GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Ursinus College women's swimming team continued its remarkable run of dominance against the Centennial Conference on Saturday, pulling away for a 149-113 victory at Gettysburg to extend their league winning streak to 27 dual meets.
The Bears captured both relays and nine of the 12 individual races in winning their 42nd consecutive overall dual. Senior Alexandra Hemp and junior Sydney Gundersen helped Ursinus bookend the meet with victories in the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay; the duo joined sophomores Peyten Lyons and Clara Baker in the former (1:49.67) and teamed with freshman Margrethe Leis and junior Meggie Leitz to take the latter in 3:42.51.
Baker took home three individual victories for Ursinus, which got two apiece from Gundersen, Lyons, and Leitz. Baker won the 50 free (25.00) and 100 free (54.04) in addition to the 100 fly (57.85), where she finished more than two seconds ahead of junior teammate Katherine Porter in second.
Gundersen edged out Leitz with a 1:58.02 in the 200 free and came back to post another first-place result in the 500 free (5:20.93). Lyons was even more dominant in the 100 back, where her mark of 59.41 was a full 3.39 ticks ahead of Gettysburg's runner-up swimmer. The sophomore also cruised to victory with a 2:16.49 in the 200 IM.
Lyons was involved in one of the most exciting heats of the afternoon, a neck-and-neck battle with Leitz in the 200 back that ended with Leitz claiming the top spot by a mere .07 seconds (2:13.44). Leitz was also victorious in the 200 fly (2:11.70), with sophomore Gabriella Timuscuk in second (2:12.83).
In another thrilling race, Leis nosed past Gettysburg's Madeline Castle to post a victory in the 1000 free, her time of 11:07.91 just .09 seconds in front of the Bullets' top finisher.
Tikmusck placed third in the 200 breast, while freshman Haley Sturla was third in the 100 breast.
The Bears' lengthy winning streaks get a major test on Tuesday, November 22, when Swarthmore comes to Elliott Pool for a CC showdown.