strong for the Huskers earning fourth-place swimming a career-best time of 23.17.

50-Yard Freestyle

1. Taryn Collura – 22.75 (Meet Record) (Season Best)
2. Alexandra Bilunas – 22.98
4. Bria Deveaux – 23.17 (Career Best)
5. Erin Oeltjen – 23.38  
12. Lindsay Helferich – 23.74
20. Jacqueline Juffer – 24.00
30. Katie Ditter – 24.45

In the 200-yard individual medley, freshman Anna McDonald led the way securing a second-place finish. In the finals, McDonald swam a career-best time of 2:01.60. Samantha Hardewig was Nebraska’s next top performer swimming a time of 2:04.58 notching an eighth-place finish.

200-Yard Individual Medley

2. Anna McDonald – 2:01.60 (Career Best)
8. Samantha Hardewig – 2:04.58
10. Julia Roller – 2:03.92 (Season Best)
11. Morgan McCafferty – 2:04.05 (Season Best)
12. Jordan Ehly – 2:04.32 (Season Best)
13 Dana Posthuma – 2:04.39 (Career Best)
15. Bridget Pacilio – 2:05.50
16. Katie Ditter – 2:07.11
17. Jackie Jeschke – 2:04.97 (Season Best)
23. Krista Van Wie – 2:07.71
24. Michaela Cunningham – 2:10.57

Katt Sickle led the Huskers in the 500-yard freestyle earning a second-place finish racing to a time of 4:50.58. Sickle set a then-meet record with her time of 4:50.34 in Friday morning’s preliminary round. Nebraska’s next top finisher was Cassie Brassard finishing in a time of 4:55.95 good enough for a fifth-place finish.

500-Yard Freestyle Results

2. Katt Sickle – 4:50.58
5. Cassie Brassard – 4:55.95
11. Kaylyn Flatt – 4:59.69
14 Aimee Fischer – 5:02.21
16. Brooke Holmes – 5:03.18

The Huskers finished off day one in record setting fashion. The 400-yard medley relay team of Juffer, Ditter, Deveaux and Collura set a meet record racing to a time of 3:39.88 giving Nebraska the sweep in Friday’s relay events.

Nebraska will be back in action Saturday morning with prelims beginning at 10 a.m, with finals following Saturday evening at 6 p.m. Check back into Huskers.com for any and all updates regarding the Nebraska swimming team.

College Station, Texas- Nebraska’s divers finished up day two of competition at the Art Adamson Invite Friday afternoon. Anna Filipcic led Nebraska in the one-meter dive, earning a second-place finish.

In the one-meter dive prelims, Filipcic posted a score of 293.50 to earn her the second best score in the prelims and a spot in the finals. Nicole Schwery was not far behind Filipcic, posting a score of 267.65 securing a spot in the finals as well. Kara Cottrell also competed for Nebraska posting a score of 190.70 for the Huskers.

In the finals, Filipcic posted a score of 316.70, earning her a runner-up finish. Filipcic’s score was just 1.2 points behind the one-meter dive winner, Madison Hudkins from Texas A&M. Schwery also competed in the finals posting a score of 254.40 earning her a seventh-place finish.

Nebraska’s divers will wrap up competition at the Art Adamson Invite Saturday afternoon at noon. The final event of the weekend will be the platform dive and will feature Nicole Schwery, Francesca Giganti and Katrina Voge. Check back into Huskers.com for any and all updates regarding the Nebraska diving team.