LYNCHBURG, Va. - Another school-record performance and a podium finish highlighted the final day of Georgia Southern women's swimming action in the 2019 CCSA Championships on Saturday.
The Eagles finished the competition with 990 points, putting them behind champion and host Liberty University (1859.5), second-place Florida Gulf Coast (1668) and third-place Incarnate Word (1049). Campbell (970.5) finished fifth, followed by UNC Asheville (820), North Florida (722), Gardner-Webb (711) and Howard (416).
"I'm really proud of this senior class and all they have accomplished this year," Georgia Southern Head Coach Amanda Caldwell said. "Bre Stuart and Anna Moers had another amazing night of racing. And I was excited for freshman Melissa Cox to break the school record in the 100 Freestyle."
Senior Bre Stuart became the second Eagle to earn a podium spot, placing third in the 200 Backstroke in a time of 2:17.19, earning 30 points for the Eagles. The mark was a new personal best for Stuart, bettering her previous time of 2:17.28 at the 2017 Championships.
Freshman Melissa Cox, meanwhile, made her mark on the Georgia Southern record books in the 100 Freestyle, where her fourth-place finish in the final came in a school-record time of 50.17, earning 29 points for the Eagles. Her swim broke the previous record of 50.38, set by Elaina Lanson in 2012.
Action began for the Eagles on the day in the 1650 Freestyle, where sophomore Randi Kiser paced the Eagle distance swimmers by finishing 13th in a time of 17:41.00, earning 17 points.
Junior Anna Moers then picked up a fourth-place finish in the 200 Backstroke in a time of 2:01.42, a personal best as well as the fourth-fastest time in school history. Her swim earned 29 points for the Eagles.
The 200 Butterfly saw senior Courtney Schaefer earn 18 points for the Eagles by finishing 12th in a time of 2:05.13.
The final race of the Championships was the 400 Freestyle Relay, where the team of Mackenzie Brown, Schaefer, Rachel Pelzek and Cox placed fourth in a time of 3:26.43, earning 58 points.
The Eagles held their annual team banquet tonight. Bre Stuart was named the MVP Swimmer, while Katie Knight was named the MVP Diver. True Blue Spirit award went to Anna Kassis and the Most Improved Award went to Markie Duffy.
The Eagles will learn this coming week if any swimmers or divers will advance to either NCAA Qualifying or the CSCAA Invitational meets coming up in March.
