Strong third day jolts Lehigh up to third at Patriot League Championships
2/21/2020 10:34:00 PM | Women's Swimming and Diving
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Lehigh women's swimming and diving team had its best day of the week on Friday at the 2020 Patriot League Championships. Starting the day in fifth, Lehigh used the third day to surge past two teams and is currently in third as we approach the final day.
The Mountain Hawks trail second-place Bucknell by 20 points, but they're ahead of Army in fourth by 20 points.
The highlight of the day came in the final event for the women on day three, as the 200 freestyle relay group broke a school record. The previous record of 1:31.41 was broken by Friday's group. Ann Foley (23.14), Payton Miles (22.16), Evie Gieseman (23.28) and Olivia Giampietro (22.71) combined for a time of 1:31.29. This epic performance gave the Brown and White silver in the event.
Prior to that race, Lehigh recorded multiple noteworthy performances which helped them move up on the leaderboard. In the 200 free, Lehigh showed its depth with Foley, Samantha Gallego and Megan Judge. All three ladies finished inside the top-8. Foley finished fourth with a time of 1:48.39, while Gallego finished seventh with a time of 1:49.38. The freshman Judge then finished eighth at 1:49.54.
In the 400 IM, a duo of first-year Lehigh swimmers took their performance to the next level. Danielle Prekop finished fifth with a time of 4:20.80, while Sarah Hardy was right behind her at 4:27.14. In the race, Lehigh placed two swimmers inside the top-5.
Another exceptional performance came from two Brown and White swimmers in the 100 back, as Sophia Peta and Anna Francisco notched top-6 finishes for Lehigh. Poeta registered a time of 54.88 for fifth, and then Francisco was just behind at 55.01 in sixth.
Rounding out the performances from Lehigh on the third day, Megan Fennell finished sixth in the 1-meter dive with a score of 255.15, and Liz Olszewski finished eighth in the 100 breast with a time of 1:05.61. Malia Wolf contributed a ninth-place finish in the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.95.
The fourth and final day of the Patriot League Swimming & Diving Championships will begin Saturday with preliminaries at 10 a.m. and finals starting at 6 p.m.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 27
1.U.S. Naval Academy (662)
2. Bucknell University (368)
3. Lehigh University (348)
3. U.S. Military Academy (328)
5. Boston University (306)
6. Loyola University (222)
7. Colgate University (125)
8. American University (108)
9. College of the Holy Cross (72)
10. Lafayette College (69)
The Mountain Hawks trail second-place Bucknell by 20 points, but they're ahead of Army in fourth by 20 points.
The highlight of the day came in the final event for the women on day three, as the 200 freestyle relay group broke a school record. The previous record of 1:31.41 was broken by Friday's group. Ann Foley (23.14), Payton Miles (22.16), Evie Gieseman (23.28) and Olivia Giampietro (22.71) combined for a time of 1:31.29. This epic performance gave the Brown and White silver in the event.
Prior to that race, Lehigh recorded multiple noteworthy performances which helped them move up on the leaderboard. In the 200 free, Lehigh showed its depth with Foley, Samantha Gallego and Megan Judge. All three ladies finished inside the top-8. Foley finished fourth with a time of 1:48.39, while Gallego finished seventh with a time of 1:49.38. The freshman Judge then finished eighth at 1:49.54.
In the 400 IM, a duo of first-year Lehigh swimmers took their performance to the next level. Danielle Prekop finished fifth with a time of 4:20.80, while Sarah Hardy was right behind her at 4:27.14. In the race, Lehigh placed two swimmers inside the top-5.
Another exceptional performance came from two Brown and White swimmers in the 100 back, as Sophia Peta and Anna Francisco notched top-6 finishes for Lehigh. Poeta registered a time of 54.88 for fifth, and then Francisco was just behind at 55.01 in sixth.
Rounding out the performances from Lehigh on the third day, Megan Fennell finished sixth in the 1-meter dive with a score of 255.15, and Liz Olszewski finished eighth in the 100 breast with a time of 1:05.61. Malia Wolf contributed a ninth-place finish in the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.95.
The fourth and final day of the Patriot League Swimming & Diving Championships will begin Saturday with preliminaries at 10 a.m. and finals starting at 6 p.m.
Women - Team Rankings - Through Event 27
1.U.S. Naval Academy (662)
2. Bucknell University (368)
3. Lehigh University (348)
3. U.S. Military Academy (328)
5. Boston University (306)
6. Loyola University (222)
7. Colgate University (125)
8. American University (108)
9. College of the Holy Cross (72)
10. Lafayette College (69)
Players Mentioned
Dive
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Back/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast/Free/IM
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
FLY
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Free/Back
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Breast/Fly
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
IM/Breast
/ Women's Swimming and Diving
Fly/Free/IM
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