Swimming and Diving Wins Home Opener
10/29/2011 1:50:00 PM | Swimming and Diving
Freshman Elaina Lanson (Wadsworth, Ohio) set a new pool record in the 50 Free (23.79) on her way to three first place finishes on the night. Lanson won the 100 Free (52.78), before teaming up with sophomores Devan White (Kennesaw, Ga.) and Kristen Bates (Peachtree City, Ga.) and senior Katie Crider (Bloomington, Ind.) to win the 200 Free Relay (1:38.71). White also earned a first place finish in the 200 Free (1:56.86).
A trio of freshman earned additional first place finishes, including Amber Juncker (Bogart, Ga.) in the 200 Individual Medley, Abigail Lavallin (Bridgwater, Somerset) in the 100 Fly (59.71) and JoAnn Filipov in the 100 Back (1:01.33). Sophomore Megan Ostrom (St. Louis Park, Minn.) took home first place in the 100 Breast (1:06.96).
Sophomore Sara Meisenhelder (Carmel, Ind.) dominated the boards Friday night, earning first place finishes in the 1-meter (229.27) and 3-meter (231.67) events. Teammate Amanda Macchio (Redding, Conn.) finished second in the 1-meter (188.47) and third in the 3-meter (180.60) and Alden Lynch (Jacksonville, Fla.) finished third in the 1-meter (173.55) and second in the 3-meter (190.27).
The Eagles earned several more 'Top-3' finishes during Friday's competition. Filipov, Ostrom, and White teamed with freshman Megan Heller (Lawrenceville, Ga.) to finish second in the 200 Medley Relay (1:50.92), while Crider and Lavallin teamed with freshmen Sarah Schwartz (Greenwood, S.C.) and Allyn Case (Savannah, Ga.) to finish third (1:52.67). Schwartz also placed second in the 100 Back (1:01.37).
Juncker finished second in the 1000 Free (10:38.97) prior to her first place finish in the 200 IM. Junior Pirie Humphries (Athens, Ga.) finished third in the 1000 Free (11:03.35) and third in the 500 Free (5:20.31). Humphries also teamed with Heller, freshman Catherine Schmitz (Stafford, Va.) and senior Rachael Stockwell (Jacksonville, Fla.) to finish third in the 200 Free Relay (1:44.97).
Bates finished second in the 50 Free (24.88) behind the record setting Lanson and sophomore Courtney Harrison (Greenville, S.C.) finished second in the 200 Individual Medley (2:11.51), third in the 100 Free (55.98) and third in the 100 Breast (1:07.23).
"In our first home meet of the season, I thought we performed very well in this short format," said Head Coach Nate Kellogg. "Campbell came at us and attacked, and I was happy with how we responded."
"I was really proud of Amber Juncker. She swam a very tough 1000 Free and then five minutes later she won the 200 IM. That's pure toughness. Elaina Lanson also swam a great 50 Free to break the pool record."
"Overall, we had a very solid meet as a team," said Kellogg. "Now, we have to challenge ourselves Saturday against the College of Charleston and East Carolina to make sure we come out fired up."
The Eagles face the College of Charleston and East Carolina in a double-dual meet in Charleston, S.C. at 2 p.m. at the Stern Center.
Fans can follow their Eagles at GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com or receive short updates at facebook.com/GSAthletics, twitter.com/GSAthletics or on Google+ at gplus.to/GSAthletics.
