Swimming Leads After Day One of ASC Championships

February 13, 2015

Brenau University closed day one of the Appalachian Swimming Conference championships Thursday in Christiansburg, Va. leading the field and with a narrow 178-176.5 lead over Wheeling Jesuit University.

The Golden Tigers started the evening with a tie for second place in the 200 Free Relay as the team of Shelby Rumker (SR/Douglas, Ga.), Courtney Hayward (SO/Townsville, AUS), Madison Kostaer and Michelle Billeaud (SR/Lafayette, La.) swam 1:38.71.

In the 500 freestyle, Hayward repeated as conference champion and set a new meet record (5:00.56) Teammate Ella Kleinschmidt (FR/Hervey Bay, Queensland AUS) finished sixth in the 500 freestyle going 5:14.71.

Junior Mary Katherine Jabbia (JR/Slidell, La.) also become a two-time conference champion in the 200 IM (2:09.66) with teammates Talia Sola (2:14.58), Maria Quiroga (2:15.49) and Sarah Frey (FR/Snellville, Ga.) (2:15.84) finishing close behind.

Billeaud captured third in the 50 freestyle (24.15), while Sophie Nasstrom (SO/Stockholm, Sweden) followed at ninth in 25.21.

In the 400 Medley Relay, Brenau showed off their speed as the team placed first, breaking both a team and meet record in a blistering 3:52.53.

"We had a terrific first day, with multiple first place finishes, personal and season best times," said head coach Blaire Bachman. "Heading into the second day in first is a confidence boost and our team is thrilled with the results thus far."

The Golden Tigers continue with day two of the championships at 9 am eastern on Friday.