Women's Swimming Cruises Past Gettysburg

Women's Swimming Cruises Past Gettysburg

COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The No. 20 Ursinus College women's swimming team turned a showdown of the two best teams in the Centennial Conference into a runaway rout on Saturday, coasting to a 184-78 victory over Gettysburg inside Elliott Pool.

Senior Olivia Tierney, junior Peyten Lyons, and freshman Rebecca Warren each won a pair of individual events, with Lyons adding a first-place showing in the 200 medley relay for Ursinus (5-0, 3-0), which extended its dual-meet winning streak to 53.

The Bears went 1-2-3 in three events and produced champions in all but three of them in a dominating performance against a Bullets squad that came in undefeated and was picked second in the CC preseason poll.

Lyons teamed with Tierney, junior Clara Baker, and senior Sydney Gundersen to take a run at a pool record in the 200 medley relay, posting a 1:49.31 that was less than two-tenths of a second off the Elliott Pool mark.

Lyons later won both backstroke events, narrowly edging freshman teammate Sophie May in both. Lyons clocked a 59.82 in the 100, with May touching in 1:00.92, and Lyons' 2:12.02 was just ahead of May's 2:12.45 in the 200.

Warren, meanwhile, dominated both distance freestyle races. She posted an 11:06.27 in the 1000, more than ten seconds ahead of teammate Kathryn Longenecker, before coming back to capture the 500 free in 5:28.68. Longenecker was runner-up in that race as well with a 5:30.54, and sophomore Margrethe Leis was right behind in third at 5:30.69.

Gundersen outpaced Leis by more than four seconds with a 1:58.55 in the 200 free, with freshman Allison Thomas coming in third at 2:02.89.

Tierney then followed with the first of her two individual breaststroke triumphs, registering a 1:08.80 in the 100. She clocked in at 2:28.62 in the 200, where sophomore Haley Sturla was second at 2:32.56.

Leitz cruised to victory with a time of 2:09.64 in the 200 fly, with junior Gabriella Timuscuk (2:14.28) the runner-up.

Kate Crilly won both the 50 free and 100 free for Gettysburg (4-1, 2-1). Baker was second in the 50 at 25.28, and Gundersen placed second in the 100 (54.67).

Baker finished strong with a first-place swim in the 100 fly, her 58.36 nearly a second abreast of Leitz at 59.32. Senior Katherine Porter took third in 1:00.33.

Lyons was second in the 200 IM (2:15.90), and Tierney third (2:16.76).

The Bears closed in style as May, Thomas, Baker, and Gundersen took down first prize in the 400 free relay (3:40.26).

Ursinus continues its CC slate with a tough matchup at Swarthmore on Saturday, December 2.